The Leader continues its Voters Guide for the Aug. 4 primary election. To assist an expected high number of people who will cast absentee and mail-in ballots, we will be posting profiles on candidates in contested races and ballot issues. The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot or mail-in ballot is July 22. For information, call the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office at 636-797-5486.
Steve Farmer is seeking his third four-year term this year as Jefferson County Public Administrator.
Because no one from any other party filed to oppose him this year, his only challenge will come in the Aug. 4 primary election, when he will face fellow Republican Jason C. Jarvis of Dittmer.
Jarvis did not return a Leader candidate survey.
The Public Administrator’s Office serves as the guardian or conservator for mentally disabled persons and persons who have no family or friends to handle their affairs, and takes charge when someone dies leaving assets without a will or family.
The public administrator is paid $84,847 a year.
FARMER, 59, lives in Imperial, with his wife, Nancy. He has a grown daughter from a previous marriage.
He is retired from the Navy Reserve, which he served in from 1995 to 2005. He also served in the Navy from 1979-1990.
A high school graduate, Farmer took several college courses. During his military career, Farmer completed several classes, including operations specialist “A” school, enlisted officer leadership and management school and firefighting.
He has received professional training through the Missouri Association of Public Administrators (MAPA), crisis intervention team training from the Jefferson County Law Enforcement Academy and attended a behavioral health conference at SSM Health DePaul Hospital
He was a regional vice president for MAPA from 2015-2017 and has been on its legislative committee since 2013.
Social media: Facebook: Friends of Steve Farmer
What experience do you have (elected office, civic organizations, volunteer work, etc.) that might serve you well in this position?
Farmer: In addition to serving as public administrator since 2013, I am a life member of the High Ridge post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (junior vice commander, 2012). I’m a member of the Rock Memorial American Legion, the Vietnam Veterans of America and the National Rifle Association. I served on the ethics committee at Mercy Hospital Jefferson from 2013-2015. I visit nursing homes and other facilities with my touch therapy dog, Aengus.
What are the public administrator’s duties? Why are you qualified to carry them out?
Farmer: To provide substitute decision-making for people who have been declared incapacitated or disabled by a probate court and providing protective oversight and reporting to the court on actions taken on behalf of wards assigned to our department. Usually, we serve as guardian or conservator when someone can no longer make sound decisions about their own care and/or property and may fall victim to fraud or personal harm. My life experience and training in leadership and decision making; along with two successful terms in the office, qualify me for this important position.
What changes, if any, are needed to improve the efficiency of the office?
Farmer: Public administrator offices across the state historically have been understaffed. This needs to be addressed to ensure our offices are properly manned and fully capable of providing oversight to the probate court, according to the statutory role they assign us, in a proficient manner. I have good relationships with our state legislators and will continue to work with them to address our needs despite statewide fiscal challenges. We have improved public information and links on our website; become more effective as a team by updating procedures, equipment and training and we will continue to pursue process efficiencies and statutory improvements.
Should the public administrator’s job continue to be an elected, partisan position? Why or why not?
Farmer: It should remain an elected position. It is important for the voters to have the opportunity to scrutinize and select who will be put in a position of protective authority over them, making key decisions that will affect their daily lives and families.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Farmer: Under my leadership, the department has made tremendous progress. We have worked diligently to establish effective coordination of care relationships with area providers and agencies. Jefferson County hosted the MAPA state convention in Festus in 2017, bringing hundreds of attendees and 67 vendors together to identify obstacles and opportunities, communicate lessons learned and work toward a comprehensive plan to ensure effective care for those struggling with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including alternatives to plenary guardianship and conservatorship and resources for overwhelmed family caregivers. We will continue to address critical mental health service needs of the community.