The Herald provided the same questions to this year’s local political candidates. Here are their unedited answers:
RON KRAMER (D)
Background information: I attended The Ohio State University, and obtained an EMT Intermediate certificate from Lima Technical College, Lima, Ohio.
I was born in Lima, Ohio, and lived there my entire life until coming to Texas County. I first saw Texas County in 2002 on a horseback riding vacation at Golden Hills in Raymondville. That is where I fell in love with the land, hills, rocks and trees. My wife, Maggie, and I bought 17 acres of that land in 2004 and are now on our seventh year of living here. Since moving to Texas County, I have gained a deep respect and love for the people who live here and want to help shape a new and more prosperous future for all. Between my wife and myself, we have 15 children, 24 grandchildren and two great-grand children. They live from California to Massachusetts – including Tennessee, Illinois and Ohio., Maggie is pastor at Raymondville United Methodist Church, where I am a member. She is also the piano accompanist for Houston High School and middle school choirs and the new community choir. She and I share a love for horseback riding, floating, gathering wood, picking blackberries, gardening and canning.
Why do you want to be a Texas County commissioner?
I am not looking for a paycheck. I want new opportunities for higher paying jobs for Texas County residents. This commission has not moved Texas County forward and I want progress in the areas of economic development with supportive educational opportunities.
Why would you be a good commissioner?
My manufacturing career will allow me to work with economic developers and small manufacturing companies for a brighter, more prosperous future for all Texas County residents. I also acquired strong organizational skills, and experience in budget management and quality control as a troubleshooter during my 40 years of working for Ford Motor Company at the Lima Engine Plant. I also have many years of experience in public service in the following positions: road commissioner, councilman, police chief, fireman and EMT, all giving me the wide background needed to oversee county operations.
Identify two major issues related to the office you are seeking and how you plan to handle them.
Issue #1: Township road boards. Recent news articles have revealed a variety of issues between the township road boards and the commissioners. The commission contracts the township road board to care for the roads and the commissioners should have input into how they are maintained and how the money is spent. As your commissioner, I will keep close supervision and public transparency of the township board day-to-day operations.
Issue #2: Commissioners involvement in sheriff’s department. The sheriff is an elected official who is sworn to uphold local, state and federal law. If any wrongdoing is suspect, I would contact the Missouri attorney general and would not involve any local boards, commissions or local elected officials in any investigation of the sheriff’s department. The commission did not have the power to involve itself in recent internal investigations. They do fund the sheriff’s department and all other county departments, and therefore do oversee those expenditures.
LINDA GARRETT (R)
Background information: My 35 years business experience in the R. L. Garrett Construction Company has proven valuable in my past 12 years as your commissioner. The 10 years experience as a self employed accountant and tax preparer has also been beneficial to this position. My 35 years in being actively involved in raising beef cattle on our farm gives me the agriculture experience needed to understand the concerns many have in this area. I served 16 years as church treasurer and served as co-chair on the church’s building committee. I currently serve as treasurer in three different organizations.
Why do you want to be a commissioner?
Texas County is as important to me as it was to my grandparents and I want to help assure it will be a safe and prosperous county for our great-grandson. I take pride in representing the citizens of Texas County and I enjoy working for and with these citizens. I feel I have proven my dedication and willingness to work hard for them and I would like to continue to serve them as their District II Commissioner.
Why would you be a good commissioner?
I believe my past experience as your commissioner speaks for itself. My work ethics, my integrity and always being straightforward have earned me the respect of the citizens in Texas County. As a mother is possessive of their children, I am possessive of Texas County. I will always stand firm for what I believe is best for our county. Private property rights are very important to me and I will continue to voice my opposition to any threats to take these rights away from our citizens.
Identify two issues related to a commissioner and how you plan to handle them.
Jobs and education in Texas County have always been very important to me and I will continue do everything in my power to improve both. The biggest reasonability and issues for any county commissioner is to assure a balanced budget while providing the services of county government and at the same time spending the taxpayers’ money wisely. This will continue to be an issue for all counties in Missouri. I have proven my ability to do this while continuing to work against federal and state unfunded mandates to our county.
Another issue I am concerned with is the conditions of the county bridges in Texas County. I would like to form a county bridge department but only if this can be accomplished without any new taxes and without taking monies from our townships.
•Texas County sheriff: Melissa Dunn, D, vs. James Sigman, R
•Texas County commissioner District 1: Rose Ward, D, vs. John Casey, R
•Texas County commissioner District 2: Ron Kramer, D, vs. Linda Garrett, R
•Texas County public administrator: Lisa Ruller Dixon, D, vs. Connie Thompson, R
•Texas County collector-treasurer: Tammy Cantrell, D, vs. Jack Hines, R