March 28, 2008 08:43 pm
—
By Susan Redden
sredden@joplinglobe.com
Standing in front of a state license office he said is known as one of the most efficient in Missouri, Kenny Hulshof said political patronage and cronyism in contracts for the offices will end if he is elected Missouri’s next governor.
Hulshof, a Republican, made the statement at the Joplin office of Department of Motor Vehicles, where the fee agent is Nick Myers, who is a certified public accountant and longtime chairman of the Newton County Republican Central Committee. The contract for the Carthage office is held by John Putnam, chairman of the Jasper County Republican Central Committee.
The candidate said his administration would eliminate the system of awarding offices to political supporters. The two local Republican leaders may end up keeping the license office contracts, but they will have to prove that their operation is the most effective and efficient, compared with other potential contractors who can also submit bids, he said.
“These offices should be awarded in the same manner as every other government contract, in an objective and transparent way,” he said. “Taxpayers should know that they are being served by offices that are the most efficiently run, and not by someone based on political support.”
Hulshof said the change is among a number of reforms he will institute if he is elected to the state’s top post. He said he did favor action by Gov. Matt Blunt that shifted to private operation of the license bureaus that had been run by the state. Blunt also required fee agents to submit operating plans, improve inventory tracking, cash management and revenue reporting practices.
“It saved the state money,” he said.
Hulshof said he discussed competitive bidding with Trish Vincent, director of the Missouri Department of Revenue, which oversees license-office operations.
“She said offices had been competitively bid in metro, suburban and rural settings, and it works,” he said.
He said the contracts could go to organizations such as local chambers of commerce or charitable groups. He said the evaluating process would include customer-service initiatives, past performance where appropriate, and could include charitable considerations.
Hulshof is currently the U.S. representative from Missouri’s 9th District, an office he has held since 1996.
On the ballot
Four other Republican candidates, including Sarah Steelman, state treasurer, are on the gubernatorial ballot in the Aug. 5 primary. The winner is expected to face Democrat Jay Nixon, currently Missouri attorney general, in the November election.
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.