I’m Owen Longest and I humbly ask for your vote for Carter County Commissioner District 2. I’m a Christian, a conservative Republican and an honest hard-working man who cares about, and is committed to, meeting the needs of Carter County. I have had 4 1/2 years experience working for two county commissioners, I am honored to have worked for, and have learned a significant amount from Carter County Commissioner Joe McReynolds. With my history of managing teams, running a business, and now understanding how to prioritize budgets, listen to the people, be responsive to their needs when we prioritize projects and budget expenditures, I am the candidate that will make you my number one priority. I will safeguard your tax dollars, provide a quality return on your investment, and ensure Carter County has the infrastructure to keep you and your family safe on our roads with commerce and business able to work and grow in our communities.

Why are you the best candidate for the job?

I want to assure everyone that I will give an honest, and a full day of work in the county every day. I will be a full time in-person commissioner as expected by the county. My business expertise combined with my county government and operations experience will ensure that our county’s needs will be addressed despite the challenges we face. My experience uniquely qualifies me to ensure our infrastructure needs will be addressed with fiscal responsibility. Working in my own businesses and for the county, I have developed a passion for serving our community. I will make sure your hard-earned tax dollars are used wisely and efficiently to ensure our county needs will be met.

Describe your background in county government.

I currently work for Carter County under Commissioner Joe McReynolds. I know the expectations of the job, as I have 4 ½ years of experience by working for two of the three districts in Carter County. I have the experience and knowledge to work on the infrastructure needs in District 2 to strive for safety to get our families back and forth to jobs and schools. I am familiar with the requirements of the government and realize that when our county government receives hard earned tax dollars, it must be used wisely, and we must get the job done right to have better roads and better infrastructure.

What is your greatest accomplishment in county government?

I have worked as a self-motivated county employee with the ability to recognize problems in and beyond the scope of my position. I have worked with coworkers and supervisors to alleviate potential issues to make our infrastructure safer for the community. I have learned an unmeasurable amount from Joe McReynolds, our District 1 commissioner. I have the utmost respect for all our county officials, and all my coworkers. I have worked hard while building good relationships with the people I work for and with, to serve our community.

How do you plan to develop relationships with the communities, Chickasaw Nation, and the state to benefit your constituents?

Great communication is the key. I have developed good relationships with many in these groups of community leaders and citizens of our community. I am looking forward to growing these relationships and learning more about the interests and concerns of everyone in our county. It is important to me to be present and aware of the concerns of all our county’s citizens, and county and state leaders. I will treat people with dignity and respect and communicate in a kind and effective manner.

What do you hope to accomplish in your first 100 days in office?

I will immediately become a full-time commissioner for our county. It is important to be a safeguard of taxpayer dollars. I believe in top quality results for any job that needs to be completed. I will be a budget hawk to make sure in these very tough economic times that I will be responsible and careful with the monies that I am entrusted with. I will work to make sure our infrastructure is prepared for the growth that I believe is in our future. I will manage the budget for today while preparing for our future county needs. I look forward to serving our community and encourage citizens and community leaders to reach out to me. I will be accessible to our community 24-7.