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Meet the candidates for Howell County presiding commissioner

BRYAN BRAUER

Posted

Editor’s note: Ahead of Tuesday’s primary election, the Quill will print questions presented to and answered by candidates running for the office of Howell County presiding commissioner, Republicans Ralph Riggs and Bryan Brauer. No Democrats or members of other parties are running for local offices and all other candidates for county offices are unopposed. These Q&As were printed in two parts, the first appearing Friday, and the second Saturday. Answers are published here in full as they’re written, with light editing for style consistency. Absentee voting is underway through 5 p.m. Monday and may be done at the Howell County Clerk’s Office, 35 Court Square. 

 

How long have you been a part of the Howell County community? To what extent have you been a part of local government in Howell County? I was born and raised in Howell County and raised my two children here. For the past 31 years I have served the public as a police officer at the West Plains Police Department.

 

The primary duty of a county commissioner is to create and implement policy. What one part of county government would receive more attention if you were elected? I believe we need to work closely with our municipalities in our county to promote economic development creating more jobs in our community, which would benefit all the residents in Howell County.

 

If new resources were available, what one area of county services would you feel most needs additional resources? 1. Technology: The Howell County website is outdated. This can be utilized to share information that would be at the fingertips of the taxpayer. Also a countywide information page along with notification app could be used to notify taxpayers or a variety of things such as timely filings, late notices and for safety reasons. 2. Transparency: Each year in the news is a list of how money is spent in Howell County. I would like to have that available on a mid-year basis or even quarterly basis, along with incoming tax revenue figures so the residents of Howell County are informed as to where money is spent.

 

Will you, as the chief elected official of Howell County, be willing to dedicate extra time and travel it takes to keep Howell County progressing forward and engage with other commissioners from around the state — even though commissioner’s jobs in third class counties are considered part-time? My plan if elected is devote all my time to the office of presiding commissioner. Even though the office is a part-time position, I plan on making it full-time, not just a few hours a week but devoting all my effort into making Howell County safer and financially stronger.

 

Another important duty is to construct, approve and implement a budget. What is your experience with preparing or authorizing budgets? Not only have I worked under a budget, as command staff at the West Plains Police Department, I have spent years as a team member creating the police department’s budget.

 

Are county taxes too high, about right or pleasingly low? Do you plan to promote any changes to existing taxes? If so, why? I do not believe we need new taxes in Howell County. My job as presiding commissioner will be insuring your tax dollars are wisely spent. I will look into the current taxes the voters have passed and make sure our residents are informed of where the taxpayer dollar is spent.

 

County commissioners are also responsible for the county’s workforce. How do you anticipate addressing budget shortfalls and employee payroll & benefits in light of rising costs associated with inflation? County employees are the heart and soul of day to day operations. Employees need to be receiving a competitive salary to retain employee’s long term. In this day and age workers are hard to find and many are hired and then leave for a better paying job. I feel we need to join with other municipalities or even other counties for insurance and other employee benefits. I want to work with other county officeholders to ensure their departments are adequately staffed with quality personnel. Priority-based budgeting and implementing monthly budget meetings with other elected county office holders will insure that all money spent in the county will be based on what is most needed.

 

When managing public agencies, is it better to have more employees at a modest wage or few employees at a wage high enough to attract quality applicants? It’s important to pay for quality employees and maximize the use of the tax dollar. There are many jobs within county government that require certain skills. As an example, sheriffs’ deputies are required to maintain a license with the state and therefore are an example of an employee that is needed to have higher wages. We still need enough employees to timely complete the tasks they are given.

 

Regarding your prospective position, what do you consider your greatest strengths? Weaknesses? For the past 31 years being a detective at the West Plains Police Department, I make daily decisions that affect our community. These decisions are not taken lightly and sometimes are complex and urgent. So my greatest strength is my interaction with the public and seeing the needs of the community. I believe my weakness is not knowing every detail of the operation of Howell County. There is more to the commission’s job than just our county roads. That’s why I will work as a full-time commissioner to see the needs of the county are met.

What do you consider the biggest challenge of the position you are running for? What areas need improvement and why? The biggest challenge is to be able to reach out to all of the county residents about the issues affecting our county. I am going to make this a full time position and devote all of my time and effort to the county.

What do you see as the most pressing needs for infrastructure or capital projects in Howell County?

First, I believe the sheriffs’ office is in need of a new jail. The current structure was built in the ‘80s. Unfortunately, it is outdated and always in need of repair. Second, I feel that with the latest tax that was passed for the road and bridge department, we need to be pushing toward a plan to chip and seal more county roads.

Are county land-use regulations and permitting processing doing enough to assure the public interest or are they too burdensome? Howell County does not have planning and zoning regulations, however municipalities within the county do. Therefore, the county commission cannot pass county ordinances that would regulate land use. I would NOT be in support of having the ability to tell residents what they can or can’t do on their property.

 

What is your vision for the future of Howell County? What changes would you advocate and why? Transparency: The number one question I get while campaigning is, “What does the presiding

commissioner do?” If elected, you will know what the job is and what your taxpayer dollars are going to. There are many ways to keep the residents informed of the condition of the county. I feel we need to have commissioner meetings in Mtn. View and Willow Springs, not just West Plains. Updated technology: The Howell County website is not current and not utilized to the fullest potential. Also a countywide notification app like the city of West Plains uses to inform residents of timely filing of taxes, assessment forms, weather and public safety.

 

What has been your greatest accomplishment in your career? In your personal life? My greatest accomplishment of my career is I feel I have gained the respect of the citizens of Howell County through my work at the West Plains Police Department. My personal life greatest accomplishments are that I have raised two outstanding children who I am very proud of. My daughter is a registered nurse and my son is an architect.

 

West Plains Daily Quill, West Plains Daily Quill news, West Plains Daily Quill elections, Quill news, Quill elections, local elections, local government, Howell County election, Howell County primary, Howell County Commission, meet the candidates, Bryan Brauer, Ralph Riggs


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