Staff Reports
Stoddard County Commission seats for Districts on and two will be decided in the August primary. District one candidate Willard Adams declined to participate in this article.
District one
(In alphebetical order)
Name: Steve W Jordan
Age: 63
Family (spouse, children): Wife: Danielle Jordan. Daughters: Amanda Brooks and Scott, Miranda Jordan, Stephania Bond and Travis, Samantha Williams and Austin, and five grandchildren.
Education: Advance High School.
Current occupation: District 1 commissioner of Stoddard County, vice president and co-owner of Heavy Duty Trux Ltd. in Bloomfield, employed there for 32 years.
Current affiliations: Member of Cape County Cowboy Church, served on the leadership team there for three years (an elected position) and I serve on the barrel horse ministry team.
What, if any, changes would you make? At this time I do not believe the county can obligate to any major changes until we see where this economy is headed. I would like to see more traffic as the I-57 corridor gets closer to completion and would welcome ideas on how to help Stoddard County draw traffic and businesses to this area! The I-57 project will attract new businesses. GOSEMO bringing fiber optics into Stoddard County also makes us a lot more desirable for businesses to look at us seriously. I believe we are headed in the right direction. We are in good shape financially, revenues have held up and our spending is well within our budget.
What are the most important duties of this position and why? Overseeing the budget of each office holder is the No. 1 job of the Stoddard County Commissioners.
We have to project revenues and keep our budgets well under our projections to make sure that Stoddard County stays strong and solvent for the taxpayers in case of an economic downturn.
Why do you feel you are the best candidate for the job of commissioner? I have helped run a successful business here in the Stoddard County seat for 26 years as co-owner of Heavy Duty Trux Ltd. Before I became co-owner I was employed at the same company for six years. During that time, I did all the outbound sales to California and Arizona and managed the inbound freight out of Canada and the northeastern United States back into Bloomfield. I have the ability and the willingness to work with each elected official and I have demonstrated that for over 3.5 years. I was a Pike Township road board member for 13 years, so I understand the problems and issues the townships face with the limited budgets they have. I am very proud of the Stoddard County townships, We do all we can to make sure they get the BRO funds for the bridge replacements that are needed in each township. They all know if we can help them we will and our door is always open.
What are the biggest challenges of this position and how would you address them? Our biggest challenge at this time is managing our budget to keep us strong and solvent for the health of Stoddard County. We have worked with the Stoddard County Health Department to try and keep Stoddard County healthy, both physically and financially. These are times none of us were expecting. I believe using common sense in our daily lives is the way through these times. I am not for letting the government be it local, state or federal take over our lives by locking down healthy people. Quarantine is for sick or infected people. I did vote the first time to go along with the governors order before we really understood the virus or numbers. Our active case percentage as I am typing this is .0007. I will not be voting to put a stay-at-home order on healthy people or to shut this county down. I trust you the people of Stoddard County to be responsible for your own actions.
Name: J. W. Mattingly
Age: 38
Family: Spouse: Lauren Mattingly, married for more than 10 years. Daughter: Reese Mattingly, and expecting another child in January 2021. Parents: Wiley and Betty Mattingly.
Education: I am a Class of 2000 graduate of Puxico High School, and continued my education at Southeast Missouri State University for both my bachelors and masters programs majoring in criminal justice and political science. I was then accepted into Valparaiso School of Law but decided on a different career path in the insurance industry with Modern Woodmen of America and Aflac due to the unforeseen passing of my father in 2008.
Current Occupation: I am currently the Regional Director of Sales-Missouri for Aflac Insurance Co. which I have been with for the past 11 years. In addition to this position I am the owner of Mattingly & Associates Insurance Agency, as well as managing our family farm in the rural Puxico/Dudley area.
Current Affiliations: Boards: I am on the Board of Trustees for Hobbs Chapel United Methodist Church where I am also an active member. In addition to this, I am an active member of the Puxico Masonic Lodge 596 and an active member of the Puxico Booster Club.
What, If Any, Changes Would You Make: One change I would like to see happen is the mandatory keeping of the minutes for every commissioners meeting. With so many crucial decisions to be made, it only seems logical that there is proper documentation of everything discussed. Accountability and transparency are highly important to me. The commissioners are making decisions that directly impact every resident of Stoddard County for years to come, and providing documentation for each of these decisions helps allow every citizen with the knowledge of why these decisions were made.
What Are The Most Important Duties Of This Position And Why: Without a doubt, the most important duties of this position is the budgeting and monitoring of spending. We are a county comprised of mainly rural communities, who deserve the absolute best we can provide, but it is important that we do so without needing to raise taxes or cut vital positions. I reiterate how important it is to remain focused on needs based spending especially during today’s ever changing times.
Why Do You Feel You Are The Best Candidate For The Job Of Commissioner: I am a lifelong resident of Stoddard County and current business owner who is looking to provide the 1st District of Stoddard County with an advocate to the people that is accountable and willing to bring a common sense business strategy to the tax payers of the county. I will always be accountable, approachable, and completely transparent to our residents.
What Are The Biggest Challenges Of This Position And How Would You Address Them: One of the biggest challenges to our county is that we are comprised of several smaller populated communities that have limited resources. In today’s changing times, it is necessary to focus on needs based spending, which allows us stability for years down the road. A focus on industry and infrastructure growth is prevalent, but we must make sure that we are not setting ourselves up for failure in the years to come.
District two
(In alphebetical order)
Name: Carol Jarrell
Age: 77
Family: Spouse: Junior Jarrell, married 54 years. Son: Tom Jarrell. Wife: Kerry Jarrell. Daughter: Sissy Brown. Husband: Teddy Brown grandchildren: Casey Blackwell. Chance, Emily and Peyton Jarrell. Dalton and Lillie Brown.
Education: Graduated 12th grade.
Current Occupation: Stoddard County commissioner District 2.
Current Affiliations: Church: I am a member of the Dudley Church of God, Dudley, Missouri. I have been attending the church since 1975 and served as ladies ministries president for several years. BOARDS: I serve on the Bootheel Regional Solid Waste Board and the Bootheel Regional Planning and Economic Development commission. As a commissioner I do attend the IDASC Meetings. The commissioners are on the board of the SCDF. Since 2009 I have been the commissioner that sat in on the SB40 board meetings.
What, if any, changes would you make: I would like to make this COVID-19 go away. As for the county government, nothing really. Our revenues are doing well and the new jail is coming along really great. Thanks to the Stoddard County citizens that said yes to the 1/2-cent sales tax to build the jail and also yes to 1/2-cent sales tax to support the sheriff’s department. Passing to keep the use tax has helped keep our revenues up. The elected officeholders are doing great with their budget also.
What are the most important duties of this position and why: The most important duty is to balance the budget and to never overestimate our revenue for the coming year to make sure the tax dollars that the citizens of Stoddard County pay are always spent wisely and conservatively. Always have time to listen to the people and be willing to help them solve any concerns they may have. After all, we work for them and should always be a voice for them.
Why do you feel you are the best candidate for the job of commissioner: 11 1/2 years of experience. Four disasters (ice storm, flood, tornado and now COVID-19.) Also the year of the drought and having to ban fireworks for the 4th of July. That was not really a disaster but to some it was! I have learned a lot from the other commissioners that I had the honor to work with, Frank Sifford and Greg Mathis.
What are the biggest challenges of this position and how would you address them: The COVID-19 is the biggest challenge right now. Trying to be sure to make wise and good decisions that will keep our county citizens safe. Trying to make sure our small businesses can stay open and survive this terrible and difficult time. I do not want to see anyone have to close their business.
Name:: Jeff Riddle
Age: 52
Family: sons: Clayton and Eric Riddle
Education: Associate degree in Agribusiness Production Management from Three Rivers College
Current occupation: Self-employed, JSR Environmental Services. My business specializes in Hazmat Response, disaster preparedness and recovery after natural disasters. Also Dexter Fire Department.
Current affiliations: BOARDS: Chairman of the Bootheel Local Emergency Planning Committee (Bootheel LEPC).
What, if any, changes would you make: One of the changes I would like to see is a more fluent and a stronger working relationship with the city’s administration within our county, to help bring in new industries and jobs.
What are the most important duties of this position and why: Most important duties of this position are having the capabilities to protect the financial well-being of the citizens of Stoddard County, along with having the ability to lead the county in difficult and trying times. To ensure that the citizens of our county are protected by a Commission that is organized, prepared, and financially responsible to the needs of our community.
Why do you feel you are the best candidate for the job of commissioner: I am the only candidate with all the Federal NIMS and ICS training (National Incident Management System and Incident Command System) which is requirement to work with federal and state agencies in the event of a disaster. I have had the experience of working alongside with all the federal agencies on multiple disasters, working with the command staff doing daily briefings and budgets. My business experience and professional training make me uniquely qualified to deal with current issues that we are facing in our county.
What are the biggest challenges of this position and how would you address them: I believe one of the biggest challenges that we face is properly funding the services essential to our county citizens. We need to work on finding more grants for infrastructure and capital improvements.