Three vie for collector of revenue

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Republican voters in the Aug. 2 Primary Election will have three candidates to choose from for Marion County collector of revenue including Lyndon Bode, Eric Jones and Donna Rice-Goodin.

The winner will be the presumed new collector of revenue following the November election, since there are no Demorcratic candidates.

The candidates were given surveys to be filled for publicantion in the Palmyra Spectator, and their answers follow:

Lyndon Bode

I am 58 and lifelong resident of Marion County. 

I am a 1981 graduate of Palmyra High School, a 1983 graduate Hannibal-LaGrange University with an associate of arts degree and 1985 graduate of Culver-Stockton College with a bachelor of arts degree, 

I am a former longtime Marion County presiding commissioner serving 24 years. 

My wife, Rachel, and I have two daughters, Ashley, a junior at Palmyra High School, and Kaitlyn, a freshman at PHS.

Why are you seeking election to this office?

When I heard the current county collector was planning to retire, I became interested in running for this office. 

Over the 24 years I served as presiding commissioner, I had the opportunity to work with four different Marion County collectors. 

I have always had an interest in the office and I hope to put my experience to work for you.

Why do you believe you are well suited for the position? What do you consider are your qualifications? 

I feel I have a lifetime of experience that I hope to put to work for the people of Marion County. 

While serving as Marion County presiding commissioner for 24 years we had 24 years of balanced budgets. 

Over the years I have had the opportunity to serve on many boards and committees such as serving 19 years as the chairman of the 12-county board of directors of NECAC (Northeast Community Action Corp.), past state president of the Missouri County Commissioners Association, past president of our local Palmyra Kiwanis Club and many other leadership roles which have given me the insight and ability to bring strong leadership and skills to the office of Marion County collector. 

I have passed all bonding requirements for the collector position.

What particular issues do you want to address if elected? 

I strongly believe in keeping both Marion County collector offices open to the public. 

I will work to bring new technology and web-site improvements to the collection process. 

I will work hard to ensure that all individuals are treated fairly and work for a very strong, efficient collectors office that follows state statues and regulations on the collection process.

Eric Jones     

I was born in Iowa City, Iowa raised in Saginaw, Mich. until the age of 13 when my family relocated to Monroe City Mo., where my father was a native. I was a graduate of Monroe City High School.  

I later graduated from the Missouri Sheriff’s Training Academy through Hannibal LaGrange College and also attended Moberly Area Community College for a time.  

I am currently sergeant for Marion County Sheriff’s Department at the Hannibal courthouse where I am also supervisor over the courts and security.  

I have been employed by the sheriff’s department for 21 years.

I am married to Talia Jones (23 years) and together we have five children and seven grandchildren.  

Why seeking election/re-election to this office?

I am a visionary and I have a great vision for the city of Hannibal and it’s growth and prosperity. 

I believe that the role of tax collector is a great place to begin with this vision.  

I know without a shadow of a doubt that I would be an asset to this office/position because of my transparency, my ability to serve, and my ability to bring understanding.  

Positive public relations is also an asset that I can add to my abilities of serving in this office.

Why do you believe you are well suited for this position?  What do you consider your qualifications?

I have years of experience in bridging gaps, a clear set of principles, years of caring for this community, securing humanity, and listening in order to diffuse and give direction in hard situations. It has been my experience that people want to be seen, heard and valued. 

Our tax dollars have done some great things in the community as well as out in the county, my time management and discipline qualify me to expound on these things for Marion County.  

This, as well as my extensive training, experience in leadership, public relation skills, and the fact that I am a quick study also qualify me for this position. 

My knowledge and experience will not just be limited to the office, but I will carry it with me into the community as a way to create connectivity with the people of Marion County in order to build a sense of security and comfortability with the Collector’s office.

What particular issues do you want to address if elected?

I do not believe that there is one particular issue to address specifically but I would like to build on some things like simplifying the online process and catering to all age groups working  alongside some key players in the community.  

Understanding is the solution to a lot of tax issues.  My motto is that a good tax system should meet five basic conditions:  

1(Fairness  

2)Adequacy 

3)Simplicity 

4)Transparency and  

5)Administrative Ease.  

Although others may disagree, I believe that these five basic conditions should be maximized to the greatest extent possible.

Donna Rice-Goodin

I was born and raised in Hannibal and have lived most of my life here.  

I attended Hannibal LaGrange College, where I studied accounting classes.  

I have worked at various places in or around Hannibal, typically involving bookkeeping/accounting and customer service.  

I have spent the past seven years as the deputy collector for the Marion County Collector’s office.

I am married to Clement Goodin, Jr., my husband of 22 years.  We have two children, a son and a daughter, and two grand-children.

Why seeking election election to this office?

During the past seven years, I have come to greatly enjoy my duties within the collector’s office.  

During those years, I have been directly involved in improving the service that the collector’s office provides.  Meeting face to face with taxpayers has also given me the opportunity to hear many suggestions on how things can be done better.  

I have taken those suggestions to heart and, if elected, I look forward to implementing changes which will be designed to further simplify and improve the service of this office for Marion County taxpayers.

I also seek election to the office as I understand the importance of the collector’s position. 

A look around us shows the high standards we keep within Marion County. We strive to keep our county roads, bridges, schools, and services the best they can be, while being mindful of cost.  

While few if any look forward to paying their taxes, this money is what maintains the standards that we in Marion County have come to enjoy.  

I feel that it is very important to have a collector’s office that processes tax payments with efficiency, fairness, and accuracy as this is the foundation for funding our county services. 

Why do you believe you are well suited for the position?  What do you consider your qualifications?

Starting on the ground floor as deputy collector, I feel uniquely qualified and suited for the position of collector.  

I have spent those years becoming knowledgeable and up-to-date on Missouri state statues which govern many of the decisions and policies made within the office.  

In addition, I have attended the Missouri State Collector’s Training Conference and been able to note the best practices of other counties that may be useful in Marion County.  

Lastly, my previous background and education in accounting and bookkeeping equips me to read and understand Missouri state audit reports and to accurately comply with state auditing procedures and practices.

What particular issues do you want to address if elected?

First, I feel that the Marion County collector’s office lags behind other counties when it comes to website presence.  

I intend to build a better, more user-friendly website which taxpayers can easily use for a variety of services including viewing and printing of tax receipts and bills, linking with other sites showing property lines, and linking with other county services.  

Second, I intend to create a better, easier to use, online payment system.  

Lastly, I intend to expand our current pre-pay system in order to reduce the number of large, end-of-year payments for some taxpayers. 

The benefits to these improvements are obvious:  taxpayers will be able perform certain tasks without the requirement of leaving their home, while providing small cost reductions for the county.  

The cost to implement these improvements would be modest and funded by the collector’s current budget.