By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Buchanan County Public Administrator Megan Kennedy Stickley, a Democrat, is running for re-election, challenged by Republican Annette Bertelsen.
Stickley, who worked in the office under former Administrator Bill McMurray before winning election to the post, says she has worked to maintain the reforms he implemented.
“We’re very transparent financially,” Stickley tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline. “If a client needs something, wants to know what’s in their account, we will show them their account; this is what you have, this is what has come in, this is what has gone out. We’ll discuss what they need.”
Stickley began work in the office in 2007. She won election as Public Administrator four years ago. Stickley says that experience makes a different when working with people dependent on the office.
“I just think knowing the history of the office and the history of the clients is very, very important, being able to just recall something from 10, 11 years ago that may have happened with a person, because I was in the office,” according to Stickley.
Bertlesen pledges to ask three questions of staff when beginning her term: What’s working? What’s NOT working? What changes would you like to see?
“Once elected, I will make sure that I review those, talk with the people who gave me the ideas or information, feedback and see what changes actually need to be made, what can be made, and just access, again, the processes that currently stand and what can be done to make it better,” Bertlesen tells Birr on the KFEQ Hotline.
Bertelsen who says her experience in business and her heart for people would make for a good fit in the office.
“I do enjoy helping people; also have a keen business sense,” Bertelsen says. “I just like helping people and seeing them grow and be taken care of and have the right services at the right time.”
The Public Administrator currently serves as guardian and conservator of around 340 Buchanan County residents. The courts determine whether a person needs to be placed under the guardianship of the Public Adminstrator.