Local News: FREE ACCESS: Stoddard County Commission Candidates Face Off (7/30/24)

The following three candidates are running in the Republican race for a District 2 seat on the Stoddard County Commission. Incumbent Carol Jarrell is being challenged by Wes Howard and Jeff Riddle in Tuesday’s election.

All three candidates were asked the same questions by the Dexter Statesman. Their answers are presented in the order of voting.

There are no Democratic challengers in this race. The winner will be the presumptive winner of the November general election.

**Wes Howard

Age: 46

Wife: Bonnie Howard

Children: Kalee, Jackson and Grant

Occupation: Crop Consultant at Heartland Crop Consultants, LLC

Education: 1996 Graduated from Dexter High School 2000 Graduated from Harding University, Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration

What policy changes or investments are needed to stimulate economic development in Stoddard County?

On a larger scale, we need to make sure that our infrastructure is up to date: roads, bridges, water, waste, communication technology like the internet. We need to stay current in those areas so that we are attractive and ready to accommodate a business or enterprise that is considering moving here, or (for) our own entrepreneurs to be willing to invest locally rather than in a larger populated area. On a smaller scale, we need to look inward and make sure that we are good stewards of our tax dollars and spend them wisely. With the economy as it is now with high interest rates and high inflation, we need to be as conservative as possible and make sure that we have a buffer amount for emergencies.

Establishing environmental and land use policies is a challenging topic for county commissioners, especially in the area of ​​green energy. Does Stoddard County Need Land Use Regulations Regarding Solar Farming?

This is a very difficult topic to talk about. It would honestly take a lot of research, but on the surface I see a few things like this. We have some of the best agricultural land in the world right here in our county and I would hate to see our farmers or that land eaten up by acres of solar panels. On the other side of the argument, a landowner should be able to make the best decision for their own situation, so it is a difficult topic to talk about. There are environmental risks, risks to a shallow water table in our area, contamination of nearby crops that could make someone’s crop unmarketable, risks to wildlife, concerns about waste disposal, and a lot of unknown variables that I think need more time to surface.

Should any portion of Stoddard County’s budget be protected from cuts? If so, what portion?

Law enforcement departments need to be shielded. I will always stand up for the needs of our sheriff, our state’s attorney’s office, and our coroner. In order to have a safe and desirable county and place to raise our families, we cannot afford to cut corners. I think we can all agree on this.

Carol Jarrell

Age: 81

Husband: Clyde Jarrell Jr.

Children: Tom Jarrell and Sissy Brown

Occupations: Commissioner District II

Education: High school

Current Memberships: Bootheel Regional Planning Commission Solid Waste Management District, BRPC Board, Industrial Development Authority Foundations Board

What policy changes or investments are needed to stimulate economic development in Stoddard County?

I don’t think there is a need for policy changes at this time. We as a commission discuss if and when a policy needs to be addressed. The Stoddard County Commission is working hand in hand with BRPC, Stoddard County IDA, and the local Chamber of Commerce, to name a few, to help in this area. ARPA (federal American Rescue Plan Act) funds have helped many entities. We continue to strive to make progress in this area and bring economic growth to Stoddard County.

Establishing environmental and land use policies is a challenging topic for county commissioners, especially in the area of ​​green energy. Does Stoddard County Need Land Use Regulations Regarding Solar Farming?

I don’t think Stoddard County needs to have regulations in place regarding solar farming. I don’t think I can go out there and tell the farmer how to use his land.

Should any portion of Stoddard County’s budget be protected from cuts? If so, what portion?

We have checks and balances on funding. We cannot spend more than the revenue we receive. Salaries for the district attorney and sheriff are set by the state of Missouri. The salary is set each year on July 1st. There is a public hearing each budget year for community input. We are the voice of our community and want all parts of local government to thrive and be adequately funded.

Jeff Riddle

Age: 56

Husband: N/A

Children: Clayton and Eric Riddle

Occupation: Self-Employed, JSR Environmental Services, LLC

Education: Associate of Arts degree from Three Rivers College in agricultural business administration.

Current memberships: Dexter Fire Department, chairman of the Bootheel Local Emergency Planning Committee, member of the Stoddard County Health Board and the Dexter Elks Lodge.

What policy changes or investments are needed to stimulate economic development in Stoddard County?

The Industrial Development Authority of Stoddard County is responsible for overseeing economic development in the county. The IDA is governed by a board of directors who make decisions and work year-round to support current and new businesses. I would like to see the commissioners take a more active role by meeting with the IDA more often and by bringing specific ideas for economic development in the county to the board for consideration.

Establishing environmental and land use policies is a challenging topic for county commissioners, especially in the area of ​​green energy. Does Stoddard County Need Land Use Regulations Regarding Solar Farming?

The government should not interfere with a landowner’s use of their own land. I am a big believer in PROPERTY OWNERS RIGHTS! Unnecessary regulations only lead to more unnecessary regulations. A landowner should have the right to use their land as they wish, as long as it does not interfere with the use of their land by other landowners. Stoddard County currently has no ordinances regarding whether or not solar farms can be built in the county. It may be too late to do that now, as I understand that solar farms are already in the planning stages in Stoddard County and contracts have been signed between landowners and electric providers. Another hurdle is that commissions are very limited, if not prohibited, from making regulations that pertain to agricultural land. I am not an attorney, but I have looked at the Missouri statutes that directly relate to agricultural land used for non-agricultural purposes, and it appears that this may not be a commission decision.

Should any portion of Stoddard County’s budget be protected from cuts? If so, what portion?

All office holders present an annual budget to the Stoddard County Clerk and the Stoddard County Commission. Each office holder’s budget is reviewed article by article. Adjustments are made to ensure a balanced budget. As I stated on the Farm Bureau Candidate Forum, I do not believe that any office holder should be given a blank check regarding their annual requests.