PINEVILLE, Mo. — In McDonald County, nine Republicans are seeking their party’s nomination in three contested races in the Aug. 7 primary, while on the Democratic side the only contested race is for the party’s nomination for county sheriff.



EASTERN DISTRICT COMMISSIONER

Sam Gaskill, 80, Washburn, has served as Eastern District commissioner since 2004. He has lived in McDonald County for 36 years. He earned a master’s degree in business administration from Auburn University. He is a farmer and served eight years in the Missouri State Legislature before being elected to the commission.

Gaskill said county finances are always a concern, but that by “conservative budgeting” the current commission has managed to keep the county’s budget under control.

“We are not as in as bad of shape as some of the other state and county governments that didn’t budget as conservatively as we did,” he said.

John Bunch, 61, Goodman, has lived his entire life in McDonald County. He attended Crowder College and is self-employed. He served as mayor of Goodman from 1984 to 1986.

Bunch cited the economy as a major concern facing the county. He said, in many cases, government regulations have led to low employment.

“Some times the government is not reacting; it’s overreacting and we need less government in a lot of cases.”

Bunch said his personal business experience and his term as mayor of Goodman would help make him be a strong county commissioner.

Joe Stephens lives in Rocky Comfort. Globe efforts to reach him were unsuccessful.



WESTERN DISTRICT COMMISSIONER

Incumbent Ronnie Walker, 63, Southwest City, was born and raised in McDonald County, and has held his post since 2008. He  attended Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in Miami, Okla., and Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. He is a farmer and served two terms on the McDonald County School Board.

Walker said the budget and road issues are the two biggest challenges facing the commission.

“We are always working on ways to attract retail businesses into our county and to keep our infrastructure up. We are constantly watching the (county) revenue and budget,” he said.

Walker said his experience on the school board and his service and several boards and commissions make him qualified to deal with county budget issues.

David Holloway, 48, Anderson, is a native of McDonald County. Holloway was employed by the Missouri Department of Transportation for 16 years, but resigned when he decided to run for Western District commissioner. This is his first attempt at public office.

Charles Clark, 60, Anderson, has lived in McDonald County for 54 years. He is the owner of an excavation and demolition company, and is a graduate of McDonald County High School. This is his first attempt at public office.

Clark said as commissioner he would review the amount of construction equipment that the county owns.

“It seems to me that there is a lot of money spent on machinery that we could do without,” he said.

Clark said his experience as a heavy equipment operator would be an asset on the  commission. He said he also has experience managing large work crews from when he was employed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Samuel Davis Stokes III, 62, Anderson, has lived in McDonald County since 2008. Davis attended Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke. He runs his own independent financial firm and previously worked as an account executive for Morgan Stanley in Northwest Arkansas. This is his first attempt at public office.

Stokes said if elected to the commission he would take a close look at the budget and at all county employees.

“The question is: Are we getting a pay back from where we are spending our money?” he said.

Stokes said his work in the investment business coupled with his work in the publishing field give him an insight into the economy and a strong understanding of the budgetary process.



COUNTY ASSESSOR

Incumbent Laura Pope, 52, Noel, is a lifelong resident of McDonald County. She attended Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in Miami and then Crowder College in Neosho, where she received an associate degree. Pope has served as the McDonald County assessor since 2000, and prior to that served as the deputy county assessor. She began work in the county office in 1993.

Her experience as assessor and deputy auditor have given her a deep understanding of her job and allow her, she said, to effectively run her office.

Patrick Tinsley, 47, Anderson, has lived in McDonald County for 44 years. He received a degree in business from Missouri State University in 1987 and works in landscape sales. This is his first attempt at public office.

Tinsley said his educational background would be an asset if he were elected county assessor.

“My education was heavy in real estate and insurance. I’ve always had an interest in being an assessor,” he said.



SHERIFF

Democrat incumbent Sheriff Robert M. Evenson, 42, Noel, is a lifelong resident of McDonald County. Evenson graduated in 1988 from the Missouri Southern State University police academy in 1988 and began his law enforcement career as a deputy marshal in Noel. He served as McDonald County sheriff from 2000 to 2004, and was re-elected in 2008.

Evenson said combating drugs, particularly methamphetamine, is the single largest challenge facing his department.

“If we keep fighting the drug problem, many of the other crimes like murder, burglaries and thefts will also go down,” he said.

DeAun Richmond, 38, Goodman, has lived in McDonald County for 10 years. Goodman has a degree in health promotion and wellness from Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, and owns and operates her own day care business. She also volunteers as an emergency medical technician with the Goodman Fire Department. This is her first attempt at public office.