JAMES A. SYLER
What are the key issues facing Miller County today?
Ensuring public safety will always be a top issue for me. We must ensure appropriate funding and support for our law-enforcement and volunteer fire department personnel. Bringing new business and industry to Miller County is also an important issue that the county must address, because by bringing in good paying jobs, we will help the entire county grow and develop.
Do you feel the state does enough to support rural counties like Miller?
While it is true that rural counties like ours often get left behind when it comes to state level economic development and infrastructure funding, we are lucky to have a wonderful state legislative delegation from our area that makes sure Miller County is not left behind.
Attitudes on the quorum court have been combative at several meetings. Why is this? Do you feel these sorts of attitudes are conducive to good governance?
Passionate representation sometimes appears combative, but it often is a sign that our leadership truly cares about the areas they represent. Though discussions can get heated, it is important that each side of an argument has a chance to be heard. As long as the discussions can remain civil and avoid personal attacks, thorough discussion is not a bad thing. It also lends itself to transparency, because it becomes clear that leadership did not settle their disagreements out of sight of the public.
How will you support businesses and development in Miller County?
Workforce development is key to attracting higher paying jobs to the area. One of the best drivers of workforce development is a safe and stable community. If we focus on public safety and infrastructure development, we will provide a community that people want to move to. And when people want to move to an area, business and industry typically follow.
What is your opinion of how Miller County has used and plans to use federal pandemic recovery and infrastructure funds?
Given the amount of federal restrictions and red tape that was placed on the spending of pandemic funding, I think Miller County has done the best that it could. Two good examples include the much needed upcoming expansion of the jail, and the paying out of bonus money to help compensate the employees that worked during the hardest times of the pandemic.