Riddell files for Clinton County Commission

I, Richard Riddell, have announced my candidacy as a Republican Candidate for Second District Clinton County Commissioner.  That seat has been held for many years by Democrat Larry King.   This is my first entry into political office.  I do so with the belief that government at all levels benefits from new ideas and fresh perspectives.

My roots in Clinton County run deep.  My Great Grandfather moved here several years after the Civil War and farmed in the Shoal Township.  My Grandmother was born here in 1886.  My twin brother and I were the first male twins born in the “new” Cameron Hospital in 1949.  I graduated from Cameron High School in 1967.  My mother graduated from Cameron and taught fourth grade here for many years.

I have a degree in Business Administration from the University of Central Missouri and spent over forty years in sales and corporate management in the auto parts field in the mid-west.   I worked with very large budgets and am experienced with running lean operations.

I moved back to Cameron almost six years ago and have been active in the community.  I am presently serving on the board of the Cameron United Methodist Church and the Cameron Veterans Memorial Golf Course.  I was Treasurer of the Cameron Elks Lodge for three years and was the Golf Tournament Chairman the past two years.  I have recently been named to the Region D Recycling and Waste Management District.  I have given my time and my money to improve my community and I will continue help where I am needed.

I have a great interest in making Government run efficiently and serving the tax payers with the kind of responsiveness that they expect and deserve.  I have no hidden agenda’s or axes to grind.  My desire is to do what is best for Clinton County.

Over the past few months, I have been educating myself on some of the issues we face at this time.   On the issue of wind turbines, I have felt for several years that it is an expensive way to make electricity.  I am also suspicious of highly subsidized industries.  That being said, I have attended several Planning and Zoning meetings and traveled north Missouri to find out for myself everything that I could on the subject.  I admit, I am still learning about this and I know that there are two sides to every issue.  I have not been convinced that the installation of these wind turbines is the best thing for our county or our country.  It is sad that this one issue has divided so many people in the county.  I look forward to the hearings this summer and plan to attend as many as possible.

I will be out in the second district from now until November asking for your support.

Thank you,

Richard Riddell