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PrintEditor's note: This story originally publishedin advance of the August primary. It has been updated to include information about the candidates who will appear on the Nov. 6 ballot. This article is part of the Missourian's 2012 general election voters guide.
WHAT'S THE JOB? The Boone County Commission is an elected three-member governing body with a Southern District, a Northern District and a presiding commissioner. The commission establishes county policies, approves an annual county budget and supervises the operations of all county departments and divisions, including Public Works, Planning and Zoning, Building Codes, Human Resources, Purchasing, Information Technology, and Facilities and Grounds Maintenance. Commissioners also act as liaisons to dozens of county boards, commissions and other government entities. Commissioners serve four-year terms. The presiding commissioner is paid $85,654 per year, while district commissioners are paid $83,657 per year.
The candidates
Janet Thompson (D), Boone County
Personal: Age 54. Single. Lives on a farm in northern Boone County.
Education: Law degree, MU School of Law, 1984; master of laws degree in alternative dispute resolution, MU, 2002.
Occupation: Attorney, Office of the State Public Defender.
Background: President of the Missouri Horse Shows Association; attends Calvary Episcopal Church in Columbia; served on the Diocesan Council and the Standing Committee for the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri.
Issues/priorities:
- Tax incentives: Thompson said she has to be convinced that any tax-incentive program will bring more to Boone County than has to be given up and that all the affected taxing entities agree.
- Growth planning: She said she wants to make sure the various lifestyles in Boone County – in small towns and on farms – are protected as the county grows. She said the best way to create a plan would be to have a retreat including county officials and representatives from all of the cities.
- Home rule: Thompson said that unless there is an upwelling of voter support, she would not pursue home rule.
- Collaboration: Thompson has emphasized collaboration with stakeholders on issues such as growth planning and tax incentives. She said having everyone at the table is key to moving forward.
Campaign website: thompsonforboone.com
Don Bormann (R), Centralia
Personal: Age 61. He is married to Linda Bormann. They have two children and two grandchildren.
Education: Bachelor of science degrees in agriculture and engineering, MU, 1978.
Occupation: Land surveyor, owner of Bormann Surveying and Centralia alderman.
Background: Serves on the Boone County Board of Equalization and the Centralia planning and zoning commission; former member of the Centralia Library Board and the Centralia Chamber of Commerce board; member of Centralia Kiwanis; and former member of Friends of the Park.
Campaign website: bormann4commissioner.net
Issues/priorities:
- Tax incentives: While he doesn’t like using incentives, Bormann said that’s the only way to compete with other locations for companies. He voted to approve an enhanced enterprise zone in Centralia and said he probably would vote for one in Columbia and Boone County.
- Growth planning: Bormann said that it’s hard to predict where growth is going to happen and that though the current system is messy, it also gives people the most freedom to do what they want with their land.
- Home rule: Although he voted against the two previous charters, Bormann said home rule generally is a good idea and he'd be willing to support it depending on the charter.
Supervising editor is Scott Swafford.
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