Voters throughout Jefferson County will select four members of the seven-member Jefferson County 911 Dispatch Board of Directors in the April 5 election.
The agency has a pair of four-year terms open in both of its districts this year, and neither District 1 incumbent, Vernon Cherry and Gary Wright, filed for new terms, so voters in that district will choose two successors from a field that includes John R. Kozel, former Jefferson County Councilman Jim Terry, North Jefferson County Ambulance District Chief Jamie Guinn and John Whitehead.
Both incumbents in District 2 are seeking their second four-year terms, Brian R. Taylor and Andrew (Andy) Sides. John Thurman is seeking to unseat one of them.
Thurman did not return a Leader candidate questionnaire.
Board members are unpaid.
FIRST DISTRICT
KOZEL, 55, lives in Hillsboro. He and his wife, Crystal, have four children. He is a sergeant with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. A 1986 graduate of Ritenour High School, he served in the U.S. Air Force for eight years.
TERRY, 79, lives in Cedar Hill. He and his wife, Teresa, have two children and four grandchildren. He is a retired electronics engineer for McDonnell Douglas-Boeing and also was a software engineer. He received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and a master’s degree in electrical engineering, both from University of Missouri-Rolla (now Missouri Science and Technology). He previously was on the 911 board from 2013-2016 and he represented District 7 on the Jefferson County Council from 2015 to 2021.
GUINN, 49, lives in Fenton. He and his wife, Susan, have two sons. He is the chief of the North Jefferson County Ambulance District. He is a certified emergency medical technician, paramedic, ambulance services manager and compliance officer.
WHITEHEAD, 51, lives in Byrnes Mill. He and his wife, Sue, have two children and one grandchild. He is the vice president of North American sales at Hexagon Safety’s infrastructure and geospatial division. He received an associate degree in public safety communications from Jacksonville State University, a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Western Governors University and a graduate certificate and a master’s degree in public safety and administration, both from Texas A&M University.
Whitehead worked as a dispatcher and operations manager for Jefferson County 911 from 1995 to 2002, when he left to work for Hexagon.
What experience do you have (elected office, civic organizations, volunteer work, etc.) that might serve you well in this position?
Kozel: I have been a certified police officer since 1991 and have worked with all professions within public safety.
Terry: I was elected to the Big River Ambulance District board (13 years), the County Council (6 1/2 years) and was appointed to a three-year term on the 911 board. I served 12 years as president of the Lang Valley subdivision, four years as secretary of High Ridge Rotary and as treasurer of my church council and have been a member of the Hwy. W/MM Task Force since 2000 and its chair since 2008.
Guinn: I currently sit on the Public Safety Commission of Jefferson County and the BackStoppers of Jefferson County board.
Whitehead: I started as a volunteer junior firefighter for Shady Valley Fire Protection District in 1983 and a volunteer firefighter for the Cedar Hill Fire Protection District in 1995. That year, I began dispatching for Jefferson County 911 and was promoted to shift supervisor then to operations manager. I also have served six years (2006-2012) on the North Jefferson County Ambulance District’s Board of Directors.
What are the biggest problems facing the agency and how would you address them?
Kozel: Like most organizations, finding and retaining employees is critical to the day-to-day operations of 911. This must be a top priority to ensure a well-staffed communication center is available to provide quality service to our community.
Terry: Funding the ongoing expenses to keep radios, phone system and dispatch electronics updated as needs require and equipment becomes obsolete as well as keeping salaries competitive. I plan to watch the budget to ensure money is used wisely.
Guinn: Employee retention, I want to work with leadership and the personnel to build a plan to make our 911 agency a destination instead of a training center. I further want to work with leadership to ensure five-, 10- and beyond-year plans are built to secure the district fiscally. I want to ensure our dispatchers have the best tools to provide services at all times.
Whitehead: 911 centers throughout the U.S. are facing similar challenges. The first issue is hiring and retaining talent. Emergency dispatching is a stressful profession, both mentally and physically. I want to help our dispatchers and provide the focus and programs to help alleviate post-traumatic stress syndrome and burnout and lower the turnover rate. The second challenge is with technology. My experience with cybersecurity and digital transformation will help ensure Jefferson County keeps up with the latest technology to secure sensitive data and continue adopting technologies to make our county safer.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Kozel: I’ve been in public safety for more than 31 years and understand the importance of having a strong 911 Dispatch. I am also a small business owner and know the importance of operating a professional and efficient organization. If elected, I will strive to support our employees by lobbying for competitive salaries and advanced training. Investing in employees will foster a positive work environment and continue to provide the community with the reliable and professional service they expect and deserve. I will ensure transparency regarding spending and work hard to be a good steward of taxpayer dollars.
Terry: My experience in electronic systems and software engineering, combined with many years of experience as treasurer in various organizations, is a good fit for this position. I am retired so I have time to do the job well.
Guinn: I am fair, honest and I believe in living my life with integrity and service above self. I want Jefferson County 911 to be the best it can be and ensure leadership has the support needed to promote the center and its employees forward in the most fiscally responsible way possible.
Whitehead: My background over the last 38 years has provided me with a focus on emergency services. My goal is simply to provide support to our 911 staff and ensure they are recognized as critical assets in the emergency service chain of responders. Measurable success would be quantified with the continued longevity of the current team, along with a waiting list of potential candidates looking to be hired.
SECOND DISTRICT
TAYLOR, 47, lives in Imperial. He and his wife, Mary, have three children. He is a captain of support services with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. A 1992 graduate of Oakville High School, he received a Class A certification from the Jefferson College Police Training Institute in 1998.
SIDES, 37, lives in Barnhart. He and his wife, Kristen, have three children. He is a captain with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. A 2003 graduate of De Soto High School, he received an associate degree in criminal justice from Jefferson College in 2009 and a Police Officer Standards and Training certificate in 2009.
What experience do you have (elected office, civic organizations, volunteer work, etc.) that might serve you well in this position?
Taylor: I’m a current member of the 911 board, finishing my first term. I’m also a member of the Festus-Crystal City Elks, and I have more than 20 years of law enforcement experience. I have been an instructor at the Jefferson College Police Training Institute for recruits and commissioned officers.
Sides: I have served on the 911 board since 2018 and am a member of the Jefferson County Public Safety Commission.
What are the biggest problems facing the agency and how would you address them?
Taylor: The hiring and retention of qualified employees. Jefferson County 911 has the best employees I have had the pleasure of working with. The issue is that they are understaffed and overworked, which leads to burnout. Adding qualified employees and getting the agency back to full staff is imperative. Keeping the employees we have should also be one our top priorities. I would re-evaluate pay scales to keep our salaries comparable with those of surrounding counties.
Sides: Attracting and retaining qualified employees. We must work to ensure our salary and benefits package is competitive for the region so we can guarantee a quality, fast and efficient dispatch service.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Taylor: As a current board member, I already possess the knowledge of what this position entails. Having worked in the emergency services profession for more than 20 years has given me the insight concerning this organization’s needs and how to meet them. My goals:
■ Raise starting pay for employees to attract more applicants.
■ Enhance training for current and new employees to keep them updated on current trends, standards and procedures.
■ Get all emergency services in the county to use the same dispatch center. Having consistency and a set of training standards would benefit the residents of this county.
Sides: In my first four years on the board, I demonstrated that asking questions is critical. We must have members who are not afraid to ask questions when it comes to how taxpayer dollars are used. I will continue to deliver accountability, efficiency and professionalism. I will do what I can to support our public safety professionals to make sure they are adequately compensated for the incredibly difficult job they do. Success is not one-dimensional, and we must deliver with a multifaceted approach.