Paul Wieland, who has served three terms in the Missouri House of Representatives and two more in the state Senate, wants to be the third Jefferson County Executive.
To do so, he’ll have to prevail in the Republican Party’s primary election on Aug. 2 against Dennis Gannon, who became the second County Executive four years ago and is running for a second term.
Wieland was barred from running for another state legislative term because of the state’s term limits standards. He originally filed to be the county Collector, but switched to County Executive.
The winner will face Fran Newkirk, who is running unopposed in the Democratic Party’s primary, in the November general election.
The County Executive is paid a salary of $86,120 a year.
GANNON, 67, of De Soto is the incumbent County Executive. He and his wife, state Sen. Elaine Freeman Gannon, have two grown sons and four grandsons. He has worked for his family’s business since high school, which has included a cafeteria, hotels, shopping center developments and commercial real estate projects. He is a 1987 graduate of Tarkio College.
Website: DennisGannon.com
WIELAND, 59, of Imperial is a co-owner of Wieland Insurance Group LLC in High Ridge and currently represents District 22 in the Missouri Senate. He and his wife, Terri, have three daughters and three grandchildren. He graduated in 1981 from St. Pius X High School, attended Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan., the University of Missouri-St. Louis and University of Missouri in Columbia.
Website/social media: Website: Wieland-Now.com Facebook: WielandNow Twitter: WielandNow Instagram: Wieland.Now
What experience do you have (elected office, civic organizations, volunteer work, etc.) that might serve you well in this position?
Gannon: I am a veteran who served from 1974 to 1994 and retired as a major. I have been a member of the Jefferson College Board of Trustees, Mercy Hospital Board of Directors, Jefferson County Port Authority and First Baptist Church of De Soto.
Wieland: In addition to service in the Missouri Legislature, I am a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, a fourth-degree member of the Knights of Columbus. I have served on the St. Pius X Advisory Board, Jefferson County Community Partnership Board of Directors, Jefferson County Health Department Board of Trustees, St. Joseph School Board, Mastodon Arts and Sciences Fair Advisory Board, University of Missouri Extension Council and was a founding member of the Jeffco Business Network.
What would be your top priority if you are elected?
Gannon: ■ Continue moving forward with major infrastructure investments that include roads, bridges and the port system, allowing for economic development and job opportunities for our citizens.
■ Continue investing and upgrading county government facilities and replacing where needed. We purchased land and a facility for crime evidence storage and are working on constructing a new crime lab. We recently purchased land that will support construction of a new jail.
■ Continue our record of making county government more accessible to residents, as we have done by revamping our county website.
Wieland: Creating an honest, open and transparent administration that works in a positive manner for the people of Jefferson County. I would work with residents, County Council members and other elected officials to build a consensus to move the county forward. The current administration seems more focused on forcing its agenda upon residents, council members and elected officials, as evidenced by the ill-conceived decision to support a tax increase in this time of high inflation. My record in the Senate shows that I am willing to work with stakeholders for the betterment of our community.
What changes, if any, need to be made to the Jefferson County charter to help the county government run more efficiently?
Gannon: The charter has provisions on how changes can be brought forth, that ultimately would have to be voted on by the residents. Some of the items that have been suggested are term limits and the consolidation of some county functions and departments.
Wieland: The current charter is less of an issue than the lack of effective leadership we have in county government. The interpretation of the charter is always by the County Executive’s attorney for the benefit and power of the County Executive. This has continued for the last 12 chaotic years. A better approach would be to allow the council members and other elected officials to share decision-making authority. This would replace division with cooperation and unity and make council members, elected officials and the County Executive equally responsible to the residents.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Gannon: I have worked diligently with local, state and federal officials to improve our road network system and our Port Authority. We secured commitments in excess of $200 million to improve I-55, along with other major projects. We have begun approximately $30 million of road improvement projects in the Imperial-Arnold area. We just secured $25 million in the state budget for port and economic development. These investments will lead to economic development and job opportunities. My goals are to:
■ Recruit jobs.
■ Oppose defund-the-police efforts.
■ Continue our port and economic development activities.
■ Fight illegal immigration.
Wieland: Jefferson County needs new leadership. I will not promote unneeded tax increases. The “secret” nature of the way business is currently conducted has overwhelmed county attorneys with Sunshine Law requests. That will change. Earlier this year the county’s municipal prosecutor was indicted. [James “Ike” Crabtree, who resigned, was indicted by a federal grand jury in March for one count of deprivation of rights under color of law and one count of false statements to the FBI in connection with accusations that he had sexual contact with a woman who was the defendant in several cases he was prosecuting. Crabtree has pleaded not guilty to the charges.] I would have condemned his actions as unacceptable and an embarrassment to our county. I would have encouraged and supported other victims by providing them a safe and secure way to come forward.
This administration ignored it. All of this is a product of poor and absentee leadership.