Primary Preview: Crawford County Commission Dist. 2 Democrats

Unlike many elections, the race for Crawford County Commission will not be decided in November. Rather, because all three candidates for the office are running as Democrats, the primary will determine the new commissioner.

Candidates include former commissioner Tom Moody, current commissioner Linda Grilz, and challenger Tim Gintner. Each was asked the same questions, and no guidance was given to length of response.

What separates you from the other candidates?

Gintner: By being retired, working around heavy equipment, by being responsible for millions of freight engine merchandise daily, by being responsible for human lives in the water district, and by being responsible for 86 miles of the water district at all hours of the day and night. By being retired, I will give 100 percent of my time to the county.

Grilz: I have experience. I have nearly 40 years of leadership experience. I have experience as a current member of the county commission and as a former Frontenac city commissioner. I have the vision I think this county needs to go farther.

Moody: I have a proven record. I have over 13 years experience. When I was in office, we were aggressive and went for things. We needed a new jail. The old jail was terrible. The commission and Sheriff Horton actually brought money into the county by housing prisoners from other counties. We built an ambulance building. The old building was terrible. The living conditions were despicable. We found ways to do that. We have a new fire district No. 2. We built numerous bridges and roads. We created numerous sewer districts. That’s not only good and healthy for people in the district, but it helps the environment. Experience is what I have.

No one wants to waste government money. How do you plan to protect taxpayer dollars?

Grilz: We have to scrutinize expenditures. Anything we use can benefit the citizens in the long run. We can’t have any waste. We need to, I think eventually downsize the [county] work force to some degree, to take advantage of computers and Internet options.

Moody: I would scrutinize over every expenditure. I’d define the difference between wants and needs. That needs to be done. We need to look at consolidating the work force. There are times in the last four years where equipment was purchased when it could have been leased for a fraction of the cost.

Gintner: Taxpayer dollars should be spent more wisely. We need better decisions and planning before we get started. They should have thought out the three bridges on K-47. What routes should be taken, what are the state’s designated detours, could the project be phased, is the proper aggregate to keep dust control down in front of homes with excess traffic. Lastly, businesses paying taxpayer money in Crawford County should be considered first. For asphalt, when we were dealing with roads in the winter, it should have been figured out where the closest provider was. We drive 160 miles to Cardin, Okla., when Pittsburg is available. We could have called Bourbon County, I understand they have an asphalt plant. Or Bourbon County could provide the north part of the county and Pittsburg could provide the east and west parts.

How do you plan to help this county grow?

Moody: I plan on being aggressive so far as economic development goes. I’ve been in contact with local businesses, members of the university, bankers, and educators to get a feeling for what they think we need to be more aggressive in economic development. I know a plan is in place, but sitting back and waiting isn’t working at this time.

Gintner: I plan to attend all chamber meetings when asked to to see what we can do as an entity and organization. Businesses bring in jobs. They do bring in economic development, but they have to have people on the tax rolls with good-paying jobs.

Grilz: I think by being more involved with other groups, creating relationships where business, industry and economic development will find it beneficial to be here. I don’t think you can look at economic development solely as a business with a building that makes widgets. We need to focus on what we have in agriculture, tourism and sporting events. We need to take advantage of what we have in Pittsburg State University. We need to explore every opportunity when it comes to us.

If elected, what will you do for the residents of Crawford County?

Gintner: I would love to be elected to support the working-class people of the county. I want to see their tax dollars not wasted to build new roads when we should commit to the maintenance and upkeep of existing roads to connect towns. First responders and ambulance personnel have to travel these roads all the time. Mulberry, Arcadia, and Englevale have to travel roads to U.S. 69 and then to Fort Scott or Pittsburg to work. We have to give them decent roads to 69.

Grilz: I have a list of things that we need to do. I’d like to work with the other two commissioenrs to see happen. In a couple of years, we’ll be out from under the repayment of hard debt. We need to take any ability to complete some things. There are a lot of areas we need to expand what we do. Road and bridge plays a part. We need to protect the investments we have in roads and equipment. We need to work smarter, not harder, and make the sort of decisions we’ll all benefit from in the long run.

Moody: I will watch every dollar spent to make sure it’s spent wisely. I’ll be very aggressive with economic development. I know what it takes to build roads and keep them safe. I’m proud to know how to do that. I left the roads in pretty good shape when I left, and now they’re pretty rough. No one cares about Crawford County more than I do. I’m a fifth generation resident of Crawford County. I was born here, raised here, and I’m going to die here. It tears me up to see graduates from high school and Pittsburg State looking for jobs, but they can’t find any here.