THE QUESTION: County commissioner District 2 candidates forum:

Why should we elect you?
Eight years ago, the good folks of the Second District of Camden County entrusted me with the Commissioner’s seat and I have never taken that job lightly. 
Since then, I have learned a lot about not just maintaining a county, but also making the improvements that a growing community like Lake of the Ozarks demands.   
Having lived here since 1970, I’ve seen this area go from a “mom and pop” resort area where a fishing cabin was everyone’s dream to the high-rise condominiums and multi-million dollar homes that have replaced or been built next to someone’s weekend cabin.  
Then there is the size and diversity of District 2 with its rural farm areas and lakeside neighborhoods. I knew it would be a challenge to throw my hat in the ring and take on the tough issues that our area has faced and continues to face, but I was willing to take on that challenge. 
Many people know me from my 38 years in the entertainment business, which has been a real blessing to me and my family, but I knew that I had more to offer to the community than just a fun night on the town.  
My journey here began in 2000, when the former commissioner, J.C. Mosier, decided to retire.  I took it to prayer and felt a “yes” inside of me.
I presented the idea to my wife and with the help and support of many of my friends, I won that election. 
I knew that I was not just under obligation to the people of Camden County, but also under obligation to God to do the best job that I could do and I still feel that way today.  
In my eight years with the county, I have been involved with the implementation of Planning and Zoning. 
Although this was voted on by the people, not everyone likes these changes, but it looks ahead to protect your real estate investments, the health of our lake, and will pay off for our kids and grandkids. 
Of course, with more than 900 miles of county roads, these are always at the forefront of our issues. I’ve begun road improvement programs, widening, striping, upgrading, and resurfacing, and improving low water slabs. 
I listen to concerns and work hard to try to solve the problems that arise. We also implemented a Road Bond Ordinance and recently worked to overturn the Village Law.
We completed a sewer project at Sunny Slope, and are in the process of sewer construction at Camelot and Normac Estates.
I’ve been involved with setting up our area’s Geographic Information System (GIS) to help identify parcels of land, voter districts, ambulance and fire districts, planning and zoning districts, etc.
We’ve enlarged and improved our local health department and have helped to increase funds to the sheriff’s department to add deputies and improve their salaries and add animal control.  
Many times I use the term “we” because the Camden County Commission is a team of three people and I feel that the current commission has a great working relationship, each of us bringing something unique and important to the mix. 
To that mix, I try to be what I value in a good leader; honest, fair, caring, dependable, available, approachable, teachable and hard working with good, old-fashioned common sense about decisions on spending and handling problems. 
One of the nicest things I’ve heard recently came from a friend of mine who said I was the most “un-political” politician they knew of.  I understood that to mean that I don’t have underlying, hidden agendas or do “under the table handshakes” with outside entities to advance their cause.  I work for the good of the community, not special interest groups.
On Nov. 4, please consider allowing me to continue to use the knowledge and experience I’ve gained to serve you and together we can keep Camden County moving in the right direction.