The season of politics is upon us and it is time to consider some of the issues, situations, and qualifications of the candidates running for office this November.
In the primary election this spring the voters expressed their collective displeasure with the current management of Ravalli County and in the next few weeks they will make final selections.
Jeff Burrows worked as an Environmental Engineer for the United States Air Force, has a university education, and is raising his family here. Jeff volunteers as a coach and shares his talents with children as a mentor and leader.
Jeff Burrows has demonstrated that he has the qualifications and experience as a Ravalli County Commissioner.
After his appointment and election to the Commission, Jeff was elected Chairman by the Board and demonstrated leadership, insight and experience in managing the affairs of Ravalli County.
With other Commissioners has Jeff built, approved, and manages a balanced budget exceeding 30 million dollars for the last 3 years and provided oversight of 160 employees in cooperation with other county elected officials. In addition to that, he helped rebuild county reserves to a prudent level. During Jeff’s tenure technology Infrastructure, the 911 Center, law enforcement equipment and vehicles have been significantly improved. No money was borrowed for County operations and taxes did not go up 42% as in other jurisdictions.
Jeff admitted to the public he made a mistake in the Treasurer appointment and worked very hard to gather the facts, build a strong defensible legal case, restore the financial records, accurately complete the reports, and provide training for the staff while ensuring a fair election for a new Treasurer in November.
Road operations have been improved and expanded, but no one could predict the winter of 2013 and the floods this spring. The Commission applied for FEMA flood relief funding to assist in the recovery efforts. We were approved for $300,000 in matching FEMA funds. With this FEMA money and $100,000 in reserve funds (and extra manpower this fall) we are repairing the roads without asking the taxpayers for more money. The Commission continues to work with counties across the nation to secure long term SRS funding to support education and road infrastructure.
Jeff is dedicated to open meetings and transparency and voted for new software and training that will provide video and audio recordings of all Commission meetings.
Jeff researched and presented a plan that was approved by the Commission to sell surplus County vehicles and other surplus equipment at public internet auction without cost to the county. He assisted the road department and law enforcement setting up and executing the program.
To assist Veterans in Ravalli County, Jeff is working with a committee to create the first County Veterans’ Service Officer position in the state of Montana using a portion of the Valley Veterans’ Service Center levy to improve service to those who have served and guarantee their privacy. The Commission will vote on this matter soon.
Jeff was recently elected as district representative of western counties to the Montana Association of Counties.
There is big difference between an elected official who has a track record creating and managing a budget and meeting the legal obligations of Ravalli County with necessary funding and the other candidate. Jeff Burrows has experience and a track record that can be lauded or criticized for each and every vote in the public record. He has been a part of the public process in many difficult situations and expressed his opinions openly and honestly during public discussion.
We do not always agree on individual items, but I believe Jeff Burrows has been and will continue to be a knowledgeable, dedicated, fiscally responsible Commissioner and he has my full support in this election.
J.R. Iman
Hamilton