Neal Gerster -- Democratic candidate for Vernon County northern commissioner

Please provide us with information on your background. Include such information as your age, education, current occupation and experience related to the office you are seeking.

I have lived in Vernon County all my life. I went to school at Schell City and graduated there from high school. I am the current commissioner of the northern district of Vernon County and operate a small farm in the Walker area. I have served as northern district commissioner for five terms and have served with pride.

Why are you the best person to elect for this office?

From the outside, the job looks pretty easy -- as if it's all about roads and bridges but actually, there are a great many other parts to the job. It takes a while to learn all of the rules for each of the programs that the commission uses to get its grants, along with the key people at the state level for each program. I have made it my business to master these and that is why, among smaller counties in Missouri, we are among the counties with the fewest bridges that need replacement.

If elected and you did not have to worry about the cost implementation, what is one thing you would change about the position and/or the service it provides?

Every year at budget time, I, as a commissioner, have to say "No" to a lot of good budget requests. While it would be only a dream, it would be nice to fund many other worthwhile projects as well as give our employees a little more money to help better their lives. We have good people and they deserve it.

Please describe the scope and work of a commissioner in Vernon County.

The main job of the commission is to be responsible for the county's budget and to see the office holders stay within it. We also oversee our road and bridge department and we are proud of the work they do. Each of the commissioners sits on a number of different boards and while the commission meets all day on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, there are many meetings to attend, all over the state and on other days and evenings of the week. As commissioner, I currently sit on five.