Baker Receives Bi-Partisan Endorsement for North Commissioner
Brian Baker Announces Run for County Commission;
Receives Bi-Partisan Endorsement
Belton, Mo. – Representative Brian L. Baker is returning home after the 2008 Legislative Session and he has decided to ask the voters to allow him to continue in public service…but at a local level. With friends, family, elected officials, citizens and leaders from both political parties in attendance, Baker announced his intentions to run for North Commissioner of Cass County.
“When I announced I would not seek a final term in the Missouri House, I indicated I would like to serve locally…and the opportunity has presented itself,” stated Baker. “Cass County is my home…and I am respectfully asking the voters to allow me to serve at a local level…as their North Cass County Commissioner.”
Current North Commissioner Jim Meara announced he is not running for re-election in the November 2008 elections. “I believe Brian will do an excellent job. He has been a tremendous public servant for our public schools, small businesses, and families while working in Jefferson City. I know he will bring that same work-ethic to county government,” stated Meara.
Meara also indicated that Baker has a number of progressive ideas for Cass County. One of those ideas is to work with the County Commissioners, local governments, and municipalities to develop a Master Plan for the county. “It is my goal to work with cities, municipalities, and community organizations to create a Cass County Master Plan. This plan will seek to plan for growth, promote job creation, protect green-space, create long-term water usage plan, and improve infrastructure,” commented Baker
Baker is also committing to continue the sound fiscal accountability Meara brought to the office. “Jim has served well and has worked hard for issues facing the county and our cities. It is my goal to continue to make sure that county resources are used in the most efficient and effective manner possible before we ask citizens to invest more.”
Law Enforcement, drug-courts, and road improvements were additional issues Baker cited as important to the future of Cass County and her cities. “As we grow…we need to be pro-active in protecting our citizens and making our communities safe,” Baker added.
Baker took time to seek family input and the input of citizens. “My family was obviously a central part of the decision process…I would be closer to home…and yet still be able to serve at the voters discretion.”
Local government is not new to Baker. He served on the Belton Board of Alderman before being elected to the Missouri House in 2002. During his tenure in the Missouri Legislature, Baker worked on several pieces of high-profile legislation including the new school funding model which was recently upheld by the Missouri courts. The new funding model was a help to Cass County school districts who continue to see an increase in state aid.
Small businesses gained an additional friend in Jefferson City when Baker proposed creating the Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board. Baker worked with Governor Matt Blunt to bring the SBRF to reality. The board currently functions as a watchdog on bureaucrats who seek to pass additional regulations that impact small businesses. His work for small business earned him the National Federation of Independent Businesses “Guardian of Small Businesses” Award in 2007.
Baker is also known for his independence and breaking from his party on issues. For example, a Republican proposal arose that wanted 63% of funds for public schools go directly to the school classroom, Baker found the devil in the details of the plan because it omitted librarians and libraries as part of the classroom but included sports. “It sounds good to say things like ‘63% of every dollar is getting directly to the classroom’ but when you looked at the details you had to ask how they could exclude libraries and reading programs,” states Baker.
Receives Bi-Partisan Endorsement
Belton, Mo. – Representative Brian L. Baker is returning home after the 2008 Legislative Session and he has decided to ask the voters to allow him to continue in public service…but at a local level. With friends, family, elected officials, citizens and leaders from both political parties in attendance, Baker announced his intentions to run for North Commissioner of Cass County.
“When I announced I would not seek a final term in the Missouri House, I indicated I would like to serve locally…and the opportunity has presented itself,” stated Baker. “Cass County is my home…and I am respectfully asking the voters to allow me to serve at a local level…as their North Cass County Commissioner.”
Current North Commissioner Jim Meara announced he is not running for re-election in the November 2008 elections. “I believe Brian will do an excellent job. He has been a tremendous public servant for our public schools, small businesses, and families while working in Jefferson City. I know he will bring that same work-ethic to county government,” stated Meara.
Meara also indicated that Baker has a number of progressive ideas for Cass County. One of those ideas is to work with the County Commissioners, local governments, and municipalities to develop a Master Plan for the county. “It is my goal to work with cities, municipalities, and community organizations to create a Cass County Master Plan. This plan will seek to plan for growth, promote job creation, protect green-space, create long-term water usage plan, and improve infrastructure,” commented Baker
Baker is also committing to continue the sound fiscal accountability Meara brought to the office. “Jim has served well and has worked hard for issues facing the county and our cities. It is my goal to continue to make sure that county resources are used in the most efficient and effective manner possible before we ask citizens to invest more.”
Law Enforcement, drug-courts, and road improvements were additional issues Baker cited as important to the future of Cass County and her cities. “As we grow…we need to be pro-active in protecting our citizens and making our communities safe,” Baker added.
Baker took time to seek family input and the input of citizens. “My family was obviously a central part of the decision process…I would be closer to home…and yet still be able to serve at the voters discretion.”
Local government is not new to Baker. He served on the Belton Board of Alderman before being elected to the Missouri House in 2002. During his tenure in the Missouri Legislature, Baker worked on several pieces of high-profile legislation including the new school funding model which was recently upheld by the Missouri courts. The new funding model was a help to Cass County school districts who continue to see an increase in state aid.
Small businesses gained an additional friend in Jefferson City when Baker proposed creating the Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board. Baker worked with Governor Matt Blunt to bring the SBRF to reality. The board currently functions as a watchdog on bureaucrats who seek to pass additional regulations that impact small businesses. His work for small business earned him the National Federation of Independent Businesses “Guardian of Small Businesses” Award in 2007.
Baker is also known for his independence and breaking from his party on issues. For example, a Republican proposal arose that wanted 63% of funds for public schools go directly to the school classroom, Baker found the devil in the details of the plan because it omitted librarians and libraries as part of the classroom but included sports. “It sounds good to say things like ‘63% of every dollar is getting directly to the classroom’ but when you looked at the details you had to ask how they could exclude libraries and reading programs,” states Baker.
Baker and his wife, Kristen, were joined by family, friends, and citizens at his announcement. Even more interesting is the bi-partisan support Baker is receiving. Current North Commissioner Jim Meara (Republican) Former Presiding Commissioner Gene Molendorp (Republican) and current Presiding Commissioner Gary Mallory (Democrat) were in attendance. Each of them expressed their support for Baker giving public endorsements for Baker’s campaign.
Meara, Mallory, and Gene Molendorp all stated that Baker brings true bi-partisanship to the table. They each indicated the he showed more concern about Cass County and his home than about party politics. Each of them gave their full support to Baker and his campaign.
Nearly 100 people attended the announcement event. Other noted attendees…
Sheriff Dwight Diehl
Cass County Assessor Bob Huston
Belton Mayor Jim Odom
Belton Mayor Jim Odom
Ann Meara
Belton Alderman Bobby Davidson
Belton Alderman Justin Neff
Belton Alderman Bobby Davidson
Belton Alderman Justin Neff
Belton Alderman Gary Lathrop
Raymore City Councilman Pete Kerckhoff
Business owner Reneee Kerckhoff
Business owner Mike & Shari Sanders
Dennis & Vicki Dahmer
and many, many more...
Raymore City Councilman Pete Kerckhoff
Business owner Reneee Kerckhoff
Business owner Mike & Shari Sanders
Dennis & Vicki Dahmer
and many, many more...
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