Three seek Western District commissioner post

Three candidates are running for Western District commissioner in the Aug. 4 Republican primary. The winner will be unopposed in the November election.

The three candidates are: Gary Bemboom, Harry Otto and incumbent Kris Scheperle.

Gary Bemboom

Gary Bemboom has been a business owner in Mid-Missouri for many years. He previously owned a heating and cooling business as well as some convenience stores, although he has now sold both.

He also operates a cattle farm in Centertown.

"I think my small business ability is going to help with the county and working with people in the county - knowing they'll have a voice that will listen," Bemboom said.

Bemboom was born and raised in Cole County and currently lives in Centertown.

He said he would anticipate issues with the county budget in the future as a long-term effect from the COVID-19 pandemic, which briefly shut down many businesses in the area.

"I don't know what the budget is because I'm not in the office, but I know that if it's run like a business, it's going to have to cut back somewhere," he said.

Bemboom said he would like to make sure all of the branches of the county are well-funded, from the Cole County Sheriff's Office and emergency medical services to the courthouse.

"Every branch of the county is important - there's not one that's more important than the other," Bemboom said.

In 2018, the Cole County Commission stopped using the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce for economic development services. Bemboom said there should be a tie between the county and the chamber.

"I'm not saying it should be funded the whole way they had, but I think breaking ties with that hurt," he said. "I think the county and the city leadership should work together."

The county needs to focus on helping businesses that were affected by COVID-19 closures before bringing in more development, he said.

Bemboom said he has heard from county residents that they would like to see some of the county's gravel rounds paved.

"There's 158 miles of gravel road in Cole County," he said. "There's three gravel roads in the eastern district, and the rest of the gravel roads are in the western district - and (residents) want to know why."

Bemboom said the county road crews have been working to pave more of these roads, but residents have questioned why one district has more than the other.

Residents from the county's smaller towns have also expressed to him they would like to have more representation in the county.

"I just want people to know that they'll have a voice for their concerns if they elect me," Bemboom said.

Harry Otto

Harry Otto has spent his career working in public accounting and spent some time working for the Missouri Department of Revenue.

From January 2011 to May 2015, Otto served as the deputy state auditor and was involved in more than 80 Missouri county audits and numerous audits of political subdivisions and statewide elected officials. He also served as a legislative tax fiscal analyst for the Missouri General Assembly and most recently as the legislative director for the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

Otto previously served as president of the Missouri Society of CPAs and also served on the Council of the American Institute of CPAs.

He was born in Jefferson City and has lived here continuously since 1974.

Otto said he has concerns about the county's budget moving forward due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Sales tax is a big deal to the county," he said. "It subsidizes the ambulance operation; it subsidizes the jail. It's what we use on our capital improvements for streets and roads and other things. I'm not sure we've looked down the road far enough to see how the economic side of COVID-19 is going to play out."

Otto said he sees issues with real estate in the next few years. Cole County will be adding an additional associate circuit judge in 2021.

"We're going to have more judges than we have courtrooms," Otto said. "It will take some maneuvering and schedule adjustments to satisfy the needs of a new court and a new judge."

The county also owns an unused property on Adams Street, and he said that is another thing he would like to address.

He said he would also like to encourage residents to be more involved in the budget process of the county, and he would like an improved relationship with the state of Missouri.

Otto said he would revisit the relationship between the county and the chamber if he was elected. However, he said the county and city don't necessarily have to use the chamber, but he believes they should use the same provider.

"I think, no matter who the economic developer is for the county, they also should be the economic developer for the city," Otto said. "For the city and the county to have separate entities representing them in the economic development areas would be like going to two dentists - one for your upper teeth and one for your lower teeth. If you do that, I can tell you the bite is not going to match."

When speaking with residents, Otto has heard concerns about the operation of the county's ambulances and the county's relationship with the state.

He said he believes he would be a good fit because he has the time to dedicate to the position.

"I have the talent, I have the desire and I'm trustworthy," Otto said.

Kris Scheperle

Incumbent Western District Commissioner Kris Scheperle has served on the commission for eight years, and he has been the owner of All Seasons Landscaping & Construction, Inc. for 21 years.

He grew up in Cole County and attended Jefferson City High School and graduated from Lincoln University.

Scheperle also serves on the Heartland Port Authority board as treasurer.

During his time on the commission, Scheperle was involved with the reduction of health insurance costs and a pre-trial release program. Between those two items, the county has saved and generated $15.3 million in less than eight years, he said.

Going forward, should he be re-elected, Scheperle would like to see continued growth in the county.

"I want to see Cole County grow, expand broadband to all of Cole County, continue to support our grant program for our small communities, limit government and protect individuals' rights," he said.

Scheperle, along with Eastern County Commissioner Jeff Hoelscher, voted to discontinue the county's relationship with the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce in 2018.

"I believe going a different direction was needed for economic development services. (Economic development) was not being pushed for the entire county, and a change needed to happen," he said. "All options are still open for discussion regarding the new economic development organization, and we will explore the option of working together for the betterment of the entire county."

Scheperle said the commission has addressed many issues brought forward by residents as they arise.

He sees a need to improve the road network and work to improve the safety of the residents.