What made you decide to run for County Commission?
I believe that I possess the abilities to work with others not always of the same mindset for the common good of the county and to with an open mind do what is best for the residents of the county as a whole.
Why should residents trust you with governing Jefferson County?
As one who has built a business from the ground up and taken another from failing when I purchased to a thriving business today I have the ability to manage budgets and hire the right people for the job and do so in a responsible manner. I have the ability to work with others in a positive manner which is best for the citizens of this county.
What specific experience and expertise do you have that is relevant to performing the role of County Commissioner?
As a business owner and Fire Chief I am tasked with creating policies for the operation of business as well as public safety organizations. This includes budgeting, planning, implementation as well as HR duties to make an organization successful and I have a proven successful track record of doing so and can bring this to the County Commission.
What changes would you make to how the Commission conducts its business?
My plans for the commission are to ensure that meetings are open as long as legally allowed to be and if they go into Executive Session to ensure that it is legal and responsible to do so and if not to in open meeting discuss the reasons I believe this item should not be in Executive Session, to streamline processes to eliminate staff or elected officials brining budgeted items to the commission for an approval which has just looked like a rubber stamp, to task boards to ensure that what they are doing is for the best for all residents of the county, to ensure appointments to boards puts a balanced roster of appointees when possible to ensure it does not appear that any board is biased.
Public hearings whenever possible should be in the evening as most of our residents do not work in the county.
Use of special sessions should be limited to items that will take several hours or are of an emergent nature. I believe that too many special sessions look to the public as we are trying to hide something and that is something we should not be doing.
I believe public comment should be available at all meetings of the county boards.
At the end of your term, what is the one thing that you would hope people remember most about your service on the Commission?
I want people to remember me as one who truly worked for the citizens of this county as a whole and the successes that I have helped bring to Jefferson County and its residents.
Candidate info:
Age 56
Jefferson County resident since 1995 (Leetown October 2022 to present; Kearneysville Sept 2006 to October 2022; Harpers Ferry 1995 to 2006).
Volunteer experience: Westridge Hills HOA President, Jefferson County Little League Coach and several VP positions as well as President, Blue Ridge Mountain Volunteer Fire and Rescue, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Reserve, Jefferson County Emergency Services Agency Board ( 2 Terms), Jefferson County Property Safety Board, Jefferson County Fire & Rescue Association, Founding member of the Middleway Volunteer Fire Company, Past Foster Parent for WV Youth Advocacy Program
Work experience: Owner of a Heating and Air Conditioning and Towing and Recovery business in Jefferson County and former Police Officer on the Washington DC Metropolitan Police Dept.
Education / Military / Other experience: Vocational Trade School for HVAC/ Wash DC Police Academy
Website: www.mood4wv.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092442650993
Email: moodforcommission@gmail.com
More election coverage at ObserverWV.com/elections-2024
By Staff Contributor