Age: 39

Current Occupation: Executive Director-Barry County E9-1-1

Past Experience: 20 Years in Public Safety with 13 years in an executive leadership role, current North Alderman

Education: ENP (Emergency Numbering Professional) with numerous coursework and CEU’s in budgets, leadership, scheduling, employee management and government regulations/legislation

1. Why do you want to be North Ward Alderman?

I currently serve as North Ward Alderman, during this term, I directly served on the Police Efficiency committee where we made positive changes with benefits, pay and equipment to make CPD more attractable as an employer, which drastically improved our hiring position and retention of officers. I have been an involved Alderman in council meetings, reviewing expenditures, approving budgets and reviewing action items to ensure City of Cassville is looking forward and taking a logical and common sense approach with decisions.

2. What qualifications support your candidacy for city council?

With my qualifications I have learned as an employee in a government setting for 20 years, there are many similarities that have helped me to understand the city of Cassville’s accounting and different financial accounts. As well as the need for growth to support our sales taxes to help aid our decisions in services we provide to our Cassville citizens.

3.  If elected, what do you see as your top priorities?

If I am elected to serve the citizens of Cassville, I would like to see our new public works building finished and on budget, as well as new opportunities to improve our city with beautification, businesses and improvements with our trail and parks system. As well as supporting city hall, public works and police departments.

4. What will be your approach to managing the city’s finances?

We are fortunate to have staff that have done a great job with our finances, as well as our Mayor and my fellow council members with our fiscal approach with reserves and the budgets we have passed. I would like to continue this approach and find ways to keep expanding services if we can afford it. In particular with our infrastructure, where we can provide water and sewer to new areas to promote growth and expand or enhance city services and with being a competitive and attractive employer to our staff.

5. Are there specific areas of the budget you like to cut, or any areas you would fund more?

This is always a delicate balance, however this last budget we approved, we were able to fund the requests that were asked of council. At this time, I am comfortable with where our budget is, however, I am always listening to our citizens and staff to ensure we are reviewing their department needs and evaluating if we are able to make changes or approve areas that need something different with the budget process. I was happy that we were able to conclude after our budget process that we would not require any rate increases in our water and sewer rates, this is an example of fiscal management and proper assessment of local funds and balances.