Lynne Ruzicka and Christy Gay, who three years ago turned out a pair of incumbents to win seats on the Rock Township Ambulance District’s Board of Directors, are hoping the same thing doesn’t happen to them on April 2.
Ruzicka and Gay prevailed in April 2016 in a six-candidate field that included Charles Groeteke and Frank A. Kutilek, both of whom were seeking second three-year terms.
Now Ruzicka and Gay are the incumbents, and they face a single challenger – perennial candidate Avery A. Fortenberry, who also ran three years ago.
Members of the board are not paid.
The district covers 108 square miles in northeast Jefferson County.
RUZICKA, 55, lives at 3550 Pine Haven Lane, Imperial, with her husband, Tom. She is a real estate investor.
GAY, 44, lives at 1042 Canterbury Circle, Imperial. She has one son. She is a program analyst for the National Cemetery at Jefferson Barracks and is a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Navy. A 1992 graduate of Maplewood-Richmond Heights High School, she received an associate degree from Central Texas College in 2009.
FORTENBERRY, 72, lives at 6604 Crimson Lane, Barnhart. He and his wife, Jann, have four children and six grandchildren. He is a retired account executive for the Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. (SBC Communications, now AT&T) and taught evening classes at St. Louis Community College. He owns a small business, Avery Contracting LLC. He received a bachelor’s degree in management with a minor in communication from Maryville University in 1982.
He is a member of the Jefferson County Planning Commission and the Board of Adjustment and has been a member of the Festus Special Road District and the University of Missouri Extension board.
What are the biggest problems facing the district and how would you address them?
Ruzicka: Having the resources needed to keep up with medical technology and methods of treatment. Sales tax revenue seems stagnant while costs of ambulances, equipment, medical supplies and training rise. The district’s taxpayers approved a bond issue (in November 2018) to provide capital improvements. I will see these improvements are made as promised. I will continue to support wise use of resources to update medical equipment, ambulances, and locations of buildings.
Gay: Keeping up with the growth and the demands of the district. With the passing of the bond issue, my goal is to be part of the team in guiding the district for that growth, help update medical equipment and put additional ambulances and paramedics on the road.
Fortenberry: More locations needed for timely service to the public. The district has a large service area with limited resources.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Ruzicka: I have advocated for transparency to taxpayers. From what I have learned on my time on the board, medical services provided by the district are becoming more enmeshed to serve the community in their homes and en route to hospitals. The patient’s medical treatment starts long before the patient arrives at the hospital. Our paramedics provide the highest level of care and concern. I will continue to advocate for transparency and wise use of district resources to help ensure this level of care.
Gay: In the last three years, the district has faced many challenges with new board members, administration and management. What I have to bring to the district if elected is stability. The district is in a good place, a much better place than it has ever been in. My hopes are to continue this process and maintain support in its growth.
Fortenberry: I will assure that all of your tax dollars are managed diligently and services are kept up to date.