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.
(P.S. I am the anti-establishment candidate)
Gary, I'll try this again. I lost the last post somehow. The buying of buildings is just a symptom of ever expanding government at all levels. More regulation, more power, more intrusion and of course more taxes at every level. Look at the sales tax rate in Jasper county. Isn't it over 8%? And this happens an eighth or a quarter at a time. I know that it includes city tax also but at some point, it has to stop. Government never shrinks it only expands in its scope, power and cost. I view government as a necessary evil the best government is that which governs least. I believe this was the view of our founding fathers. I understand I'm probably tilting at windmills, but at some point it needs to stop. Thanks for letting me rant.
ReplyDeleteHey Gary, how's this for answering you questions...inline, HeHe!
DeleteGary, (it's Garry not Gary) I'll try this again. I lost the last post somehow. (not important my friend, let's continue) The buying of buildings is just a symptom of ever expanding government (I hate government expansion, just so you know) at all levels. More regulation, more power, more intrusion and of course more taxes at every level. (I'm with you my friend) Look at the sales tax rate in Jasper county. Isn't it over 8%? And this happens an eighth or a quarter at a time. (yeah, it's like cooking a frog, a little temp at a time) I know that it includes city tax also but at some point, it has to stop. (I agree!) Government never shrinks it only expands in its scope, power and cost. (I agree, it's because of the bureaucrats in charge...never would they consider cutting an agency here or there. Why not?) I view government as a necessary evil the best government is that which governs least. (was that Reagan who said that, I'm a Reagan Conservative) I believe this was the view of our founding fathers. I understand I'm probably tilting at windmills, (never heard this term before) but at some point it needs to stop. (I agree my friend) Thanks for letting me rant.(No rant here...I'm agreeing with you 100%. Will you vote for me? - Answer in this post.)
Garry, did I get it right this time? Sorry. I don't know yet but I'm interested. What areas do you see where Jasper county can begin to reduce the size and cost of government? Another issue is this. The current commission has public hearings during the day when most people are working. Could this change so that more people would be able to participate. Maybe it wouldn't make a difference. But it would be nice to have the opportunity. Thanks Garry
DeleteGeeish, I called you Gary earlier, sorry, it's Larry...well I hope you're interested enough to vote for me and it is my way to make myself readily available to anyone who has a question or comment. This blog should prove the point, I'M LISTENING! Now, Larry, about 'reducing the size and cost of government', it's a great concern of mine too. Sometimes I think city, county or even state administrators think that if their not adding an 'agency' here or there, or implementing a 'program' here or there...they're not growing! Of course, new agencies and new programs cost money, many times its money we don't have, consequently, it's asking the citizenry for more money to fund these new programs that really makes me wonder what their thinking. Don't get me wrong, I'm for growth and new things for the citizens, but, not at the expense of ramming down the throat another tax increase or allocating funds where only a few citizens are benefiting. As for 'public hearings' being held at other times than during the day, well, I'm for that but there are three commissioners so I'm not the 'decider' about how to make that happen. However, I am the decider about ME. I'm thinking that having meetings in the cities where the people are would be a helpful thing to do. Having town hall meetings in places like: Sarcoxie, Webb City, Oronogo, Jasper...all over the county. That way the citizens don't have to travel as far in attending a meeting at the courthouse. What do you think of that, Larry?
DeleteI agree on both counts. As an elected official, it's important to be available, within reason, for public input. It seems that at all levels of government, the pressure to do something is great and must be hard to resist. For example, in my neighborhood, Kafir road intersects Civil War road. Kafir road did not stop. People were continually running the stop signs. When people complained, the response was to make the intersection a four way stop even though they admitted that they could not enforce two stop signs. Politicians acted but the action did nothing to solve the problem. People still run the stop signs with abandon. The can say they took action but nothing was accomplished. What would've happened if they simply answered honestly that they coutd not correct the problem and that if you used that intersection you should take personal responsibility and be prepared to stop. That would seem a reasonable response, but it may be impossible for the politician to make. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteHi Garry, one more question. Your bio states that you wrote a book about honesty. What is your anchor for honesty. What makes a person honest? And what keeps one honest?
ReplyDeleteI wrote a book about five virtues (Honesty, Integrity, Courage, Compassion, Humility) that I recognize as 'fleeting', by that I mean simply they come and go. My research convinced me that nothing is 100%, but something can be so complete as to be within a 'margin of error' (I also taught statistics at the college level, so I can do that). Still, people who think of themselves as honest, probably are. However, there can be instances where all of us are less honest to some minute degree without really knowing it (subliminal), but still can claim to be honest (within MOE), HeHe! 'What makes a person honest'? you ask...any number of good habits but mainly, IMO, practice! 'What Keeps one honest'? practice again.
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