Western District Commissioner candidates state their case

Four candidates are running for Butler County’s western district commissioner.

Larry Wells, Kenny Barker, TJ Akers and Bobby Sheppard are seeking the position currently held by Dennis LeGrand, who is not seeking re-election.

The winner of Tuesday’s primary election will be the presumptive winner of the November general election, as there are no Democratic challengers.

New county officers will be sworn in at the beginning of January.

Candidates were asked the same questions and their answers run in ballot order. Minor edits for clarity have been made to the responses.

Larry Wells

Wells is the current president of the Pike Creek Sewer District. He said he is running for office because he believes his many years of experience can help him bring a “boots on the ground” approach to the western district.

What characteristics would make you a good fit for this position? When I retired after 30 years, I left having doubled my retail accounts and doubled my sales on a multi-million dollar route. I pledge to work for the taxpayers of the western district of Butler County with the same commitment. I have experience developing and maintaining roads. With my partner, we built and developed West Village on PP Highway. It is home to 12 successful businesses.

What do you hope to accomplish? High traffic county roads such as this could benefit residents with fortified shoulders for motorists and pedestrian traffic as well.

Are there any recent actions by this office you agree or disagree with? Why? I look forward to working with Presiding Commissioner Vince Lampe, if elected; and would like to extend many thanks to our existing commissioners Boots Legrand and Butch Anderson for a job well done.

What do you see as the biggest challenges facing the county/area served by this office and how would you address them? Neighborhood roads brought up to specifications in new subdivisions across the western district would not only aid in the betterment of road use, but also increase property values.

Are there any additional needs you want to address? Not at this time.

Kenny Barker

Barker said he is the only one running for this office that has worked for the county on the highway department and he understands the needs the county has facing the roads.

What characteristics would make you a good fit for this position? I have more knowledge from the inside that makes me perfect for the seat. I worked alongside the military as a civilian contractor for two years in Iraq and two years in Afghanistan. I was a senior supervisor in Iraq. I know what it means to follow through with projects and have a strong sense of duty.

What do you hope to accomplish? I’m focused on focused on being fair to all Butler County residents, and plan to work within the budget to use funds efficiently and keep taxes down.

Are there any recent actions by this office you agree or disagree with? Why? Declined to answer

What do you see as the biggest challenges facing the county/area served by this office and how would you address them? There are challenges that face our roads that are a result of the elements like rain and snow. We do the best we can; but maybe we could do more by hiring more people to use the equipment that the county owns. That might be something to look at.

Are there any additional needs you want to address? Not at this time.

TJ Akers

Akers said he is running for office as a way to serve his community, while also making room for his son to be employed by the Poplar Bluff Police Department by not violating the nepotism policy.

What characteristics would make you a good fit for this position? My wife and daughter are nurses here working at Poplar Bluff Regional. My youngest son works at WW Woodworks and aspires to attend welding school. We are a family of hard workers with a heart to serve. As a sergeant and supervisor, I know how to lead. I have dealt with complaints my whole career and learned how to work with the public in a professional way. My brother (Jim Akers) and I own two businesses here in town. I have years of budget experience, as well as grant and small business loans.

What do you hope to accomplish? I would like to continue the work that both Butch Anderson and Boots Legrand have started. And continue to make Butler County a great place to live, raise a family and open business.

Are there any recent actions by this office you agree or disagree with? Why? I think we have a strong commissioner office and the two guys going out are both great guys and have done a great job.

What do you see as the biggest challenges facing the county/area served by this office and how would you address them? In the upcoming years, I-57 is going to be our biggest challenge and it is going to take teamwork from a lot of different agencies as well as adjoining counties to come together to get to the end goal.

Bobby Sheppard

Sheppard said he is running for office because he wants to give back to the community that has enriched his life and the life of his family. He said he is committed to making Butler County an even better place for future generations.

What characteristics would make you a good fit for this position? As a strong leader with a team of 10 associates, I bring extensive experience in budgeting and business management to the table. As the owner of Sheppard Auto Sales, I’ve successfully managed multimillion-dollar operations. My career began at Walmart, where I worked from 1982 to 1986 and served in management roles from 1986 to 1996. I have been self-employed since 1996.

What do you hope to accomplish? My primary goals include maintaining the county’s financial stability, operating with a balanced budget and increasing revenue. While I don’t have specific answers to some questions at this time due to a lack of information, I believe that certain decisions can only be made once in office.

Are there any recent actions by this office you agree or disagree with? Why? Did not answer

What do you see as the biggest challenges facing the county/area served by this office and how would you address them? I aim to increase revenue to support the county’s growth and future needs, create more jobs, and build a qualified workforce. I also envision fostering open communication between elected officials and Butler County residents.

Are there any additional needs you want to address? Additionally, I am focused on attracting more industries to our area and continuing essential work on roads and bridges.