Steve Farmer is now in an unfamiliar position.
Four years ago, the Republican was a political newcomer, but upset longtime Public Administrator Bruce King, a Democrat. King had been in the office since 1998.
Now, in the Nov. 8 general election, Farmer, of Imperial, will be in the incumbent’s seat, trying to win a second four-year term.
He faces a challenge from Democrat TJ McKenna of Festus, who was in the state House of Representatives for one term (2013-2014).
Both ran unopposed in their party’s primary election in August.
The public administrator is paid is paid $81,149 per year.
McKENNA, 31, lives at 1502 Westvale Drive, Apt. L, Festus. He is a kindergarten teacher at Crystal City Elementary School and a substitute teacher.
He is a 2007 graduate of the University of Missouri in Columbia with a bachelor’s degree in political science. He worked in the Jefferson County Assessor’s Office before he was elected to the House of Representatives in 2012. He also served on the local University Extension Council from 2012-2014. He is a member of Habitat for Humanity, Young Friends of NextStep for Life and the Quad City Community Development Corporation.
He has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, the Gateway Disabled Ski Program, the Quad City Senior Center’s Meals on Wheels program and Relay for Life.
FARMER, 55, lives at 3738 Dennis Drive 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.
During his military career, Farmer completed several schools, including operations specialist “A” school, enlisted officer leadership and management school and firefighting.
He is a life member of the High Ridge VFW and its junior vice commander in 2012 and is a member of the Rock Memorial American Legion, Pachyderm Club, National Rifle Association and Vietnam Veterans of America.
He volunteers with the VFW to visit veterans at the V.A. hospital spinal ward. He serves on the ethics committee at Mercy Hospital Jefferson, is regional vice president and a member of the legislative committee of the Missouri Association of Public Administrators.
Social media: Facebook: Friends of Steve Farmer
What are the public administrator's duties? Why are you qualified to carry them out?
McKenna: The public administrator’s office serves people throughout the county who are unable to make decisions regarding their health, financial responsibilities and life arrangements. The public administrator is directed by the probate court through an appointment process and must report annually to the court on the well-being of each person. I am qualified for this position because I have worked with and volunteered with people who need help for many years. As a former state representative, I received inquires on a daily basis from my constituents requesting assistance. I personally made a point to follow through on these because I was elected to do just that.
Farmer: The duties of the public administrator are to provide substitute decision making for people who have been declared incapacitated or disabled by a probate court, holding care and service providers accountable and submitting reports back to the court on the actions taken on behalf of those wards. Usually, we serve as guardian and/or conservator, a legal process used when people can no longer make sound decisions about their own care or property and may fall victim to fraud, improper influence or personal harm. My life experience, commitment to the rule of law and training in leadership and decision making, along with a successful first term as the public administrator, qualify me for this important position.
What changes, if any, are needed to improve the efficiency of this office?
McKenna: I would like to do a better job educating the community about the office and making it aware of what the office does. I have talked with many people and a lot of them aren’t aware the office exists. This is one of the most important offices in the county because we focus on helping people who have no one else to help them out.
Farmer: Public administrator offices across the state have been historically underfunded and understaffed. This needs to be addressed to ensure our offices are fully capable of providing protective oversight to the probate court in a proactive and proficient manner. I have been successful convincing the county to provide us with two additional employees, partially addressing our department’s needs. Having good relationships with our legislators, I will also work with them to address our needs at the state level. We have improved public awareness with information and links on our website, become more effective as a team by updating procedures, computers, equipment and training, and will continue to pursue process efficiencies and service improvements.
Should the public administrator's job continue to be an elected, partisan position? Why or why not?
McKenna: I don’t believe the public administrator’s job should be a partisan position for many reasons but it should still be an elected position. It should not be a partisan position because politics has no place for this office. The office’s responsibility is to ensure that our most vulnerable residents have someone to help them make decisions. By having this be a partisan position, people may vote for a candidate solely because of the party they represent, overlooking qualifications so that the right person for the job might not get it.
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 lives and families.
Why should voters choose you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
McKenna: I have dedicated my life to giving back to the community more than I take from it and this position requires someone who is willing to work with people who need help. One of the biggest qualifications for this position is to have a compassion for care and I have spent my life caring for those in need. My family instilled this belief in me and I have watched as my family has served the community for all these years. It is a true honor to follow in their footsteps to ensure that our residents are taken care of in a respectful and responsible way.
Farmer: Under my leadership, the department has made tremendous progress. We’ve expanded our office hours, eliminated a backlog of incomplete files and successfully completed a department audit by Social Security. I’ve worked diligently to establish effective coordination of care relationships with multiple area providers and agencies and look forward to getting re-elected so I can host the Missouri Association of Public Administrators’ state convention in Festus in spring 2017.
Do you support your party's nominee for president? Explain why or why not.
McKenna: I support TJ McKenna for public administrator. During the course of this campaign, I have visited with hundreds of people who want to know about me and why would I be a good fit for this office. We candidates have such a small window of opportunity to get our message out and this question doesn’t help voters decide who is more qualified to run this office. The greatest thing about voting is that it is your vote, not anyone else’s. People need to do their research and vote for whoever they want. I choose to run my elections on my own merits and believe people shouldn’t run for office if they can’t run on who they are.
Farmer: Yes. Donald Trump is speaking to the concerns of a large portion of the electorate, despite the best efforts of many to demonize and silence him and those who are responding to his message: As a successful business leader worldwide, he will work diligently to restore American values and a healthy respect for the rule of law according to our Constitution, to be fiscally responsible in addressing our national needs while reducing our staggering debt. He understands free-market principles and will help restore them so we are once more the most free, prosperous and strong nation for all Americans.