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Your State Candidates
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Robin Carnahan
United States Senate
Robin Carnahan is Missouri’s Secretary of State. She was first elected to the office in 2004 and re-elected in 2008 earning more votes than any candidate in Missouri history. As Secretary of State, Carnahan has focused on protecting consumers, cracking down on financial fraud, cutting costs and red-tape for businesses, and safeguarding the integrity of elections. Her commitment to protecting investors and fighting against fraud has resulted in nearly $9.5 billion being returned to tens of thousands of investors across the country.
Since coming to the Secretary of State's office, Carnahan has been a leader in ensuring fair elections. She has modernized and improved Missouri's elections system by implementing Missouri’s first statewide voter registration system, creating the Missouri Voting Rights Center, and launching a new interactive election results website.
Prior to her election, Carnahan had a successful career in business and law. She served at the Export-Import Bank of the United States where she explored innovative ways to help American companies increase their sale of goods and services abroad. She also specialized in business and corporate law at a major Missouri law firm.
Carnahan grew up in Rolla, Mo., and graduated from Rolla High School. Her parents, Mel and Jean Carnahan, instilled in her a deep sense of public service and a responsibility to help others. Carnahan earned a bachelor's degree in economics, graduating magna cum laude from William Jewell College. She earned her law degree from the University of Virginia. Today, in addition to her duties as Secretary of State, Carnahan continues to manage her family's small business, a 900-acre farm and cattle operation near Rolla. Her husband, Juan Carlos, develops and maintains business computer systems.
For more information: robincarnahn.com
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Ike Skelton
United States Congress
For more than three decades, Ike Skelton has served the people and communities of Missouri’s 4th District putting leadership ahead of politics.
As one of the foremost leaders on defense and veterans issues, Ike relentlessly fought for our men and women in uniform – both when they are in harm’s way and when they returned home. As Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Ike Skelton has time and again broken with popular opinion to stand up for our soldiers, the military and their strategic action.
Missouri’s 4th District is home to Fort Leonard Wood, Whiteman Air Force Base and the Missouri National Guard Training Center. Skelton was instrumental in bringing the Army Engineer, Chemical and Military Police Schools to Fort Leonard Wood and the B-2 Stealth bomber to Whiteman.
A native of Lexington, Skelton has represented Missouri's Fourth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1977. He is a graduate of Wentworth Military Academy and the University of Missouri at Columbia where he received A.B. and L.L.B. degrees. He was named as a member of Phi Beta Kappa and the Law Review. Prior to his election to Congress, Skelton served as Lafayette County Prosecuting Attorney and as a Missouri State Senator.
Skelton is an elder of the First Christian Church in Lexington. He and his late wife Susan have three sons. Skelton married Patricia Martin in 2009.
For more information: skeltonforcongress.com
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Susan Montee
Missouri State Auditor
Susan Montee was elected Missouri State Auditor in 2006, and is up for re-election in 2010. Montee is both a Certified Public Accountant and an attorney. Prior to her election, she had been Buchanan County Auditor since 2000.
In her first two years, her department audited state departments and programs, cities, counties and school districts. “At times, we've found significant problems. I'm particularly proud of our work in identifying widespread weaknesses in security screening for Missouri's school bus drivers - allowing some pretty unsavory characters to be entrusted with the safety of Missouri's children.”
Montee was born and raised in St. Joseph and graduated from Bishop LeBlond High School. She has an undergraduate degree in accounting from Drury College in Springfield with minors in economics and business administration. Montee became a Certified Public Accountant in 1985. Montee obtained her law degree from the University of Missouri - Kansas City where she graduated, with distinction, in 2000.
Montee's first elective post was to an at-large four year term on the St. Joseph City Council in 1998. In 2000, Montee was elected Buchanan County Auditor. She served the county for two years concurrently with her service on the City Council. In 2002, Montee was re-elected to a four year term as County Auditor.
Susan Montee has been married twenty-three years to attorney James Montee. They have three children, Amanda age 21, Andy age 20 and Austin age 19. The family attends Christ Episcopal Church.
For more information: susanmontee.com
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Zac Maggi
Missouri House - 120th District
Zac Maggi is a practicing attorney in Clinton, operating his own firm. He covers a large spectrum of practice areas, giving him a good understanding of the many challenges that face the citizens of this area.
Zac has been actively involved in the community for many years: as a member of the Clinton and the Windsor Chambers of Commerce, current Chairman for the Clinton Missouri Community Betterment Committee, and a member of the Clinton All-America City Committee. He’s a member of the Missouri Bar Association, National Rifle Association (NRA), and Ducks Unlimited. He has been an active member in the Clinton United Methodist Church, where his father is pastor, for over 15 years.
Zac attended the University of Missouri where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a Juris Doctorate. Upon completion of law school, he moved back to Clinton where he worked with the law firm of Cason, Edgett, Mahan & Lutjen before opening his own firm.
For more information: zacmaggiforhouse.com. |
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Courtney Cole
Missouri House - 121st District
“Johnson County needs, and deserves, someone who will listen to its residents and take action,” Courtney Cole said. “As a mother, public school teacher and small business woman, I would be honored to be that person. Over the next 17 months I look forward to working hard to earn your vote.”
Courtney Cole lives in Warrensburg, with her husband, Jason Cole, and two-year-old daughter, Mackenzie. Both Courtney and Jason are educators living in Warrensburg. Courtney has been a teacher for 6 years. Jason is a professor at the University of Central Missouri in the Communications Department.
Courtney is actively involved in her community any way she can. She has been a member of the Business Professional Women’s organization for the past six years, previously serving as President of the Excelsior Springs chapter. She has also served as the Young Careerist Chair for the State Board the past two years and won the State competition for the program in 2006. She represented Missouri nationally in Dallas in 2006.
She has an Associates Degree in Theater & Journalism, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education & Theater. She graduated from St. Mary’s College with honors, and was recognized in Who’s Who for Universities.
For more information: votecourtneycole.com
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Gary Grigsby
Missouri House - 122nd District
“I am offering my candidacy because we need a Legislator who is both knowledgeable in and concerned with our rural schools. A business owner who is for strengthening the local economy and defending area jobs, and one that has put country and community before self when duty called. I am that candidate.”
Gary Grigsby has a multifaceted background to lead in the tough decisions facing the state during these tough economic times. He is a native Saline Countian who has lived in rural Johnson County and the 122nd district for the past 30 years. His father was a union member and railroad worker and his mother a beautician. Together they taught him the values of working hard and playing by the rules.
For the past 14 years, he has been a businessman and, along with his wife, Anita, owned Central Band & Piano, LLC, in downtown Warrensburg. After serving 3 years in the US Marine Corps during the Vietnam Era, he has dedicated his life as a teacher and working in education and helping the community.
For more information: garygrigsby.com. |
Your County Candidates
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Sue Dodson
Associate Circuit Judge
The voters of Johnson County, Missouri elected Sue Dodson to the position of Associate Circuit Judge in 2006. Prior to taking the bench, Judge Dodson provided legal services to thousands of Johnson County residents, advocated for abused and neglected children and provided pro bono legal services for disadvantaged citizens.
Judge Dodson presides over all state misdemeanor cases, felony cases prior to preliminary hearing civil cases in which the amount in controversy does not exceed $25,000.00, small claims court, and twenty-five percent of the family law cases filed in Johnson County, Missouri. Additionally, Judge Dodson presides over the municipal dockets for the cities of Holden, Kingsville, Centerview, Chilhowee and Leeton.
Judge Dodson served, by special appointment, as an appellate judge for the Western District Court of Appeals when the court convened and heard arguments at Girls’ State in 2007. Further, Judge Dodson participates in community activities which benefit local charitable organizations and activities which enhance cooperation among the business community, educational community, airbase community and legal community.
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R. Michael Wagner
Circuit Court Judge – 17th Circuit, Div. 2
Mike Wagner was elected to the 17th Circuit Court in 2007 to replace Judge Joe Dandurand, who was appointed to the Missouri Appellate Court. Prior to his election, he served as the city judge for Raymore and Garden City, MO and had been appointed to preside as an arbitrator in civil litigation cases in Missouri.
Wagner has practiced law since 1990 and is a partner in the Harrisonville law firm of Anderson, Milholland & Wagner where he practices in a wide variety of both civil and criminal law. Wagner worked as both prosecutor and defense attorney in both the municipal and state courts during his legal career. He graduated from the University of Missouri Kansas City Law School in 1990, and is licensed to practice law in Missouri and Kansas.
He serves on the Board of Directors for CASSCO and is actively involved in the community. He resides in Raymore, MO with his wife Melody. |
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Stephanie Elkins
17th Circuit Court Clerk
Stephanie Elkins, Johnson County Circuit Court Clerk, has worked in the Court system as a Court Clerk since 1987. She was appointed to the office of Circuit Court Clerk by Governor Holden in 2004, and was elected by the voters in 2004 and again in 2006.
Since 2004 the Court joined the consolidated Court System. The Court now also participates in the State Wide Judicial Information System which has allowed access for the public to check public Court records on line by using the website www.courts.mo.gov. These were both voluntary programs offered by the State that Stephanie felt would benefit the public as well as the office in moving forward with technology. She supervises 14 employees. There were about 7,000 cases filed last year.
Stephanie attended Holden High School and UCM. She has been a resident of Johnson County for 34 years, and is a member of the United Methodist Church, the Johnson County Democrat Club, Tau Pi Sorority in Holden. She has been involved in helping coordinate Community Blood drives and Community food drives, as well as volunteering as a Youth basketball coach and past Youth director for the Church.
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Chuck Owings
Candidate for Presiding Commissioner
Chuck Owings is running for Presiding Commissioner of Johnson County. His priorities for that position are:
“My foremost goal is to promote financial conservatism in Johnson County. In the last seven years the county's cash reserves have dropped over 1.3 million dollars. At this time, the county is holding bills due to a cash flow problem, which a healthy reserve balance would have solved. Expenditures consistently run higher than incoming revenues, a trend that needs to be reversed.
“I will stand up for the interests of all Johnson Countians and treat all citizens fairly. A prime example of unfair treatment by our current county officials is the Associated Electric Cooperative's tax agreement with the county, which the county first denied the validity of, which would have cost the Holden R-3 district $91,000 a year for 20 years. Singling out entities like this is grossly unfair, and my goal would be for such incidents to never happen again.
“I will encourage open meetings, publicized with respect to place, date and time in accordance with the Sunshine Law, for access to everyone who is interested. It's the right of the citizens to know what's going on in their county government.
“Another issue is to keep politics out the courthouse. I will treat all elected officials equally, working with everyone, Democrat or Republican, with the best interests of the public being the foremost consideration.”
As a lifelong resident of Johnson County, Chuck is the sixth generation of his family to farm near Centerview. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and is a past president of the Johnson County Cattlemen’s Association, a member of the Sunset Hill Cemetery Board, and former coach of Centerview Youth Basketball. Chuck and his wife Pam have one son, Ryan.
For more information: chuckowings.com.
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Ron Fitterling
Candidate for Johnson County Clerk
Ron Fitterling, a long time resident of Johnson County, has been a United Parcel Service driver for 25 years. Undeniably hard working, Ron also operates a seventh generation family farm south of Warrensburg.
Ron graduated from College High in 1971 before attending the University of Central Missouri, where he received a Bachelor of Education degree in Industrial Arts and Technology. He taught high school industrial arts and technology for four years before attending Kansas State University, where he studied Regional and Community Planning. Ron has also worked for the city of Overland Park, Kansas as a Health Inspector.
A committed member of Johnson County, Ron has served the community as a founding member of the Johnson County Ambulance Board, has served twelve years as member with the past six years as president of the Johnson County Fireboard, and is an active member of the Johnson County Cattlemen’s Association. As a supportive parent of the Warrensburg R6 school district, Ron Fitterling has coached many youth sports teams, served on project graduation committees, and has always been and always will be an advocate for his children. Ron recently served as a member of the College High All School Reunion committee and assisted with efforts to procure a symbolic College High monument on the UCM campus.
Born and raised in Warrensburg, Ron and his wife Lori are the proud parents of four daughters, Kristy Smarr, Heidi Lynam, Kathleen, and Kelli; two son-in-laws, Darin Smarr and Ian Lynam; and one beautiful granddaughter Maya Erabella Lynam. |
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Ruthane Small
Collector of Revenue
The position of County Collector is a countywide elected position with a four year term. Johnson County Collector Ruthane Small was sworn into office on January 26, 1993, and has been elected to office for four subsequent terms. Small was elected President of the Missouri County Collectors’ Association in 2000-2001. During her tenure as President of the Collectors’ Association, Small worked with the Secretary of State’s office to revise the County Collectors’ Records Retention Manual and formed a team with Missouri Department of Revenue for two-year license plate renewals and the on-line renewal process.
Small has expanded the use of technology in the Collector’s office to improve the quality, access and speed of services. She continues to work with her programmer being a pioneer of new and challenging improvements in the office, such as the summary sheet and merging personal property and real estate tax bills together for printing. Most recently, she designed and produced the Johnson County Collector’s website which is very informative as well as provides for on-line payments and search.
Ruthane and her husband, Greg, reside in Warrensburg. Greg is a teacher and coach in the Warrensburg R-VI School District. They have three sons: Ryan Small, Casey Small, and Brad Small and his wife, Sarah, have two children, Taylor and Tucker. Mrs. Small was born in Warrensburg, Missouri, the daughter of Vivian Parsons and the late William P. Parsons.
For more information about Johnson County collections: jcmtax.com. |
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Kay Dolan
Johnson County Auditor
As Auditor since 1991, Kay Dolan serves as the chief financial officer for Johnson County. She maintains the general ledger -- with more than 100 different funds and 2000 different accounts, does accounts payable, and monitors the county budget.
She served as Chief Deputy Auditor 1979-1987, and worked for the Sheriff's Department from 1989-1991.
Dolan is past President and Secretary-Treasurer of Missouri Association of County Auditors, and an active member in several organizations: Sunrise Optimist Club (past Secretary/Treasurer), Johnson County Cattleman's Assoc., and Sec./Treasurer for the Centerview Recreation Program. She is a past member of MO Consolidated Health Care Plan Board and Johnson County R-VII School Board. |
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Susan Smarr
Candidate for Johnson County Recorder of Deeds
Susan Smarr worked in the Johnson County Recorder of Deeds office for 10 years, beginning in 1999. Among her responsibilities, she served as chief deputy. In 2009, she took a job at Western Missouri Title Company in Warrensburg, Missouri, where she has learned the private side of the Deeds business.
Twenty two years of customer service experience will be a great benefit to the office.
Susan lives on a farm in Chilhowee, Missouri with her husband Kenny. They have two married children and three grandchildren. Susan graduated from Warrensburg High School in 1972, and attended University of Central Missouri for two years. She is a member of the Missouri and Johnson County Cattlemen Association and the Chilhowee Antique Tractor Club. Her hobbies are playing with her granddaughters, riding motorcycles and working on the farm.
For more information: email postoakcattle@earthlink.net. |
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