Tweet! Tweet!

Who, me twitter? Yeah, well, maybe.
Haven't done much tweeting since the days of writing books, but since I've jumped into the Jasper County MO. Commissioners race figured it was another vehicle in getting the word out plus making myself a little more transparent to the citizenry. So...you can find me, make that tweet me at
@garrymgraves
Thanks for coming and don't overlook that 'Donate' button at top right of page. Don't be bashful, donate whatever you want, it all add's up you know. Don't you just love how this bird's eyes are staring at you? HeHe!

More Facebook comments...

Here we go...here's another comment from my Facebook page, hope you find it informative. Dear People, you can comment here or on my Facebook page, doesn't matter, it's just that I like to display posts coming from citizens on both media. Particularly, the blog (what you're looking at now), cause it enables the readers to see my 'donate' button, top right. HeHe!

Anyway, here's one from ...

Larry G. Peters · Friends with Ron Woody and 2 others I don't care if you've ever built a bridge or not. What I want to know is this, is your only answer to the county's problems going to be more money and to buy every building in Carthage and Joplin?

gg - Okay, good question. I wish I knew what you're talking about in specifics. Did you have any particular building in mind or are you talking about all buildings? Are you thinking that the county is acquiring property (buildings) without any particular reason in mind? I did read an article a week or so ago about the acquisition of the Cave Springs building, is this of which you speak? The article mentioned if I remember that the thought was to turn the property into a park or something. I guess Larry you'll have to elaborate more about your 'building acquisition' concern here with a comment. I'm sure there are citizens who have similar concerns, so let all of us know what you're thinking. 

Now, here's another from an old school buddy in California! Yeah, I know. HeHe!

Steve Nichols I don't care if you have ever built a bridge either. What I want to know is will you buy me a steak dinner every Thursday night while my wife is watching Grey's Anatomy. You can post this to your blog.

gg - Wouldn't you know that at some point in the campaign that the subject of 'food', 'drinks' and me 'buying' would come up. Leave it to an old pal to get in the first dig and put me on the spot. HeHe Stevie!!

Seriously folks, your donations drive my campaign so don't be bashful. Any little helps, it adds up! Thanks, Garry

Who am I and why you might be interested...

   Most Jasper County citizens don't know me from Adam, and that's okay. For those who do know me I'm sure a few of them are not impressed, and that's okay too. But what you might think impressive about me is the fact that I've thrown my hat into the ring in running for Jasper County Commissioner, Eastern District. Is a person courageous or foolhardy in wanting to run for public office? I think courageous and maybe, just maybe, I'll convince you that stepping forward, in whatever capacity is always the good and courageous thing to do. Some might think that putting yourself up for criticism is not how they want to live their lives and that's completely understandable. Maybe you think there will be no criticisms...of you personally, of your decisions, of your viewpoints, etc., well, think again. You can't please all the people all the time. So, you get a nasty email, a distasteful 'letter to the editor', whatever, there are many methods to convey dissatisfaction and that's not the point. The point is...people have a right complain about their elected representatives, whether they voted for them or not. And that my friend is a good thing, IMO. (Hopefully, the above section of my post will impart the fact that I have broad shoulders). Hehe!

  Next, you might be wondering: What makes me qualified for County Commissioner? Why do I want to run for this office? What specifically would I do to create value in the position?

• How qualified? -- people rate qualifications dissimilarly, but, let me just say that I'm married to my high school sweetheart 49 years in May, have three children and eight grandchildren, have nine years of college but didn't finish dissertation on doctoral degree with a business management specialty. I've written and self-published three books, two nonfiction and one fiction. Have taught statistics, finance and economics at a local community college in Michigan. I've owned my own business for last 25 years and have been in private business (no governmental employment) my entire life. Oh yes, I'm a veteran of the Viet Nam era (was a MP). Nevertheless, I feel my best/most relevant qualifications are...I'm honest (wrote a book on subject), I'm objective (making no decisions of self-interest) and I'm empathetic (particularly with the old and disenfranchised). There you have it. 
• Why run? -- Candidly, I want to finish out my time in life 'doing for other people'. And yes, I believe the commissioner’s office is aiding our community and specifically our citizens. The diligent stewardship of the tax payers’ money is paramount and, the studied/researched decisions on the many issues confronting the office are of no less significant. My business background, my formal education, my character quotient and my energy, all suggest the commissioner’s position is right for me and YOU.
• How create value? -- Specifically by being in better contact with Jasper County citizens. Take my presence to them...with town hall meetings (in their city), work closely with businesses, churches, community organizations in querying out what concerns and issues the citizens have. Everyone has a busy life...so any method that I could employ to be a better listener, then that's what I intend to do.    

  This blog is another attempt at my desire to communicate with the citizens and taxpayers of Jasper County. I invite you to comment below or even send me an email (link at bottom of page) for those who want a more private communication. Thanks for coming and please come again. Always welcome suggestions on how to improve the blog or whatever. Let's hear from you! Thanks Again, Garry  

(P.S. I am the anti-establishment candidate)

Comments from my Facebook page...

While we're waiting for other blog features to develop I thought I'd plug in a couple comments from visitors to my Facebook page . Naturally, I asked the people making the comments for their permission to post the comment here on my blog. (They said yes)

Here's one...

Brent Alan Erwin · 16 mutual friends

So what makes you qualified if I may ask?? have you ever built a road or a bridge?

gg - I love that people take the time to post or comment about my running for Jasper County Commissioner...makes me think their really interested and not just wanting to make conversation for the sake of conversation...and here's a real/good question that I bet many others are asking the same thing. So...'what makes me qualified' Well, that's hard to say...I could defer to my biographic blog post (soon included here) where you might be able to determine for yourself if I'm indeed 'qualified' to be County Commissioner. And no, I've never built a road or bridge, if that's what you think qualifies or disqualifies me for running for this office. Reminds me of a story where a cancer patient asks his doctor if he's ever had cancer as a 'qualifier' for the doctor treating him, the doctor said no, but I've treated many cancer patients in my life and some are living today. So...maybe my not having built a road or bridge will automatically disqualify me out of hand. Stay tuned folks...read more and learn more about me before you disqualify me. 

Here's another from Brent...

Brent Alan Erwin · 16 mutual friends

Will you be available each day or will you be like the rest and only be available to the "GOOD OL BOY?: NETWORK??

gg - This is a good one and a little testy, I love that Mr. Erwin. #1. 'will I be available each day', well, in my mind, if the county commissioner is not available to the citizens he represents, then what good is he. I plan on listening to the citizens from where their at, in their city, not the Carthage Courthouse office. Seems more user-friendly to me. #2. 'will I only be available to the GOOD OL BOY NETWORK?' Hardly, it seems that 'network' you're talking about shut me out a long time ago. I'm anti-establishment, (an outsider) so...NO, I won't be shutting anyone out. Everyone, I mean everyone, will be heard. Here's another story...well, not a story but a adage about a proclamation. It has always been my way...to let the 'soup simmer', so to speak, before I believe or totally support someone's proclamation. I like to see if the persons actions support what they are saying. So I'm advising the citizenry to read about me, listen to what I say and determine for yourself if what I do matches what I say. 
  Thanks for your time folks and thanks for reading along. Keep in touch with me by typing in your email in the box below, where it says...'Follow this Blog' 
  And, pleeeease comment here on the blog for others to agree or disagree about what's said. For those who want to send me an email privately, then click on my address below where it says...'Have a question...'

Later, Garry Graves
P.S. Don't overlook that 'Donate' button, top right!

Sorry for the delay...

Yes, I know. Sorry for those who have clicked through to this page...and saw nothing! Soon, I will post my 'biographic' post so that you can read a little about me and the reason I'm running for Jasper County Commissioner.

Thanks for your patience.
Garry