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Name: Doug Cupples
City: Newton
Office sought: Jasper County Supervisor
Occupation: Jasper County Supervisor, Auto sales, Ministry. All present positions.
Education: Newton Senior Highschool, St. Paul Bible College, Ministerial training through the Christian and Missionary Alliance Denomination.
Elected offices held: Jasper County Supervisor
1. Introduce/Reintroduce yourself to Jasper County voters and explain why you want to be on the board of supervisors.
Being the county supervisor has been a very rewarding and challenging position. Serving people is built into my DNA. I desire to do good by everyone.Sometimes that is tough to do but I feel we are getting the job done. I have and will always listen to people’s concerns and do the best I can to rectify those concerns. I want to say an authentic thank you to the people of Jasper county for their support.
I have served on multiple boards prior to being supervisor and many more now in this position. My day is spent answering emails, attending meetings, taking or making phone calls, going and checking out issues in the county and whatever else needs done. All this in the midst of performing my daily tasks at my regular job. I am blessed to work for Lauterbach Buick GMC. They afford me the flexibility to perform county tasks at my office.
2. One year ago, there were several discussions amongst board members and the county engineer surrounding the treatment of gravel roads. Even though those conversations have died down, do you think road conditions are still a priority? What options does the county have — or should it have — to improve road conditions for rural citizens?
Still our #1 priority and we are laser focused. The intensity on roads may seem quieter due to how we are getting things done. Things like more gravel, our guys are doing a great job grading, better crown on the road, ditch cleaning, doing regrades on roads, building bridges, testing stabilization concepts and overall our employees, the guys running equipment and doing the work, care about the job they are doing. We are proud of our roads department guys and the work they are doing.
We have been testing the use of ground up shingles for stabilization and they are very promising and affordable. But before we use them more and more we want to see how they hold up. The reviews have been really good! I would expect you will be seeing more and more ground up shingles. Also we have no reports of nails in tires from the shingles.
Lots of positive adjustments and changes are happening and there are more good ones to come.
3. The board of supervisors recently approved its comprehensive plan, which took about a year to finish. Board chairman Brandon Talsma said he was expecting the plan to lay out how the county can accomplish its goals, but it doesn’t. Do you think this plan provides the county with a clear direction? What do you think the county’s goals should be?
The comprehensive plan is approximately a 150 page document. Giving a very thorough description of each objective. Telling us our strengths and weaknesses. Recommending perceived areas where we could benefit in taking specific actions in that area. Then clearly laying out what department, organization, group or person who would be best suited to lead that initiative. The plan also gives the supporting entities the level of involvement they should be at.
It is my opinion the board of supervisors, county officials, dept heads, affiliated organisations, businesses and individuals should read the plan or at least the specific subject that applies to their particular area. Next consider taking action based on the information in the comprehensive plan. I would also suggest please take time to read it. Check out the web site! www.jaspersbrightfuture.com
4. Communication of county business is important to constituents. Apart from litigation discussions with the county attorney’s office and closed session evaluations with employees, do you think the supervisors adequately vocalize public business matters with individual department heads? Would you be opposed to seeing more department updates at open meetings?
I think updates are given on a regular basis. In fact most are monthly and more often when they need to spend money or share information. Some depts. require this more than others. It is just the fact that most updates are boring information. Not great for selling news.
We think our department heads are doing a great job. They would be more than willing to give an update if asked. If anyone would ever like an update from a department then feel free to ask. Or please attend our meetings.
5. For the first time in a long time, the Jasper County Board of Supervisors is comprised of all Republicans. Since this change, what do you believe has come out of this all-Rep ublican board? Do you think this board fully represents the citizens of Jasper County? What perspective would you bring?
The Auditor, Treasurer, Recorder, Sheriff and County Attorney are all democrats. That gives a 5 to 3 advantage for democrats. Do you feel misrepresented by the county? I do not! In fact I consider each of these people as individuals, coworkers, trusted confidants and friends.
It is disheartening that the Daily News would even consider this type of question. This very behavior is a huge part of the problem in the U.S. right now! The narrative from so much of the media is to divide us.
I never look at another person and think less or more of them based on whether they are a republican, democrat or independent. We need love not hate.
The truth is there are independents, democrats and republicans (men and women) that I love and care about! Like and dislike.
The voters chose all the elected officials. They must be ok with us!
I care about you. No matter what. I represent all the people of Jasper County.
May God bless the people of Jasper County.