Carter won’t seek re-election

Newton County Presiding Commissioner Jerry Carter has announced he will not seek re-election this fall.

Carter, who was first elected as presiding commissioner in 2000, announced his decision Thursday night in a letter to Nick Myers, chairman of the Newton County Central Committee.

“There’s no one reason except I felt like it’s time,” Carter said in a telephone interview Friday. “It’s been a wonderful experience, and I’m going to miss it. I just simply have too many things in my personal life that require my attention.”

Carter said these things involved family and personal health issues.

Carter was elected to the post in 2000, having never served in public office before. He retired from Teledyne in Neosho in 1991, then went to work for that company’s Century City, Calif., location as an internal auditor for several years before moving back to the Neosho area. He also worked as a consultant before seeking public office for the first time.

Carter said there have been many achievements in the county during the last decade, most importantly,  building physical infrastructure and keeping the county in good financial standing.

“We have been able to get in good physical standing,” he said. “We’ve built 60 new bridges, improved a number of roads, improved buildings and grounds. The storms of the last three years have wiped us out on roads, and we may have to look for outside funding to improve those. But we’ve stabilized the 911 center and gotten them ready to move to a new location, we’ve helped the sheriff stabilize his vehicle fleet, we’ve maintained the budget to be able to weather the ups and downs of the economy. And I think one of the things we’ve been able to do is to help officeholders in providing services in an efficient way. We’ve just assisted, I believe, and I think that works well for us. Communication in the county has gotten better between the organizations, the citizens and the media. All in all, we’ve operated on a fairly low-key, efficient basis for the last nine or 10 years.”

Carter said he is thankful that each officeholder has strived to keep costs down during these lean economic times, with each department coming in under budget. This leaves more funds as a cushion in case the county needs it.

“In that one attitude they have, that tells a great deal about the officeholders in Newton County,” he said. “Some are substantial underruns, some are not so large, but everyone to a person has enacted a budget like that. We have some real hurdles ahead, but we have the right people in place to do it.

“It’s been wonderful working with the officeholders in Newton County,” he added. “They are well-educated, very professional and my relationship with them has been excellent. I think the world of them. If you’re going to be a presiding commissioner anywhere in the state of Missouri, Newton County is the place to choose. The working relationship with the officeholders has been outstanding. I can’t speak for them, but I’m going to miss them.”

Carter echoed those sentiments in his letter to Myers.

“I will especially miss my friends in the courthouse,” he stated in the letter. “Without their friendship and support, my job would have been far more difficult. I will miss the special friends who helped me in my first election, and stood by me through five more.

“My decision not to run for re-election is not an easy one — but it is the right one. It is manifestly clear to me that it is time to retire. Working for the citizens of Newton County has been, as Congressman Gene Taylor would say, ‘a mountaintop experience.’ Judy and I will forever remember how kind our friends in Newton County and Southwest Missouri have been to us, and we will continue to support them as we have the opportunity to do so.”

While Carter has decided not to seek re-election, he will continue to serve as presiding commissioner until the end of the year. While primary elections are held in August, and general elections in November, office holders take their oath of office in January.

Carter said he also plans to do some farming and traveling in his retirement. He and his wife, Judy, own a small farm and raise blueberries, cherries and apples.