There are three Republican and three Democratic candidates for the office of County Executive on the primary ballot. Samuel Rauls of Hillsboro, Gary Stout II of Festus and Bob Schott of Pevely will face off on the Democratic side, while the Republican side will feature a three-way race between incumbent Ken Waller of Herculaneum, Mark Paul of Imperial and Chris “Borgy” Borgerson of Festus. The two winners will face Constitution Party candidate J. Bennett of Cedar Hill in the Nov. 4 election.
DEMOCRATS
Rauls, 66, lives at 9818 West Vista Drive in Hillsboro. He and his wife, Suzy, have three children and three grandchildren. A former Jefferson County presiding commissioner (1999-2002), he is retired as executive director of Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation.
He attended Jefferson College, Central Methodist University and the University of Missouri-Columbia, studying business administration. He worked for the General Electric Co. and the Panasonic Co. as a regional credit and operations manager. He served 13 years as the municipal judge for Hillsboro and as a substitute municipal judge. He is a Democratic Party committeeman, was the county’s Public Administrator from 1989-98, was a member of the Hillsboro R-3 School District’s Board of Education and is a current member of the Jefferson County Public Sewer District’s board and has served on various boards and committees throughout the county. He is a member of the De Soto Elks, Hillsboro Community Civic Club, Hillsboro Lions and Joachim Lodge.
Among his endorsements he lists: AFL-CIO Cope, Jefferson County Labor Club, Carpenters District Council, Sheriff Glenn Boyer, Rep. Ben Harris, Crystal City Mayor Tom Schilly and Byrnes Mill Mayor Susan Gibson.
Stout, 32, lives at 57 Adventura Drive in Festus. He and his wife, Jamie, have two children. He is a graduate of Mineral Area College and the Law Enforcement Academy and is employed as a deputy with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. He also has attended courses and training at JeffersonCollege, the Midwest counterdrug training institute and the Drug Enforcement Agency academy. Most of his education is geared toward law enforcement and human behavior.
Schott, 7998 Bushberg Road in Pevely, did not return a Leader questionnaire.
What does the county executive do? What experiences have equipped you for the job?
Rauls: The county executive is the chief executive officer and chief economic development officer of county government, responsible for daily operations. You also represent the county on the East-West Gateway Council of Governments. It is your responsibility to execute and enforce the provisions of the charter and employees of the county are our most valuable asset and it is the responsibility of the county executive to provide the best possible work environment. Having been presiding commissioner and public administrator, along with 19 years in private-sector management, gives me unique skills. I have the experience, drive, and ability, working with all other elected officials, to make sure the people receive the best government possible and to move our county forward.
Stout: The county executive has the responsibility to preside over county council meetings, vote to break a tie in the event one occurs, sign or veto bills passed by the county council and ensure the function of day to day operations. The Jefferson County Executive has a much larger responsibility to the citizens of Jefferson County to encourage and facilitate economic growth and eliminate the current and alarming wasteful spending habits.
What are the three most important issues affecting Jefferson County residents and how would you address them?
Rauls: Our first priority must be attracting jobs which pay a livable wage, promoting economic development to bring more businesses and to help grow existing businesses to provide employment opportunities for the people. Secondly, we must work to protect the family and property values, and, finally, to enhance our quality of life.
As the only candidate to have served as executive director of the Economic Development Corporation, I know what it takes to attract good jobs. I have worked with many businesses to expand and locate in JeffersonCounty. As a former member of East-West Gateway, I also helped bring tens of millions of dollars back to JeffersonCounty for roads and bridges.
As a husband, father, and grandfather, I know that protecting our homes and families is a very high priority. I will work closely with our sheriff and local police, fire and ambulance departments, as well as other organizations that help and serve the people, to get state and federal grants. We need these funds to help the men and women of law enforcement, fire and emergency services to protect us, our homes, businesses and loved ones.
I will work with the other elected officials, cities and businesses throughout the county to put together a cohesive and comprehensive plan of the cooperation to ensure growth and prosperity. I will work with state and regional entities and businesses to attract good jobs to the county. I have the hands-on experience and drive it takes to accomplish these things.
Stout: The three most important issues affecting the residents of Jefferson County that I can see are the years of stagnant economic growth, the habitual wasteful spending of past and current administrations and the decision-making ability of elected officials. I will address economic development by doing everything in my power to make JeffersonCounty very attractive to new businesses that create jobs with sustainable wages as well as taking another look at the unified development order in the county. I will cut wasteful spending that current decision-makers are spending on a daily basis. I will also be sure to make decisions based upon the greater good of the county rather than a personal agenda or the next election.
In what ways do you think you could do a better job than the incumbent?
Rauls: The office of county executive is failing the people of JeffersonCounty:
■ Failing to see we receive our fair share of regional highway funds for road and bridge improvements.
■ Failing by delaying grants that were already secured by our sheriff to fight crime and help families.
■ Failing to create the jobs we need and spur economic development.
I can provide the real leadership the people of JeffersonCounty deserve.
Stout: First, I would facilitate the growth of business throughout the county. I will also boost the morale of county employees rather than destroy it. Then, I will make decisions based upon common sense and not the next election. Finally, I will be responsible, decisive, and accountable.
What changes do you plan to enact in the next four years, if elected?
Rauls: We need to improve the transparency, image and access to county government through improved electronic communications. The county web presence is an embarrassment. We are not projecting the right level of professionalism to business and industry decision makers, nor making it easy for the people to access government services. We need a strategic marketing campaign to enhance the image of the county as a place to live and do business. We need to step up the pace of port development and put together the transportation, communications, energy, facilities and work-force package it takes to attract higher-paying industrial jobs. Along with a countywide survey to seek public input, I would meet with the County Council, other elected officials, the mayors of our cities, local districts, business and labor leaders, and together this would be the basis of an action plan of what needs accomplished immediately and over the next four years.
Stout: There are several changes that I would enact in JeffersonCounty. For example, I feel there is a large need to take a second look at the unified development order in the county and make some serious changes to it in order to make bringing business into the county more attractive. I also want to change the way Jefferson County treats its employees.
Why should voters choose you?
Rauls: We can’t remain on a downward course. We are in competition with other counties in the region to attract new businesses, commercial development and industries to provide jobs and a solid tax base that doesn’t put all the burden on homeowners. When business goes elsewhere, when grants are delayed for political games, when road and highway money is lost to other areas, there has to be accountability. Because jobs and the economy looms so large as what the main focus of the County Executive should be in 2014 and beyond, my experience with job creation and obtaining vital grants gives the voters of Jefferson County a positive alternative to more of the same excuses.
Stout: I am not a career politician who is in this for personal gain. I only want to see Jefferson County progress. I think JeffersonCounty has more potential than has been shown for the last 20 years. We have the infrastructure; what we lack is the industry. With fresh people come fresh ideas, and it is hard to achieve new results when we keep electing the same stale politicians without requiring results. There have been way too many, including my opponents, who have made a career of politics without showing results. It is time for Jefferson County to progress, and I believe I can lead the county with integrity.
REPUBLICANS
Waller, 52, lives at 202 Santschi Circle in Herculaneum. He and his wife, Trina, have three children. He was elected the county’s first county executive in 2010. Waller earned a bachelor’s degree in public administration from University of Missouri-St. Louis and an associates degree in business administration from JeffersonCollege. He holds a property-casualty and life and health insurance license. He served as JeffersonCounty treasurer from 2005-08.
Paul, 33, lives at 5461 Regency Woods Manor in Imperial. He and his wife, Michelle, have two children. He is a graduate of Missouri Baptist University with a double major in business administration and management, and is the general manager of H.L. Paul Distributing Co. Inc. He has been an Imperial Township committeeman since 2012.
Borgerson, 65, lives at 102 Glenfield Drive in Festus. A self-employed businessman and president of Borgerson and Associates LLC, he is divorced and has two children and four grandchildren. He has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Missouri-Columbia, a master’s degree in government from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and has taken graduate courses in education at Missouri Baptist University. He has a Class A Missouri Peace Officer Standards and Training and has other training in law enforcement and management. He has volunteered as a Boy Scout leader and an elder at Grace Presbyterian Church and was commandant of the Jeffco Marine Corps League Detachments in the 1980s.
What does the county executive do? What experiences have equipped you for the job?
Waller: The county executive oversees the administrative side of government along with the director of administration. He is also the chief economic officer of the county. He works with the auditor and director of administration to prepare a balanced budget that he presents to the county council by Nov. 1. He presides as the chair over county council meetings. He appoints residents to county boards and commissions as needed. Having served as the first elected county executive since 2011, the experience I have gained in the job is invaluable. Having a good business and insurance background has definitely been a positive as I have taken the approach of running the county as a business. Finally, I have a bachelor’s degree in a public administration, which has been valuable.
Paul: Much like the mayor of a city, the county executive is the chief executive officer and the official face of the county. He or she is responsible for establishing a balanced budget, sets the agenda for the county, and also acts as chief economic officer. The county executive makes appointments to county boards when vacancies arise or terms end. Along with presiding over the County Council meetings, the executive must also sign or veto ordinances passed by the council. In my current employment, I manage employees and work directly with the public. This experience has shown me how to successfully resolve problems through communication, cooperation, and hard work. Ultimately people simply want to be told the truth and are more likely to work with you if they feel they can trust you. That is what leadership is about; people have to believe they can trust their government.
Borgerson: The county executive is the elected CEO of the county government and is responsible for the administration of the various departments, including the Highway Department, Planning Department, Health Department and other offices. This does not include various departments or entities such as the Sheriff’s Office, Recorder of Deeds, Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Circuit Clerk’s Office or Collector’s Office. The county executive is the overall budget authority for county government and must negotiate with the independently elected officeholders. My experiences include owning a business, administering career college degree programs, directing a community college-based police academy, three years active duty and nine years reserve duty in the Marine Corps, 14 years full-time and 11 years reserve law enforcement officer, I’ve budgeted salaries, equipment and supplies, been responsible for compliance with government statutes, accreditation bodies and corporate policies and I’ve recruited, qualified and recommended for hire and trained and evaluated employees.
What are the three most important issues affecting Jefferson County residents and how would you address them?
Waller: Among my priorities:
■ Efficient and responsive government with conservative fiscal policies and procedures. We need to upgrade and improve our county facilities without increasing long-term debt. We also need to continue reviewing burdensome codes and restrictions. To improve access to county government and services to county residents. We need to continue to prioritize justifiable needs in the budget, and allocate funding for those needs.
■ Economic development and job creation. We need to continue to develop an environment that is conducive to business starting up, staying and relocating to Jefferson County and providing sustainable good-paying jobs. We must continue to meet and work with small business owners to advocate for their issues and concerns to help them sustain and grow their businesses in JeffersonCounty.
■ Transportation issues. We need to work with the East-West Gateway Council of Governments, state and federal officials to bring our fair share of dollars back to Jefferson County to help road, bridge and infrastructure needs. We have been very successful in recent years and will continue to work diligently in this area.
Paul: Jefferson County is a beautiful county, with a lot to offer. Infrastructure is well in place in the northern part of our county, with two major railroads, river access and direct highways to St. Louis. With these major components, why does Jefferson County suffer when it comes to community image, job growth, and other development? I believe JeffersonCounty has a huge image problem. Although it may be a misconception, we are known across the metro area as a “drug capital.” We deserve better and should demand better from our government. Code enforcement is also a big issue. Those who have gone through the process of opening a business or remodeling their home have horror stories of how inconsistent the enforcement can be. It is not the government’s place to be a burden to citizens who try to comply with regulations. I have had some officials suggest that citizens not go through the proper channels. If that is how county officers feel, why are we the citizens subject to an obviously unfair and broken system? We are a suburban county in the north, and a rural county in the south. “One size fits all” policy making does not work. For example, policies that may make sense in a subdivision have no logical place on a farmer’s acreage. The county should be sure that restrictions on land use are at a minimum. The system of government has changed, the political party running the county has changed, but the “good ol’ boys” network is still in place. Many do not feel they are respected by nor fairly considered by our county government. Many people believe that the best way to get something done in Jefferson County is to “know someone.” That is wrong. The government should work equally for everyone.
Borgerson: The first issue is that the county executive needs to not only provide the leadership to the county government, but to support our towns, service districts, veterans and social organizations and others to foster a prosperous and safe community. I lead and support through actions and words.
The second issue is we need to develop a positive self-image and share with St. Louis and Missouri the good things about Jefferson County – our locations, work ethic, potential and more. I lead and promote.
The third issue is we need economic development. I lead and promote.
What do you view as your major accomplishments in office?
Waller: Among my accomplishments:
■ Restricted county debt, saving taxpayers almost $2 million.
■ Secured capital purchases without increasing county debt.
■ Maintained good bond rating, lowered personal property tax rate, doubled county reserves through conservative fiscal management to over $6 million. This was accomplished in just three years.
■ Improved health insurance services for county employees.
■ Instituted an automated payroll and time-attendance system.
■ Instituted an inventory control system to track all purchases in the public works department.
■ Worked with state and local officials to secure over $1 million in port funding and helped to expand the port district to include the entire county.
■ Took the lead in implementing the terms and conditions of the charter.
■ Finally, helped to institute the merit system mandated by the charter that helped make government more accountable to the taxpayer.
In what ways do you think you could do a better job than the incumbent?
Paul: My administration will not be a “business as usual” approach. Through talking with the community I have learned that the citizens of Jefferson County are not satisfied. We are tired of the infighting, the party politics, the lack of ethics and the unresponsiveness within government toward serving its citizens. Jefferson County needs leadership to take our county forward by putting citizens first. The coordination among the county, the municipalities, and other government agencies is not currently performing as the partnership it should be. We as a county will not grow without all political subdivisions here working together. I will coordinate with mayors, fire districts, ambulance districts, and any agency within this county to be certain that people are receiving what they expect for the tax money entrusted to these agencies. It is time to find the problems and fix them.
Borgerson: I hold myself accountable to a high professional standard and expect others to watch me and hold me accountable, publicly and privately. I look, learn, investigate and listen to others before I make a decision. I make sure people know what I expect of them and never ask anything of an employee that I would not do myself. I return phone calls and messages.
What changes do you plan to enact in the next four years, if elected?
Waller: To continue to increase the customer service aspect of local government, making it more responsive. The goal will be to make JeffersonCounty more business- and development-friendly by ensuring that new and existing regulations are more reasonable. Search out more ways to cut duplicate and excess government expenses, continue working with local and state authorities to expand the port.
Paul: It is important to get a full audit of every department from the state auditor. Any waste or misappropriation needs to be discovered and fixed. We need to keep taxes low. Most people are getting by on little to no cost-of-living raises; our government must also survive with existing funding. The Sheriff’s Office needs more “feet on the street.” I would work with the county council and sheriff to discover how to hire more officers in order to reduce response times. Our officers also need to be paid more. Our attrition rate is very high, and we lose far too many good officers to surrounding departments. In this age of technology there is no reason for basic data not to be available on the county website. The entire budget should be posted in detail, and we should continue to make pertinent county information easily available electronically.
Borgerson: The changes I propose:
■ Improve government services: I will not reappoint the head of the Planning Department and the Director of Human Resources.
■ Building codes: I will rehabilitate and improve the building codes and reduce them by 25 percent.
■ Port Authority: I will establish a Jefferson County port in less than three years and create jobs.
■ Sheriff’s Office (and all offices): I will improve communication and plan early for and support grant funding.
Why should voters choose you?
Waller: My record and continuing commitment to the county. The voters deserve continuity and cohesiveness in the executive position. Since taking office in 2011, the county is in very good shape. We have more than doubled our reserves in just three years to over $6 million. We have not added any additional long-term debt. We have refinanced existing county long-term debt, saving taxpayers almost $2 million. I also have a vision for the future of the county. My decisions will be to do what’s in the best interest of the county, not myself. I will continue to work with local municipalities and other government agencies, including Economic Development and the Port Authority, to bring good-paying jobs to our county residents. I want to continue to complete the job we started together four years ago by implementing the mandates of the charter form of government and continuing to move the county forward.
Paul: Running for office is not something I wanted to do; it is something I feel compelled to do. I have a young family; I want what is best for our county and all of us who live here. I am not a politician. I often hear people say that we need to elect more common people into office, people who are not connected to the system. It is time to put party politics aside and do what is right for the citizens of Jefferson County. I have proven that I am willing to work with everyone while standing firm on principle. The only way to earn respect is through honesty, hard work, and dedication. We the people of the county need an advocate who believes strongly in God, the importance of family, the rights of the individual, and the principles of life, liberty and property.
Borgerson: It is a choice to be a sheep, a sheepdog or a wolf. It has been my choice in life to be a sheepdog, which is reflected in my history of public service in the military, law enforcement and education. Perhaps it is how I was raised, or my Marine training, or how God wired me, but I am more concerned that I earn people’s respect rather than just be liked. If a man or woman treats others with courtesy and respect and does their best to lead a life with integrity and honesty despite misfortune and bad luck, life can be good. The best we can hope for is good health, prosperity and safety. This is where I want to make a contribution and help lead Jefferson County.