Cole County Presiding Commissioner candidates speak on experiences
JEFFERSON CITY Mo. (KMIZ)
Following 12 years on the job, Cole County Presiding Commissioner Sam Bushman decided to not seek reelection.
With that seat now vacant, two candidates are vying for it in the upcoming Republican primary.
Voters will be able to choose between a state lawmaker with more than a decade of legislative experience and a Jefferson City chiropractor who has served on the Jefferson City Police Department personnel board.
Paul Dupuis, a chiropractor at his family's office in downtown Jefferson City, said he decided to run for office to give voters another option. If elected, Dupuis said that his first priority would be to complete a tour of all county facilities and make sure the county is heading in the right direction, economically.
“I want to make sure we're not wasting money, make sure we're spending it where it needs to be spent. Make sure that we are doing the projects that are the highest on the list first, prioritizing those and working through those projects," he said.
Dupuis also emphasized that he is a community leader and not a politician.
"I don't think politics belong in county politics and county government. This is a role of running a business. I have all my experiences through running a volleyball club, being president of the Missouri Chiropractic Physicians Association, and working with budgets there," he said.
Also running for the seat is current State Sen. Mike Bernskoetter (R-Cole County), who is now term-limited in the legislature. Bernskoetter said that if elected, he wants to represent the community well.
“I don't know that I have a [top] priority. You know, even as a state rep and senator, I just wanted to represent my community, represent their constituents," he said.
Bernskoetter added he believes his experience owning a local business and working in the state legislature makes him qualified for the position.
"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 finances and the operations of the county fits very well, and I've got 16 years of legislative experience," he said.
For the full unedited interview with Bernskoetter and Dupuis, you can find it on the ABC 17 News Your Voice, Your Vote Voter Guide.
