THE QUESTION: County commissioner District 2 candidates forum: Why should we elect you?

In March 2008, I retired from managing Jack’s Sporting Goods & Hardware in Camdenton. I decided to offer my 48 years of business knowledge and people skills to the voters of District 2 in Camden County as their county commissioner. 
I would like to thank all the people who supported and voted for me in the August primary.
Having grown up on a farm, I learned what hard work and helping others is all about. I was also taught honesty and responsibility. 
I have been married for 45 years, 35 of which we have lived in Camden County. We have five grown children that all graduated from Camdenton High School. 
As anyone with children knows, they get you involved in the community  I coached girl’s softball in the summer league for several years and I was involved in the early stages of recycling in Camdenton.
While attending junior college, I worked at Montgomery Ward in El Dorado, Kan.  I finished my college career at Emporia State and worked at Montgomery Ward while I did so.  While in Emporia, I worked four years for Crawford Manufacturing Company supervising 300 people and controlling a 36 million-dollar inventory.
In 1971, we moved to Springfield, Mo., where I began a 6-1/2 year career with Venture Stores.  While working as a department manager, I was promoted to merchandise specialist over sporting goods. 
This position required traveling to all individual stores.  Then I was promoted to sporting goods buyer.
In 1978, we moved to Cleveland, Ohio. I was a sporting goods buyer for Cook United. I bought sporting goods for 70 stores with a 31 million-dollar inventory. 
My next move was in 1979, to the Lake of the Ozarks to work for Dickerson Supply. Dickerson Supply was a fishing tackle distributor, which eventually became the largest in the United States. 
I was responsible for overseeing the buying of most merchandise, 52 salesmen and working with major customers.
In 1997, I took over as manager of Jack’s Sporting Goods & Hardware in Camdenton.  While at Jack’s, I acquired 11 years experience with major sewer and water projects such as Big Island and Cross Creek to name a couple of systems I provided the necessary material for.  In addition, I presently sit on the Camden County Wastewater Variance Board. 
I taught crappie seminars for 32 years at sport shows all over the U.S.  I did two crappie seminars a year for the Lake Career and Technical Center in Camdenton, and donated the proceeds to the school.
The biggest compliment I have ever received came at the end of the August primary election. 
This is when the two Republican and the two Democratic candidates that also ran for Second District Commissioner, came to me and agreed to support me in my quest. 
Career politicians say this is “political history”, as they have never seen it happen before. 
In 2002-2003, Camden County received a special federal appropriation and grant to contribute to the installation of sewer systems in six areas of Camden County.  Four of those areas are in the Second District of Camden County. 
As a result of the weak representation from my opponent, the incumbent, all of the funds originally allocated to these areas have either been spent or will be spent for the Normac Estates, Camelot and Sunny Slope sewer systems. 
The other four areas that were listed in the original Camden County grant application will get nothing of the money Congress originally intended for them to help with the cost of installing sewer systems if they wanted them. 
As it stands now, if these areas decide they must install sewer systems, all of the money will come out of the pocket of people in those areas in one way or another, through increased sewer fees or assessments of some kind.
Here are a few things I can offer to the voters in District 2 and the rest of Camden County:
• An open-minded, common sense approach to problems and opportunities
• 48 successful years business experience including manufacturing, wholesale, retail and farming (at present, co-owner of cow/calf operation.
• A firm commitment to provide the proper attention to the rural areas of Camden County.  The attention they deserve.
• Provide hands on support and help to the Road and Bridge department
• I will make myself available to the voters.  I will look and listen to their problems and concerns. 
We can only improve with the voters help. 
I will appreciate your vote and support on Nov. 4.