Q&A on Issues

Miami County Republic Commission Q&A

BIO INFORMATION

Name: Brian Williams

Age: 62

Occupation: retired business owner

Family: My wife of 28 years is Jennifer Williams.  We have three children at home that we homeschool, and I have an adult daughter who lives on her own.

1.    If elected/reelected, what would be your top priority?

My top priority is protecting and preserving Miami County’s rural heritage and character, while balancing it with appropriate growth that benefits Miami County residents. I will be a watchdog against the KCMO agenda being pushed on the County by organizations such as the Kansas City Area Development Council (KCADC), the Mid America Regional Council (MARC), and the Kansas City Missouri Chamber. Living along the northern border of the County, I have direct experience with the way constituents are being ignored, in favor of out-of-state (and out-of-country) developers and special deals. I want to eradicate any trace of that in Miami County, to protect the people and the land.

I have a few concerns with a couple of current planning and zoning codes that stifle ag businesses. One is the recent "kitchen sink" debacle that should have never forced a citizen to pay $200 to appeal because it never should have been denied to begin with!  

Another is the code that says farmers cannot sell products on their land in a home ag business unless they grew the product on their land. This is a ridiculous prohibition that stifles businesses and steals freedom. 

I have also watched while local business owners tried to start businesses to benefit the community but were denied the right to operate. We should be friendlier to our local commercial business owners, instead of jumping on the KCMO warehouse and industrial bandwagon that has been pushed.

Our unincorporated county that is under the authority of the Miami County Planning Department should be allowing 3-5 acre residential subdivisions when and where appropriate, in order to increase the opportunity for families to enjoy our County.  We should also do more to promote the Hillsdale Lake recreation by allowing appropriate supporting businesses that benefit communities (lodging, restaurants, general stores, boutiques, etc.) so those out of the county can come here to spend money and enjoy the beauty. (This is not a reference to the "Tophertown" project that neighbors were concerned about due to potential transient population doubling the town's current population.  This would be complimentary businesses that were a fit for the residents and that residents supported.)

Making Miami County an agritourism destination location is also a project I support, in order to benefit our farmers and local communities, which also adds additional sales tax revenue to the budget from sales of products and merchandise, while keeping the rural character.

2.    Why should voters elect/reelect you?

I ask for my constituents’ votes because I promise to listen to the concerns of residents and truly represent them.  I have decades of business negotiation experience. I am a very open-minded and reasonable person, with the ability to find solutions where all sides feel heard and valued.

I know many people in the County know my wife Jennifer, and the work she has done to protect residents from unfair property tax and inappropriate development, but despite the rumors – she did not have me run to be her puppet.  I am my own person with my own mind and understanding of issues.  I wanted to run because I care about our residents, our farmers, our land, and our future.

A vote for Brian, is a vote for Brian - to represent my constituents in all parts of the County.

I am running on a platform of transparency, accountability, and honesty. I am a voice for the people, and I am not afraid to stand for truth and justice in the face of tyranny and bullies.

I also recognize that not all staff recommendations and vendors presented for projects are good for the people of Miami County. As a retired business owner with time on my hands, and an avid researcher, I will always be prepared for votes. I will thoroughly research the proposals and propositions well in advance, to prevent us from having situations, like they’ve had in the recent past, with approving vendors or projects without really understanding their potential dangers or threats to Miami County residents and their future. Examples include – Placer Ai tracking software that the County paid to track residents movements from stores for better “economic development” projects; hiring a Washington DC firm for redistricting commission districts without a proper open bid process; paying a foreign-owned software, Eagleview, for the County Appraiser to spy on citizens in their homes; and bringing the George Soros-funded organization “Welcoming America” onto our County webpage as a “welcoming county” for potentially undocumented immigrants, and many more.

3.    What are your thoughts on data centers?

My biggest problems with the data centers so far is their lack of transparency, perceived collusion behind the public’s eye, and extreme efforts from outside organizations to push them on us.

I believe that it is important to be fully informed and conscientious about their effects on water usage, wastewater disposal, electricity usage, and the effects on health, safety, environment, and wildlife. This decision is more than “how much can we profit” but should be “how does this affect everyone, even if not in the boundaries of the cities being affected” because no amount of money is okay if our people and our land is harmed.

I believe appropriate-sized data centers may be necessary, in the right location and with the right constraints for the best community benefit.

I do not believe they are appropriate if they strain the infrastructure or damage the health and environment of the residents.

4.    Do you think the county’s budget should be revenue-neutral?

Revenue neutral means they aren’t taking in more money than the year before. I understand in times of inflation in the past, the County worked hard to stay revenue-neutral as much as possible. However, I’d like to cut expenses wherever we can, instead of just settling for neutral.  I have owned and operated businesses since I was a teenager, and I know cutting budgets can be easier said than done. So I’m not making vague, over-generalized promises to decrease taxes.  In any organization, there are some areas where costs will increase over time. But having been a business owner during times of recessions and economic downturns, I know how to make tough choices to decide between wants and needs. I understand the importance of pruning the budget to cut spending, where possible, in order to keep the organization and taxpayers from suffering. I believe staff and the administration, along with the Commissioners, should always be looking at areas in departments that are redundant, excessive, and unnecessary.