The question of who will be Jefferson County’s second county executive will begin to be settled in the Aug. 7 primary election, as voters who cast a Republican ballot will choose one of two candidates – Gary L. Stout II or Dennis Gannon – to take on Democrat Jeff Roorda, a former state representative, in the November general election.
Jefferson County voters in 2008 approved a charter form of government, and it was phased in over the next couple of years, with County Executive Ken Waller and a seven-member County Council taking office in January 2011.
Over the last couple of years, relations between Waller and council leadership have been strained, and Waller announced last summer that he would not seek a third four-year term. Later, he announced that he would run for county clerk.
The county executive is paid a salary of $83,178.
STOUT, 36, lives at 57 Adventura Drive, Festus. He and his wife, Jamie, have two children. He is an officer with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and owns Deranged Entertainment and Shooting Experience, an indoor simulated shooting range, in Crystal City. He graduated from the Mineral Area Law Enforcement Academy in 2005. He ran an unsuccessful campaign for county executive in 2014, losing to the late Sam Rauls in the Democratic Party’s primary.
Social media: Facebook: Gary Stout for County Executive
GANNON, 63, lives at 5226 Hwy. H in De Soto. He and his wife, state Rep. Elaine Freeman Gannon, have two children. 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 also co-owns buildings in the Gannon Regional Shopping Center in Festus. He earned two certificates in business management from Jefferson College and has a bachelor’s degree from Tarkio College. He has been on the boards of Mercy Hospital Jefferson and First State Community Bank, both since 2013 and is a member of the Festus Rotary Club and the First Baptist Church of De Soto, where he served as building committee chairman. He served in the U.S. Naval Reserves, the U.S. Army Retired Reserves and the Missouri National Guard and was the commander of the 1221st Transportation Company. He is a past president of the Jefferson College Board of Trustees, Jefferson County Port Authority and De Soto Rotary Club and was chairman of the Jefferson Regional Medical Center board. He served on the De Soto Board of Education from 2007-2015, serving for a time as its vice president. He also was vice president of the De Soto Chamber of Commerce.
The county executive is the county’s top elected official. As such, what role should the executive assume?
Stout: The county executive should be someone who will put the improvement of Jefferson County above and beyond any personal or political gain.
Gannon: The charter is clear that the county executive is the chief executive officer of the county with a primary responsibility for economic development activities. That means bringing commerce, jobs, homes, retail, infrastructure, better county government and promote the general welfare of our county. (The county executive is to) execute and enforce the provisions of the charter, Missouri law pertaining to county government and its ordinances, resolutions and policies of the county council. I will work with political subdivisions to encourage positive relationships in matters of public safety, government functions and trust.
What would you do to improve the relationship between the county executive and the County Council?
Stout: I would attempt to improve the relationship between the county executive and the County Council by putting Jefferson County at the forefront of every decision. I will not venture from the direction of my moral compass and I will spearhead the process of putting Jefferson County above party lines and the current political circus.
Gannon: Communication and transparency are critical in building relationships. I will build trust with the council by listening to their concerns and building consensus on the direction we will lead our county. We will make sure that we mutually understand the charter and powers that are granted for the legislative and executive branches and operate in good faith to carry those duties out to ensure a positive impact on residents. When times occur that we may not agree, we will meet face-to-face across the table and address each concern in a business-like manner.
What plans do you have for increasing county development?
Stout: I would work closely with Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation and make every attempt to develop resources for local business owners. I would also exploit Jefferson County's infrastructure in an attempt to attract new industry that provides sustainable employment. I am a local business owner and I understand the struggles that are faced by those who look to Jefferson County as a base for their business.
Gannon: I will start with our current county businesses. I will go to their places of business and ask them what we can do to make business in Jefferson County better for them. I would invite them to participate in focus groups or business roundtables. I will engage with our Economic Development Corporation to make sure we are regional players and planners. I will ask our business community for its input on who we need to locate in our communities to make our county stronger.
How will you vote on the internet sales tax proposal and why?
Stout: I will vote for the internet sales tax. I understand that people like to save a few dollars on their purchases, but I also get to see it from the business end. I have seen how internet sales have brought hardships to small and large business owners. I would rather see a productive environment for our families and friends than to save a dollar on a purchase that will arrive in three to five days. I will just head to the local store and have a face-to-face transaction with my employed neighbor.
Gannon: I will support the internet tax. I have always thought that as a retail operator, I need to do my best to match the goods and services that people in my community need. I have collected and remitted the sales taxes that have been used to support schools, law enforcement, build and repair streets, roads, parks and bridges. That is not good enough anymore. Access to online buying and not collecting sales taxes are shrinking the revenue needed to support the way of life we desire. The internet tax is a method that returns money to our county.
The question of who will be Jefferson County’s second county executive will begin to be settled in the Aug. 7 primary election, as voters who cast a Republican ballot will choose one of two candidates – Gary L. Stout II or Dennis Gannon – to take on Democrat Jeff Roorda, a former state representative, in the November general election.
JeffersonCounty voters in 2008 approved a charter form of government, and it was phased in over the next couple of years, with County Executive Ken Waller and a seven-member County Council taking office in January 2011.
Over the last couple of years, relations between Waller and council leadership have been strained, and Waller announced last summer that he would not seek a third four-year term. Later, he announced that he would run for county clerk.
The county executive is paid a salary of $83,178.
STOUT, 36, lives at 57 Adventura Drive, Festus. He and his wife, Jamie, have two children. He is an officer with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and owns Deranged Entertainment and Shooting Experience, an indoor simulated shooting range, in Crystal City. He graduated from the Mineral Area Law Enforcement Academy in 2005. He ran an unsuccessful campaign for county executive in 2014, losing to the late Sam Rauls in the Democratic Party’s primary.
Social media: Facebook: Gary Stout for County Executive
GANNON, 63, lives at 5226 Hwy. H in De Soto. He and his wife, state Rep. Elaine Freeman Gannon, have two children. 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 also co-owns buildings in the Gannon Regional Shopping Center in Festus. He earned two certificates in business management from Jefferson College and has a bachelor’s degree from Tarkio College. He has been on the boards of Mercy Hospital Jefferson and First State Community Bank, both since 2013 and is a member of the Festus Rotary Club and the First Baptist Church of De Soto, where he served as building committee chairman. He served in the U.S. Naval Reserves, the U.S. Army Retired Reserves and the Missouri National Guard and was the commander of the 1221st Transportation Company. He is a past president of the Jefferson College Board of Trustees, Jefferson County Port Authority and De Soto Rotary Club and was chairman of the Jefferson Regional Medical Center board. He served on the De Soto Board of Education from 2007-2015, serving for a time as its vice president. He also was vice president of the De Soto Chamber of Commerce.
The county executive is the county’s top elected official. As such, what role should the executive assume?
Stout: The county executive should be someone who will put the improvement of JeffersonCounty above and beyond any personal or political gain.
Gannon: The charter is clear that the county executive is the chief executive officer of the county with a primary responsibility for economic development activities. That means bringing commerce, jobs, homes, retail, infrastructure, better county government and promote the general welfare of our county. (The county executive is to) execute and enforce the provisions of the charter, Missouri law pertaining to county government and its ordinances, resolutions and policies of the county council. I will work with political subdivisions to encourage positive relationships in matters of public safety, government functions and trust.
What would you do to improve the relationship between the county executive and the County Council?
Stout: I would attempt to improve the relationship between the county executive and the County Council by putting Jefferson County at the forefront of every decision. I will not venture from the direction of my moral compass and I will spearhead the process of putting Jefferson County above party lines and the current political circus.
Gannon: Communication and transparency are critical in building relationships. I will build trust with the council by listening to their concerns and building consensus on the direction we will lead our county. We will make sure that we mutually understand the charter and powers that are granted for the legislative and executive branches and operate in good faith to carry those duties out to ensure a positive impact on residents. When times occur that we may not agree, we will meet face-to-face across the table and address each concern in a business-like manner.
What plans do you have for increasing county development?
Stout: I would work closely with Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation and make every attempt to develop resources for local business owners. I would also exploit Jefferson County's infrastructure in an attempt to attract new industry that provides sustainable employment. I am a local business owner and I understand the struggles that are faced by those who look to Jefferson County as a base for their business.
Gannon: I will start with our current county businesses. I will go to their places of business and ask them what we can do to make business in Jefferson County better for them. I would invite them to participate in focus groups or business round tables. I will engage with our Economic Development Corporation to make sure we are regional players and planners. I will ask our business community for its input on who we need to locate in our communities to make our county stronger.
How will you vote on the internet sales tax proposal and why?
Stout: I will vote for the internet sales tax. I understand that people like to save a few dollars on their purchases, but I also get to see it from the business end. I have seen how internet sales have brought hardships to small and large business owners. I would rather see a productive environment for our families and friends than to save a dollar on a purchase that will arrive in three to five days. I will just head to the local store and have a face-to-face transaction with my employed neighbor.
Gannon: I will support the internet tax. I have always thought that as a retail operator, I need to do my best to match the goods and services that people in my community need. I have collected and remitted the sales taxes that have been used to support schools, law enforcement, build and repair streets, roads, parks and bridges. That is not good enough anymore. Access to online buying and not collecting sales taxes are shrinking the revenue needed to support the way of life we desire. The internet tax is a method that returns money to our county.