Candidate questionnaire: Jay Purcell

Candidate Name: Jay Purcell

Party: Republican

Age: 42

Place of birth:

Spouse: Kelly Purcell

Children: Austin, Miranda, Dayton, Reece

Occupation: Cape Girardeau County Commissioner

Education: Joined the Navy and received GED. Two years of naval electronic schools, One year of college at Semo.

Employer: Cape Girardeau County

Businesses owned, all or part: My wife and I own some commercial and residential investment property.

Previous offices held/sought: Cape Girardeau City Councilman lost first time against incumbent, later elected three times as a city Councilman, ran once unsuccessfully for State Representative, elected and re-elected as a Cape Girardeau County Commissioner

Question 1: Do you support the county changing to a charter form of government? Why or why not?

Answer: The citizens deserve the opportunity to vote and decide for themselves what type of government best addresses their needs. I am willing to put it on the ballot and let the citizens decide full well knowing it would probably be the end of our jobs. Interestingly enough all of the county officials who make between $70,000 and $110,000 per year are against it.

Question 2: What are the major challenges facing Cape Girardeau County?

Answer: Ending the controversy! I pledge as Presiding Commissioner to conduct the citizens business in an open and transparent manner. I pledge that Elected officials and citizens alike will have a voice in our government. I pledge that I will treat people with differing opinions and views with fairness, dignity and respect. I pledge to put the interests of the citizens ahead of those of government. These actions will put an end to the Controversy

Question 3: Cape Girardeau County has escaped the worst impacts of the recession, with revenue about stable. How would you help make sure the county budget is fiscally stable in 2011?

Answer: We need to reduce the size of government by prioritizing our needs instead of funding our wants. This can be accomplished by using an objective data based process to analyze every facet of county government. Currently what you have is the fox guarding the hen house, an excellent example of this is elected officials giving themselves raises based on the county can afford it. I have voted against these raises and unbalanced budgets.

Question 4: What changes would you make in the way commission meetings are conducted or the way the county operates?

Answer: Hiring of county employees will be posted and based on experience and qualifications not connections. Will work to get a balanced budget rule in place based on needs not wants. I will be a strong leader who is not threatened by differing views and opinions. I will work on accelerating the paving of county roads with a bond and will install a webcam to provide better accountability.

Closing remarks: Working for you I have stood up to the powers that be and have demanded change. As a result the politicians have circled the wagons and are working against me. Ask your self why are the politicians so threatened by Jay Purcell? Are these politicians representing your interests or their own? This election is a choice between having a county government that works for the citizens or a county government that works for the politicians.