Clyde Killion is a Democrat running for Bourbon County 2nd District Commissioner in the upcoming election. Here are a few interview questions with his answers.

1. Please tell readers a little bit about yourself and your background.

Hello my name is Clyde Killion.  I have been a resident of  Bourbon County all but 4 yrs of my 68 yrs when working elsewhere.  I have worked at many different jobs.  From Bruce Marble and Granite to working on a ranch to coal mining to working for the county from 1991 to 2009.  11 yrs of which was spent as Road Supervisor.

2. Why are you running for office?

I am running for Commissioner because I have the experience to deal with the issues that come up.  And I would like to see the county spend our tight budget more wisely.  For instance why do we take something that was paid for and sell it off and go into debt and have to pay three times what we were paying.

3. What do you feel is the single most important issue facing the county?

We need to work with the City to bring Jobs to Bourbon County so we can keep our young people here to raise their families to help build our tax base.  If we can bring in good jobs people will move here to fill the jobs.  Which would work to lower our taxes.

4. Why do you think you are a better choice for voters than the incumbent? (If you are the incumbent, why do you think you are a better choice than others who are running?)

I have worked for Bourbon County for 19 yrs.  I have dealt with many of the problems we all encounter.  I was Road supervisor for 11 of the 19 yrs.  I know Bourbon County.  And have been on all the roads in the county.  As supervisor I worked for the Commissioners and their projects.

5. What is the single most important skill you would bring to the office?

I would like to look at ways where we can cut wasteful spending.  Also we are paying some employees extra for just doing their jobs.  Also I would like to be able to give the county workers a raise which they haven’t had in five yrs.  If we can spend more than a half million dollars surely we can find a way to give a raise.

6. If elected, what would your top priority be during your first 90 days?

I know I have the experience to deal with the various situations that come up so 19 yrs experience from mowing to spending 5 yrs on a motor grader to 11 yrs as Road Supervisor.  I feel that I know the county and what works and what doesn’t.

7. Health insurance is one of the fastest growing expenses the county is facing. What are some ways you’d recommend the county deal with this issue?

Health Insurance is one of the most expensive big items of the budget and it’s a hard one to deal with.  The county pays for it’s employee and part of the employee’s family plan.  We have some employees whose well being depend on good health Ins.  So we need to keep it as affordable as possible.  But we may have to require the employees to pay a part of their Ins. in the future.  That’s one option but their may be other options that may come up in discustions later.

Thank you for allowing me to view my thoughts and to tell the readers where I stand on some of the questions.  People are free to call me and ask questions.  If they call my home phone please leave message and I will call you back to answer them.

A Candidate Forum will be held on July 31 in the Theater of the Ellis Fine Arts Center on the Campus of Fort Scott Community College.  Forum begins at 6 pm. Doors open at 5:30.  The Public is encouraged to attend.  This event is sponsored by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce.

Be sure to vote on August 7!