Wrap Up on Prop B Discussion Panel

As shown from our live twitter feed, Monday night's discussion panel on Proposition B was filled with emotion and heated debate. We took many notes during the discussion panel and we want our readers to know what we found. 

We would first like to comment on the format of the panel.  There were four representatives for each side of the argument-four who want Prop B to pass and four who want current legislation to stay as it is. Each panelist had up to 7 minutes to speak and since the event got a late start, there was less than an hour left for audience questions to be answered. While the opening statements helped the audience more fully understand each panelist's view on the controversial topic, everyone (including us) began to feel restless when an hour went by without any questions being asked.

We are not going to go through every question and answer that was discussed in the panel because it is all covered on our twitter page @adairalerts. Instead, we want to focus on the overall theme that was presented throughout the two hour discussion.

Main views from the opposition:

• Legislation is already put in place to regulate dog breeding operations in the form of the Animal Care Facilities Act of 1992. Opponents argue that it is actually more thorough than the proposed proposition
• Another way breeders are already held accountable is the through Operation Bark Alert, a toll-free hotline that residents can call with complaints or concerns relating to breeding facilities. 
• Breeders already ready thousands of money on their facilities in order to keep up with current regulations. If the proposition passes, many breeders (and veterinarians) will be out of business. 
• Not one breeding facility, including those in good standing, would be able to comply with all of the regulations set by the proposition
• Proposition B WILL NOT stop unlicensed breeders from continuing their illegal practices

Main views of the supporters

• While the Animal Care Facilities Act helps regulate breeding facilities, it is not enough. Proposition B does not get rid of existing legislation but rather builds on to it. 
• Operation Bark Alert is working. However, it only targets unlicensed breeding facilities. 
• Regulations very similar to those that are in Proposition B have been enacted in other states and have proven to be successful.
• Proposition B was not driven by outside forces like many think. It was put together by a coalition that live and work in Missouri.

The issue of bringing emotion into the discussion was brought up often. Dr Foster, a practicing veterinarian, argued that it is impossible to keep emotion out of it when thousands of peoples' jobs are at stake. Along with this, name calling occurred throughout the debate, even after the moderator asked the panelists to stick to the facts of the proposition. Calling supporters "eco-terrorists" and opponents "supporters of puppy mills" is immature and it does nothing to educate voters about the proposition. 

Another common theme that continued to be brought up was the relationship between the Humane Society and the proposition. Those who opposed the proposition argued that the Humane Society were the main contributors to the proposition. The supporters, however, said that while the Humane Society has been major supporters of Prop B, they were not the main contributors.

So who won the debate? Well, the four panelists who oppose the proposition all had credible backgrounds and first-hand experience with the issue. As a result, they had many stories to back up why they oppose the proposition. The supporting panelists, however, did not have the same credible backgrounds. For example, two out of the four were professors from Truman State University who support the proposition but have no connection to breeding facilities.Therefore, we think that those who oppose the proposition won the debate. They had solid evidence to back up their statements and they made the best case for themselves.

What do you think? Do you support Prop B?

Our thoughts about the interview with Judge Swaim

We realized that after the interview with Harrelson we posted our thoughts about how the interview went. Well then, it’s only fair to do the same for Kristie Swaim.

Kristie has been the associate circuit judge in Adair County for eight years, so she has to be doing something right, right? From our interview, it seems that she is. Kristie was very articulate and had very well thought out responses to the questions we threw her way. The interview was much more formal than our interview with Harrelson. That is, Kristie kept her comments only to those relevant to the interview. We’ve been told in our communication classes that some people are media savvy and some are media virgins. In other words, some people know how to talk to the media; to answer their questions without really answering their questions. Others, however, do not have this expertise. They are new to the media and eager to give any response that comes to mind. Well, Kristie was definitely media savvy.

Kristie was very careful about what she said and her responses sometimes seemed rehearsed. Now, don’t get us wrong… this is not a bad thing. Kristie has been through the campaign process many times and she knows what is appropriate for a judge to say and what is not. Being that blogging is a different form of media (more casual and conversational), and since we are university students, we had hoped she might reveal slightly more. But this simply did not happen. For example, we asked her what she thought about her opponent, Josh Meyer. Her response was that she didn’t have any thoughts about any of her opponents. Well, come on now. We know this isn’t true. There’s not one thought you have of him? We understand why Kristie wouldn’t share, we only wish she had said something along the lines of “I’d prefer not to discuss my opponents.” Her claim that she had “no thoughts” about them sounds rehearsed and artificial. And is probably false.

Judge Swaim is a very nice, respectable woman and she definitely has an objective view in the way that she handles herself (which is great for being a judge). We just would have liked for her to be a bit more candid.  

Come back on Thursday to hear our thoughts on the heated discussion panel that happened last night.

Adair Alerts Updates!

Hello readers! We have been super busy with the local elections interviewing candidates and attending local political events. We hope you have been enjoying all of our coverage so far. Our efforts have even caught the eye of local media! Check out your very own Kelly Fox give an interview to the Truman State news program News 36 at http://news36.truman.edu/play.asp?id=617

Also, for those who live in the Kirksville area, there will be a discussion panel about Proposition B TODAY from 6-8 p.m. in Magruder on the Truman State University campus. The event will be held in room 2001. 

Panelists include: 

• Tim Rickey-American Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals
• Cindy Sprigg-DVM, Cross Point Animal Hospital
• Christine Harker-Professor at Truman State University in the English Department
• Kelly Smith-Missouri Farm Bureau
• Sherri Palmer-Professor at Truman State University in the Psychology Department
• Theckla Triplett-Professional Pet Breeder
• Bob Baker-Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation
• Mindy Patterson-Alliance for Truth

The event is sponsored by the Agricultural Science Department and Collegiate Farm Bureau, who have been giving out literature opposing Prob B to Truman State students. We are happy to see that both sides of the argument will be represented through the panelists. Go to the links provided to learn more information about these groups. We will be there and to report to our readers what we learn. Feel free to join us! We're sure it will be an interesting event.


If you can't make it, check out our twitter @adairalerts! We will be tweeting LIVE from the event!

Check back tomorrow to hear our thoughts on our interview with Judge Swaim and keep checking back this week to see what other interviews we have in store!

In the Courtroom with Kristie

We sat down in the Adair County courtroom with Kristie Swaim, the current Associate Judge of Adair County who is currently running for re-election. We thought we’d share some “abouts” with you, so you can make a more informed decision on November 2!

Judge Swaim answering a question during the interview. Her desk with the Missouri seal can be seen behind her. We had the privilege of conducting the interview in her courtroom at the Adair County Courthouse located on the square in Kirksville, MO. 

About Judge Swaim

It was exactly twenty years ago that Kristie Swaim entered law school at the University of Missouri-Columbia. In law school, she was one of six students chosen to be a teaching assistant, was named to the Board of Advocates and she worked for the Missouri Supreme Court as an assistant editor in the publications department before going into private practice for ten years. This is Swaim’s 8^th year serving as the Associate Circuit Judge in Adair County. Even before her undergraduate education, Swaim knew she wanted to have a career in law and has never lost sight of this goal.

About the Job

Swaim describes the job of Associate Circuit Judge as being very challenging, but also very rewarding. She does legal research and writing for judgments and also spends many lively days in the courtroom.

About the Campaign

Swaim said she has “a lot of great supporters who have been helping me.” She has been doing a lot of door to door canvassing, making many personal contacts and participating in speaking engagements. As an incumbent, Swaim stated that many recognize her and are curious about how the campaign is going.

About her Opponent

Josh Meyer is running as an independent candidate against Swaim for the Associate Circuit Judge position. Swaim recognizes that he has met all the requirements that are included when running for judge including age, residency, and education. Beyond that, she does not have any thoughts about her opponents.

About her Re-Election

Swaim believes voters should re-elect her because her entire adult life has been about the law. She said the most important thing she can do for Adair County is to remain fair and impartial. Swaim assured us that she has no hidden agenda and is not partial to any special interests. She said she is blind to the identity of attorneys, plaintiffs, and defendants. Everyone is equal in her courtroom.

But who else is on the ballot?

As all of our readers know, the two local races that we have been following are that for associate circuit judge and presiding commissioner. The reason we have focused on those two is because it's the only two races that have more than one person running. Now although everyone else is unopposed, we still think that Adair County residents have a right to know who it is they're voting for. So let's go down the ballot and see who all these other people are. 

• Clerk of the Circuit Court-Linda Decker (D)

Decker works on the third floor of the Adair County courthouse. Her office is the place to go for any information you need about the courts. She also helps attorneys who need assistance with court dates. She is running for re-election. 

• Clerk of the County Commission-Sandy Collop (D)

Collop does all of the administration that takes place during an election season, including voter registration and candidate election filing.She is also a member of the salary commission that meets every two years to decide the salaries of elected officials and county employees. She running for her second term.

• Recorder of Deeds-Pat Shoush (R)

Shoush deals with all of the public records including real estate documents. She has been Recorder of Deeds for four years. 

• Prosecuting Attorney-Matt Wilson (D)

Prosecuting Attorney represents the state in criminal cases. That means dealing with everything from DWI cases to arrests. Governor Jay Nixon appointed Mr. Wilson to the office when the former prosecutor, Mark Williams, resigned from the position on March 5th of this year. Wilson will serve as interim prosecutor until the end of the year. He won the democratic nomination for the seat in the August primary when he ran against Arthur Peppard. Because no Republicans are running for the position Wilson is unopposed. 

• Collector of Revenue-David Erwin (D)

Erwin collects taxes from the county residents. He has been an elected official for 12 years in Adair County. He is seeking a fourth term.

• Treasurer-Lori Smith (R)

Smith is in charge of the revenue for the county. She is also a member of the salary commission. She is the incumbent treasurer. 

We would also like to point out that there is a third candidate for presiding commissioner. Along with Harrelson and Pickens, Darin M. Fountain, who is running as a Constitutional party candidate, will be running for the seat as well.   

So hopefully now you will have a better understanding of who it is you're voting for on November 2nd. And if you don't want to vote for them, write-ins are allowed. 

So what do you think of the candidates? Leave a comment below!

Our thoughts about the interview with Harley

After telling our readers about our interview with Harley, we decided that we would also share with you our opinions of it. 
 

The first thing we would like to point out is that Harley doesn't really come off as your typical politician. He looks and acts like any other person on the street. He has no sense of entitlement and he doesn't cloud his message with political clutter. When we walked into his auto shop late Tuesday night it was clear that he had had a long day but he never showed any signs that he wanted get the interview over with quickly. 

Harley didn’t shy away from our questions, nor did he take long in coming up with an answer for any of them. Instead, Harley answered our questions directly. He didn’t beat around the bush as many politicians do. He gave detailed answers to everything we asked him. The only question that seemed to catch him off guard was when we asked him to narrow down why he was running to three main reasons, but we think that would be a hard question for most people to answer.

With every answer he gave, Harley would use his own life examples to demonstrate the need for change. One instance that he did this was when he talked about the need to improve the roads out in the country. He lives near gravel roads so he knows first-hand that attention needs to be given to the streets. This goes for his campaigning techniques as well. Harley made a strong argument that he does not canvass door-to-door because he himself has always found that annoying as an Adair County resident. That's a risky move considering that his opponent has been going around door-to-door but Harley views it as an invasion of privacy so he won't do it.

When asked to give his opinion of Pickens, Harley had generally nice things to say about him as a person. His main concern is that Pickens will not see the job as a full-time commitment because he is already receiving a pension.

As we were driving up to the auto shop, we thought it was a bit strange that Harley, running as a Democrat, had a sign for Zachary Wyatt in the front yard. Wyatt is a Republican running against Rebecca McClanahan for state representative. We quickly learned that Harley’s daughter owns a graphic design business. Their policy is that if you purchase signs from their business, they will be prominently displayed, and it was no different for this Republican candidate. Harley stated that he supports McClanahan, but he does not intend to change his business policy simply to win the election. 

We were impressed with this decision and hope to find out more about the other candidates for commissioner and associate circuit judge in the future.

Keep on reading!

Harley Harrelson: The Facts

Hello, all! Earlier this week we sat down with Harley Harrelson, the Democratic candidate for Presiding Commissioner of Adair County and drilled him about what he would do should he be elected. Here ya go, folks.

The Budget

• Get the budget back on track
• Eliminate wasteful spending

Harrelson owns and operates an auto mechanic shop in Kirksville. He runs his business and handles the revenue in a way that he believes the government should. How’s that? Simple. He doesn’t spend the money until he has it. Harrelson noted that the government tends write a check and then worry about how they will pay for it later. One of his main goals as commissioner will be to get the budget back in line. In order to accomplish this goal, Harrelson will make concerted efforts to cut down on wasteful spending. He believes there is a lot of wasteful spending that occurs in Adair County and that government officials tend to spend rather frivolously. “With me, it’ll be like its my money,” Harrelson said, so he’ll only spend it on cost-effective and sensible purchases.

Jobs

• Create more jobs in Adair County

Some people have told Harrelson that procuring jobs for the community is not in the commissioner’s job description. Harrelson, however, believes this is an important duty, although it occurs indirectly. Harrelson offered the example of a wind farm that is being prepared for construction in Adair County. It will create jobs, and he wants to continue to do just that. Harrelson wants jobs to be readily available for those that want and need them. Additionally, if Truman graduates want to stay in Kirksville after graduation, he would like jobs to be here so that is a possibility.

Roads and Bridges

• Improvement and maintenance

In our interview, Harrelson told us that there have been a lot of issues with the roads due to all the rain we’ve had and also due to a lack of funding. We didn’t know this, but the majority of funding for roads comes from a gas tax. When gas prices increased people cut down on driving or purchased more fuel-efficient cars. As a result, less gasoline was purchased and the funding for the roads was depleted. Harrelson said that the state of Missouri is pushing Adair County to improve their Road and Bridge commission, or it will be dissolved. If that is the case, residents will not be able to drive on country roads because there will be no funding to maintain them. This clearly cannot be allowed to occur and Harrelson will take steps to make our roads drivable.

Emergency response

• Coordinate neighboring fire departments
• Create a list of First Responders that can be called to duty in emergency

As we saw two years ago when a tornado hit Kirksville, natural disasters happen. Harrelson thinks it’s important to be prepared for them. Harrelson stated that the tornado was handled well, but he wonders what would have happened if it hit a mile or two south where the hospital and nursing home are located. Harrelson would like to establish a list of First Responders who could be called in were a disaster or any other emergency to occur. He wants to organize and train First Responders to coordinate evacuation efforts. Harrelson would also like to collaborate with neighboring fire departments to be even further prepared.

Communication

• Public forums
• Clear and open communication

Harrelson believes that the current commissioner does not communicate with the residents of Kirksville nearly as much as he should. Harrelson stated that it is necessary to be open with voters. If elected, Harrelson wants to host open forums in town. At these forums, residents could express any thoughts, ideas, and concerns they may have. Harrelson realizes that no one knows the roads like the people that drive them everyday, and he needs to know their concerns to properly do his job. Harrelson also stated that there are a lot of people with a lot of good ideas, but they usually aren’t heard. Through these forums, they would be heard and he would have the opportunity to establish clear communication pathways with the residents of Adair County.

There you have it, Harley Harrelson on the issues. He has a lot of ideas, but its up to you to vote for who you think is the best candidate. As Harrelson said in our interview, “It shouldn’t matter what party you are. You vote for the best person for the job.”

These are the facts, but check back this weekend to hear our own thoughts and opinions on the interview, Harrelson, and the job of presiding commissioner!

Governor Nixon Takes a Stand on Prop A

For weeks Governor Jay Nixon has stayed silent on whether he supported or opposed Proposition A, an earnings tax initiative that will be on the November ballot. But now Governor Nixon has come out to say that he does NOT support the initiative.  This comes great news for the opponents of the proposition who have many campaign efforts aimed at defeating the initiative. 

Confused by what all of this means? Let's break it down for you.

The earnings tax (often called an "e-tax") is a mandated tax that is implemented on those who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis. Those who are in support of initiative, like Let Voters Decide, argue that the e-tax should only be implemented if voters want it. They also argue that the tax keeps businesses away and, as a result, less jobs are coming in. 


However, for Governor Nixon and groups such as the United for Missouri's Priorities, the tax brings in the necessary funds to provide the day-to-day services that residents receive. Governor Nixon added that the government should  "provide a broad arsenal of options for local governments to fund their services" and stated that the government shouldn't limit those options. 


Now you're probably wondering what this means for you. Well, if the initiative is passed no other cities in the state will be able to enforce the e-tax as a way of funding for cities. It will also mean that the state's two largest cities will be without the revenue used for services such as the police force. While you may think that funding for police in Kansas City and St. Louis won't affect you, lawmakers in Springfield, Mo argue that if "bigger cities can't control crime, it will undoubtedly spill over" into other cities in the state. 


There are pros and cons to this initiative. The tax definitely helps Kansas City and St. Louis fund their services. And supporters of Prop A are quick to point out that they're not advocating to get rid of the tax, but rather to allow voters to decide whether they want it or not.  However, making it so that not other cities cannot enforce the tax is something that we think should be left up to the individual cities. 


What do you think about Prop A? Leave us a comment and tell us what you think!

The Word Around Town

The candidates for district commissioner and associate circuit judge for Adair County have been very active on Truman’s campus during this campaign season. Now, it may be they maintained a strong presence at Truman in the past, but since Adair Alerts is up and running, we are much more in tune with the happenings of the candidates during this election cycle than we have been in the past.

Things we know:

• Harrelson and Swaim attended and socialized at both a meeting and a pasta dinner put on by the College Democrats.
• Josh Meyer spoke at chapter meetings of many Greek organizations.

In both these instances, we have to say we were impressed with the candidates. Why? Because they were able to answer the most basic and (what we believe to be) the most important and fundamental question of running a campaign. What’s more, they answered the question before we even had to ask it.

The question: WHY ARE YOU RUNNING?

Both Meyer and Harrelson told us why they were running without any prompt from us or anyone else. This may seem rather trivial, but many candidates running for much higher offices have been unable to answer this question. It’s encouraging to know that these candidates are not just running for the sake of running. They’re not just running for attention, publicity, power or for some strange ego need. They have thoughtful and legitimate reasons as to why they’re running. They have families here; some have generations of family. They are unsatisfied with current leadership. They are ready to lace their shoes, put their game face on, and get to work for the residents of Adair County. And that’s reassuring, isn’t it?

Not only did these candidates answer our favorite question, they were friendly too. When two college kids they’ve never seen before asked for their contact information, they didn’t look at us strangely or ask why we wanted it (to prank call them, obviously). Instead, they handed out home phone numbers, emails, and told us to call them anytime. They may not know what they’ve gotten themselves into because we’re going to call… and email… and ask questions… a lot of questions.

The point that we are trying to make here is that while people may not be as concerned about politics on a local level, interactions such as these can only come from a local level. We doubt that Robin Carnahan would be giving out her home phone number or tell us how to get into direct contact with her at work (like Swaim and Harrelson did). This is such a vital aspect of voter contact and it can happen most easily with candidates that live right next door. 

So to our readers: take advantage of this opportunity! We think you will find that these people are just like you and I and any questions that you may have concerning Adair County can be answered with just one telephone call.

So, what’s to come: interviews, interviews, interviews. We’re setting up interviews to talk to the candidates right now, and then we’re going to talk to you. We won’t censor anything or make it sound pretty. We’re going to interview these candidates and give it to you like it is. Check back soon!

The Rumor (Puppy) Mill

Hello readers! Hope you all had a fantastic weekend. Today we want to talk about an issue that has been getting a lot of people’s tails in a twist. If you got that corny dog reference, then you know that we are talking about Proposition B. 

Prop B, or the “puppy mill initiative” is an attempt to regulate the large breeding facilities that are plentiful in Missouri. There has been an increase in coverage over Prop B in the recent weeks as those in support and opposition of the initiative are voicing their concerns (Click here to read an article from the student-run newspaper at Truman State University detailing the two sides about Prob B).

Those who are the biggest supporters of the initiative are animal welfare organizations, particularly Missouri for Protection of Dogs, which includes the Humane Society, and the American Society of the Protection of Cruelty to Animals.  Their main objective is to stop the inhumane cruelty of animals. As the President and CEO of the ASPCA stated, the initiative is a "crucial step in combating the horrific cruelty perpetuated by many commercial breeders." 

Now, let's look at those who oppose this initiative. Some of the biggest opponents are The Alliance for Truth, a group started by America's Pet Registry, Inc. that claim that Prob B will eliminate all professional dog breeders. 

It's important to us that readers get both sides of the stories so that they can make their own informed decisions when they cast their ballots. However, we also want to give our opinions on these important decisions. That's what blogs are for, right?

With that said, let's look at a youtube video from America's Pet Registry and see what they have to say. 

So....let's recap what this means.

• Clearly states that America's Pet Registry Inc is against this initiative? Check.
• Clear distaste for the name "puppy mill cruelty act"? Check.
• Clear reasoning as to why voters should vote no? UNCHECK.

We get the part about how you want to warn voters that the term puppy mill cruelty may "inflame," "fool" and "upset" them. And you're quick to point out that you are not in favor of animal abuse. You also say that the government shouldn't be involved with the care of your pets but that's all you say! We would like to know why it's better for this proposition to not go into effect. We're not convinced....

And in regards to the name "puppy mill cruelty act," the dispute was settled after the Missouri Federation of Animal Owners sued Secretary of State Robin Carnahan in May 2010 claiming that the term was misleading to voters. In August 2010 Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetum upheld the ballot language and said that the term was fair and accurate. Furthermore, the judge made sure to note that "puppy mill cruelty" was quoted to show that the term was taken from the initiative and not from Carnahan herself. So that argument seems a bit invalid at this point.

Now, we understand that everyone needs to make a living and for some that's running animal operations. But we can't support you if you're not clear about what exactly it is you do and we will NOT support anyone who allows animal cruelty to take place. And if you don't want the initiative to take effect, then tell us something that will convince us that no change needs to be made.

That's our opinion on the issue but we'd love to hear what our readers think! Leave us a comment!