Cole County Presiding Commissioner Canidate Interviews: Mike Bernskoetter

JEFFERSON CITY Mo. (KMIZ)

Sam Bushman is stepping down from his seat as Cole County's presiding commissioner, leaving the field open for two Republicans -- State Rep. Mike Bernskoetter and Paul Dupuis.

ABC 17 News talked to each man ahead of the Aug. 4 primary.

No Democrats have filed in the race.

MIKE BERNSKOETTER: So my name is Mike Bernskoetter. I'm a senator from Cole County. I represent Cole County, Moniteau County, Miller County, Morgan County, and Cameron County. And because of term limits, and we can only do eight in the House and eight in the Senate. And so, my time is done here at the Capitol. And so, I'm running for presiding commissioner here in Cole County.

SUTTON PARKER: So walk me through your decision to run. What made you decide to run for office? Presiding county commissioner.

BERNSKOETTER: So, you know, I did my time at the Capitol, you know, because of the term limits. I cannot serve in this capacity anymore. And so I didn't really feel like I was ready to quit. I mean, we have a pest control business here in town, but my wife and my son and my daughter-in-law kind of got everything under control. And so I just found this another opportunity to serve. And so that was something I was interested in doing. 

PARKER: You've been on the campaign trail recently; you kind of walk me through some of the biggest concerns voters bring to you, for the position that you're running for?

BERNSKOETTER: Some of the biggest concerns. Well, they want to make sure, you know, I've heard things from, you know, make sure we're fiscally sound. You know, pass a balanced budget, don't spend more than we take, and don't raise taxes, you know, paved my road. The sheriff's department needs-- we're thinking about putting an addition onto the sheriff's department. And those are some of the things that I've talked about. People are concerned about public safety, infrastructure, those types of things. 

PARKER: If you were elected to the position, what would be the first priority that you'd like to take care of? 

BERNSKOETTER: I don't know that I have a priority. You know, even as a state rep and senator, I just wanted to represent my community, represent their constituents. So I don't know that I have a priority just representing the community that I grew up in and lived in my whole life. 

PARKER: So, you spent a long time in the state legislature helping the state shape laws. So, how will you adjust from a legislative to more of an administrative executive duty heavy roles as a presiding commissioner?

BERNSKOETTER: Actually, I think it fits my talents very well. I'm a business owner here in town. And so, you know, I manage the business. And so I think managing the, the finances and, the operations of the county fits very well with what I've done for the last 40 years as a business owner.

PARKER: Your opponent has emphasized his status as a political outsider. He says that he's not into politics. He's "just" a business owner in town. How do you respond to voters who might prefer a non-politician, and how does your deep political experience at the Capitol benefit Cole County residents directly?

BERNSKOETTER: Well, I've been involved in the community. I've been involved in the business world. I've been a business owner for the last 40 years, and I've got 16 years of legislative experience. All those things, if you stack all those things together, would make me very qualified to be the next presiding commissioner.

PARKER: Having served in both the Missouri House and Senate, how do you plan to use the existing relationships that you already have to benefit Cole County?

BERNSKOETTER: Well, depends on what we need, but I be, you know, if we need somebody to come over here and testify on a piece of legislation that would affect the county in a positive way or in a negative way, I'd be happy to come over and testify in committee. If they had something that was going to affect the way counties function, I think that's very important to have somebody that knows how to navigate legislative, because there are always things we do that affect counties and cities at the state level. And so having that experience of being over here for the last 16 years, I'd be happy to come testify and and tell the, you know, if the members of the Senate or the House don't really understand how it's going to affect the county government, I'd be happy to step in and and be a voice for the for the association of counties need be.

PARKER: Missouri voters will decide on Amendment 5 in August as well. It eliminates the state individual income tax and allows the legislature to expand the sales tax and offset the lost revenue. How do you anticipate the passing or failing of this amendment to affect Cole County?

BERNSKOETTER: Well, the "if it," well, if it fails, I don't think it will affect Cole County at all. If it passes, then we will see. It depends on how the revenue comes in, because if the county collects too much revenue, then that will be an offset to lower the personal property taxes. But if it doesn't pass, that won't affect anything, but only if it passes what it would possibly be able to roll back personal property taxes.

PARKER: Do you have a particular stance on them, in time five four against? 

BERNSKOETTER: I think the people, you know, you hear a lot of good and bad. Well, most people seem like they're not in favor of it, so I don't it doesn't look like it will pass. But I actually voted in favor of it. To put it on the ballot, to let the people decide.

PARKER: In the past, Cole County has had issues with property-tax assessments. How would you, as commissioner, ensure that the assessment process goes smoothly? 

BERNSKOETTER: I mean, I think that's mostly an assessment issue. We have had, problems in the past with, you know, people don't want their property assessed unfairly. And so people were pretty happy with the way the property tax thing was going. But then what happens when their property is not assessed properly is then the schools lose revenue because if the property is assessed higher, the schools would get more benefit out of that. And so, we've got a new assessor in the last election, and he's taken over, and I think he's trying to stabilize the assessment values.

PARKER: If you could send a message to voters who, excuse me, send a message to voters who go out to the polls on Election Day, what would you tell them? 

BERNSKOETTER: I think I have the legislative experience, the business experience, and the community experience to represent them well as a next Coal County presiding commissioner.

PARKER: Anything else you'd like to add?

BERNSKOETTER: No, that’s all.