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Newcomer Brock challenges incumbent Gwin
By Kevin M. Smith
The Clay County Public Administrator’s race offers candidates both experienced in the office and new to the political arena.
Rocky Brock of Kearney is challenging incumbent Debbie Gwin for the public administrator’s seat.
Brock, a Republican, said as he became more involved with helping his grandparents pay medical bills he realized what an important role the Public Administrator’s office plays.
“I guess I just had a heart for that — helping people,” Brock said.
Gwin, a Democrat, said she was running for re-election because she wanted to continue to serve the residents of Clay County.
“I really care about our clients, they’re family to us,” Gwin said.
Brock said one of his goals, if elected, was to be proactive in communication with families.
Gwin said she would like work on funding problems in the public administrator’s office if she gets re-elected. Gwin also noted that she has made progress in several areas during her time in office. Gwin said she had done little things, like sending birthday and holiday cards to clients. She also developed a brochure to help describe the role of a guardian.
“It’s just nice to do the little things,” Gwin said.
Although she’s been in the office for a while — first as a hired assistant and later as an elected official — Gwin said she could still promise change. She said she tried to be proactive in change.
“Because the world is changing,” Gwin said.
Brock didn’t have anything negative to say about his opponent.
“When you look at experience — there’s no question she’s got more experience,” Brock said.
Brock said he wanted to give the office of public administrator a try. He said he wanted to bring compassion to the office.
“You’re serving people,” Brock said.
Brock, who has a background in corporate businesses, said he can also bring financial responsibility to the office because of his business experience.
The public administrator serves as a guardian for people who are declared incapacitated, according Clay County’s Web site.
Meet the candidates:
Debbie Gwin (incumbent), Democrat
- Residency: has lived in county since 1969
- Occupation: public administrator
- Education: Liberty High School, Registered Guardian in 2005 with more than 170 hours of continuing education in the public administration and guardianship field
- Public offices held: Clay County public administrator, 2005 to present
- Memberships: Missouri Association of Public Administrators, National Guardianship Association, Northland Professionals in Aging, NAMI, Northland Community Services Coalition, Missouri Association of Counties, Midwest Transplant Network-volunteer, Northland Democratic Club, Clay County Women’s Democratic Club and Eucharistic Minister at Holy Family.
Rocky Brock, Republican
- Residency: has lived in county since 1989
- Occupation: owner of Heartland Reps, a manufacturer’s agent for the food service industry
- Education: West Des Moines Valley High School, West Des Moines, Iowa, and Des Moines Area Community College, Ankeny, Iowa
- Public offices held: none
- Memberships: North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers and Certified Food Service Professional Board of Governors
Kearney Editor Kevin M. Smith can be reached at 628-6010 or kevinsmith@npgco.com.
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Rocky Brock of Kearney is challenging incumbent Debbie Gwin for the public administrator’s seat.
Brock, a Republican, said as he became more involved with helping his grandparents pay medical bills he realized what an important role the Public Administrator’s office plays.
“I guess I just had a heart for that — helping people,” Brock said.
Gwin, a Democrat, said she was running for re-election because she wanted to continue to serve the residents of Clay County.
“I really care about our clients, they’re family to us,” Gwin said.
Brock said one of his goals, if elected, was to be proactive in communication with families.
Gwin said she would like work on funding problems in the public administrator’s office if she gets re-elected. Gwin also noted that she has made progress in several areas during her time in office. Gwin said she had done little things, like sending birthday and holiday cards to clients. She also developed a brochure to help describe the role of a guardian.
“It’s just nice to do the little things,” Gwin said.
Although she’s been in the office for a while — first as a hired assistant and later as an elected official — Gwin said she could still promise change. She said she tried to be proactive in change.
“Because the world is changing,” Gwin said.
Brock didn’t have anything negative to say about his opponent.
“When you look at experience — there’s no question she’s got more experience,” Brock said.
Brock said he wanted to give the office of public administrator a try. He said he wanted to bring compassion to the office.
“You’re serving people,” Brock said.
Brock, who has a background in corporate businesses, said he can also bring financial responsibility to the office because of his business experience.
The public administrator serves as a guardian for people who are declared incapacitated, according Clay County’s Web site.
Meet the candidates:
Debbie Gwin (incumbent), Democrat
- Residency: has lived in county since 1969
- Occupation: public administrator
- Education: Liberty High School, Registered Guardian in 2005 with more than 170 hours of continuing education in the public administration and guardianship field
- Public offices held: Clay County public administrator, 2005 to present
- Memberships: Missouri Association of Public Administrators, National Guardianship Association, Northland Professionals in Aging, NAMI, Northland Community Services Coalition, Missouri Association of Counties, Midwest Transplant Network-volunteer, Northland Democratic Club, Clay County Women’s Democratic Club and Eucharistic Minister at Holy Family.
Rocky Brock, Republican
- Residency: has lived in county since 1989
- Occupation: owner of Heartland Reps, a manufacturer’s agent for the food service industry
- Education: West Des Moines Valley High School, West Des Moines, Iowa, and Des Moines Area Community College, Ankeny, Iowa
- Public offices held: none
- Memberships: North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers and Certified Food Service Professional Board of Governors
Kearney Editor Kevin M. Smith can be reached at 628-6010 or kevinsmith@npgco.com.