Get to Know Your Presiding Commissioner Candidates; Election Aug. 2
Each candidate answered the same questions, with unabridged answers. Candidates are listed alphabetically by their surname.
Steve Blankenship
Age: 57
City of Residence: Jenkins
1. What do you feel Barry County’s largest concern is? How would you face it?
The largest concern I can see right now is the economy as a whole. $5.00 gas & diesel plus rising inflation could possibly slow tourism, which could result in lower sales tax revenue, which in turn hurts the county budget.
I believe the best way to face it is consulting with each of the elected officials and evaluating everything in our budget together as we go.
2. How will you promote positive relationships with all other county offices and officials?
The first thing to promote is positive relationship with the other county officers and officials to keep good open communication and stay up with what they need to do their jobs and work with each of them.
3. What is your opinion of the present budget, and what changes, if any, would you make if elected?
I feel the present budget is pretty solid, we have a little surplus and since the law enforcement tax passed I believe the county is in pretty good shape.
I stated in my concerns we will have to keep a close eye on our revenue since all the county budget is based on sales tax and that could be drastically reduced if the people don't have money to make purchases, and low tourism could affect the revenue coming in.
4. If elected, how would you maintain awareness of concerns facing all demographics of the county?
If I am elected I want to be open and available to the people of this county and listen to each one's concerns. I will do my best to get to know the people and do my best to help, although I realize I won't be able to please or make everyone happy.
5. What changes, if any, would you make to the office of Presiding Commissioner?
To start off, I would not be making any changes until I learn the job to figure out what changes, if any, need to be made.
Drew Henbest
Age: 27
City of Residence: Cassville
1. What do you feel Barry County’s largest concern is? How would you face it?
I think the largest concern at this time would be the jail project. My focus would be to make sure it comes in on time and on budget, and then address any needs that arise because of it.
The county desperately needs is road district reform. We've got 26 independent road districts in the county, we are a very large county, but we don't need 26. I'd like to get that into a 8 - 10 range. We've got a lot of small districts with a lot of money, and a lot of large districts without any money, and that's something I'd like to try to get on the ballot, so we can help more people with the roads.
2. How will you promote positive relationships with all other county offices and officials?
I would just keep an open dialogue with everyone. One thing that I would like to do would be to post in the paper, and online, a quarterly report, with reasoning. That way, there's more engagement with the community itself. There are a lot of people who don't know why the commission is doing things the way they are. Then the same with those above me, at the state and federal level, just making sure I'm informed with what's going on on the state level, and what our needs are down here.
3. What is your opinion of the present budget, and what changes, if any, would you make if elected?
There are no large holes in the budget that I've seen. One thing that I am interested in seeing is, recreational marijuana is on the ballot for this November, and if that passes, the county can levy up to a 3% sales tax. That would be a big boom to the county's finances. Something I'd like that money to go to is more mental health initiatives.
4. If elected, how would you maintain awareness of concerns facing all demographics of the county?
I did notice that this county lacks any kind of website with information. That's something that I think on a government level, that's something we should invest in, so people know what's going on in the county.
5. What changes, if any, would you make to the office of Presiding Commissioner?
More transparency would really be the bottom line. Letting people know what's going on and why, your reasoning behind making that decision.
Chad Johnson
Age: 35
City of Residence: Eagle Rock
1. What do you feel Barry County’s largest concern is? How would you face it?
There’s not one thing that I would consider the largest concern in the county but a few things that are no secret to citizens. The substance abuse in the county is very disheartening. We need to do what we can to combat substance abuse and protect our citizens. We live in a great area, but we aren’t immune from bad things happening.
2. How will you promote positive relationships with all other county offices and officials?
I enjoy serving my community, and if elected, my goal is to visit every county employee, and tour every county facility. I will hit the ground running, be available and have an open-door policy. I want to listen to the other officials, not just talk.
3. What is your opinion of the present budget, and what changes, if any, would you make if elected?
I would preserve our fiscally responsible County Budget. My responsibility would be overseeing administration of the day-to-day office, represent County interests at state and federal levels, manage budget and finances.
4. If elected, how would you maintain awareness of concerns facing all demographics of the county?
Answered with question 2.
5. What changes, if any, would you make to the office of Presiding Commissioner?
The county needs certain improvements. I believe there is a lot of grant money available for this. Having someone in the office with knowledge of grant writing, and the skills it takes would be very beneficial in acquiring funds for the county. Number one goal would be improving our infrastructure while keeping taxes in check.
Steve Blankenship
Age: 57
City of Residence: Jenkins
1. What do you feel Barry County’s largest concern is? How would you face it?
The largest concern I can see right now is the economy as a whole. $5.00 gas & diesel plus rising inflation could possibly slow tourism, which could result in lower sales tax revenue, which in turn hurts the county budget.
I believe the best way to face it is consulting with each of the elected officials and evaluating everything in our budget together as we go.
2. How will you promote positive relationships with all other county offices and officials?
The first thing to promote is positive relationship with the other county officers and officials to keep good open communication and stay up with what they need to do their jobs and work with each of them.
3. What is your opinion of the present budget, and what changes, if any, would you make if elected?
I feel the present budget is pretty solid, we have a little surplus and since the law enforcement tax passed I believe the county is in pretty good shape.
I stated in my concerns we will have to keep a close eye on our revenue since all the county budget is based on sales tax and that could be drastically reduced if the people don't have money to make purchases, and low tourism could affect the revenue coming in.
4. If elected, how would you maintain awareness of concerns facing all demographics of the county?
If I am elected I want to be open and available to the people of this county and listen to each one's concerns. I will do my best to get to know the people and do my best to help, although I realize I won't be able to please or make everyone happy.
5. What changes, if any, would you make to the office of Presiding Commissioner?
To start off, I would not be making any changes until I learn the job to figure out what changes, if any, need to be made.
Drew Henbest
Age: 27
City of Residence: Cassville
1. What do you feel Barry County’s largest concern is? How would you face it?
I think the largest concern at this time would be the jail project. My focus would be to make sure it comes in on time and on budget, and then address any needs that arise because of it.
The county desperately needs is road district reform. We've got 26 independent road districts in the county, we are a very large county, but we don't need 26. I'd like to get that into a 8 - 10 range. We've got a lot of small districts with a lot of money, and a lot of large districts without any money, and that's something I'd like to try to get on the ballot, so we can help more people with the roads.
2. How will you promote positive relationships with all other county offices and officials?
I would just keep an open dialogue with everyone. One thing that I would like to do would be to post in the paper, and online, a quarterly report, with reasoning. That way, there's more engagement with the community itself. There are a lot of people who don't know why the commission is doing things the way they are. Then the same with those above me, at the state and federal level, just making sure I'm informed with what's going on on the state level, and what our needs are down here.
3. What is your opinion of the present budget, and what changes, if any, would you make if elected?
There are no large holes in the budget that I've seen. One thing that I am interested in seeing is, recreational marijuana is on the ballot for this November, and if that passes, the county can levy up to a 3% sales tax. That would be a big boom to the county's finances. Something I'd like that money to go to is more mental health initiatives.
4. If elected, how would you maintain awareness of concerns facing all demographics of the county?
I did notice that this county lacks any kind of website with information. That's something that I think on a government level, that's something we should invest in, so people know what's going on in the county.
5. What changes, if any, would you make to the office of Presiding Commissioner?
More transparency would really be the bottom line. Letting people know what's going on and why, your reasoning behind making that decision.
Chad Johnson
Age: 35
City of Residence: Eagle Rock
1. What do you feel Barry County’s largest concern is? How would you face it?
There’s not one thing that I would consider the largest concern in the county but a few things that are no secret to citizens. The substance abuse in the county is very disheartening. We need to do what we can to combat substance abuse and protect our citizens. We live in a great area, but we aren’t immune from bad things happening.
2. How will you promote positive relationships with all other county offices and officials?
I enjoy serving my community, and if elected, my goal is to visit every county employee, and tour every county facility. I will hit the ground running, be available and have an open-door policy. I want to listen to the other officials, not just talk.
3. What is your opinion of the present budget, and what changes, if any, would you make if elected?
I would preserve our fiscally responsible County Budget. My responsibility would be overseeing administration of the day-to-day office, represent County interests at state and federal levels, manage budget and finances.
4. If elected, how would you maintain awareness of concerns facing all demographics of the county?
Answered with question 2.
5. What changes, if any, would you make to the office of Presiding Commissioner?
The county needs certain improvements. I believe there is a lot of grant money available for this. Having someone in the office with knowledge of grant writing, and the skills it takes would be very beneficial in acquiring funds for the county. Number one goal would be improving our infrastructure while keeping taxes in check.
