Chaney eyes job that truly helps people

JoDonn Chaney
JoDonn Chaney

JoDonn Chaney said being the owner of a rental property company is a 24/7 job, taking care of tenant issues day and night.

JoDonn Chaney

Past volunteer positions include YMCA "Ritz" auction director, United Way of Central Missouri pledge director, Jefferson City Chamber of Commerce representative and Jefferson City Figure Skating Club board member. Current volunteer positions include elected church deacon and Sunday school teacher for adults at First Assembly of God, and board member at Stained Glass Theatre, where he and his wife direct plays.

The job of public administrator is the same, and it's a factor he's prepared for if elected as the Cole County public administrator.

Chaney, a Republican, said his interest in the public administrator's office was sparked during a conversation with the current public administrator, Marilyn Schmutzler, years ago at a real estate auction. They discussed the role of the public administrator, and Chaney said, at the time, he thought if the position were to ever open he would seek it.

He said he's attracted to the position because it's a hands-on job "that can truly help people." His career has been service-oriented, Chaney said, from the start when he was an assistant to the governor for four years. He went on to become the marketing director for the Jefferson City YMCA and oversaw scholarship funding.

In addition to his business, Chaney teaches at the Lighthouse Preparatory Academy and Central Methodist University in the economics department.

"(Public administrator) goes along with who I am, what I do and what I believe in," Chaney said.

His first objective would be make a "smooth transition" for the clients, who Schmutzler has been assisting for 17 years, to provide them with stability.

He said his slogan - "It's not always about who you know this time, it's about how you care" - is at the heart of his campaign.

"Being elected to this (position) isn't just because you're the popular candidate; it's not always about who you know out in the community," he said. "It's not about the candidate who has the most connections with everyone; it's about the job and the individuals you're serving."

Main article:

Candidates focus on role of public administrator in Cole County

Other candidate profiles for this race:

Democrat Schwaller vows to protect clients

Kuensting stresses listening, accessibility

Combs stresses clients' independence