Richard Meyer
Name: Richard Meyer
Position Running For: Kootenai-Shoshone Water and Soil Conservation District Board of Supervisors
Phone: (253) 202-6686
Address: 62934 South Powderhorn Bay Road, Post Office Box 50, HARRISON, ID 83833, United States
Website: http://TenderPro8.com
Twitter:
Email: rmeyer2003@msn.com
Tell us a little about yourself and your family, how long you have lived in the area and your occupation.: I have a precinct committee officer for more than 40 years in 3 different states. I am currently on the PCO for 207. I am also on the faculty at Texas Tech University developing new food processing technologies.
1. Do you have experience as an elected official and if so, what was your position, and how would you describe your voting record?: I served 20 years on Washington's Governor's Advisory Council on Ag and the Environment (drafted the legislation on water rights). I currently serve on the Kootenai Natural Resource Advisory Board & on the Coeur d'Alene Lakeshore Owners Association Board. I was also chair of Washington State's Dept of Ag. Director's advisory board. I was raised on a farm and raised hay; currently own a wheat farm near Ritzville, WA. I was on our FFA soil judging team. I also served on Pierce County Farm Board (WA): 2005-2010 & winner of the Puget Sound Regional Council “2007 Vision 20/20 Award”, also selected and participated in the Washington State Agriculture & Forestry Leadership program (2 years) and served on many more boards. I also have active connections with 5 universities so I can easily access technical information. I also served as VP Technical at various food corporations for more than 30 years so I can construct budgets and apply for grants (awarded more than $13 million in grants).
2. Please tell us about your activity as a Republican. Have you previously voted for candidates of other parties? If yes, explain.: I have always been a conservative Republican and actively campaigned for many congressmen over the years. And never voted for any other party. I've walked my various districts campaigning for various candidates and myself.
3. What is the purpose of government?: The primary purpose of government is to keep the country safe and secure.
4. Describe why you are running for this particular office. What are your qualifications? What are your goals?: I have a wide range of experience in agriculture and water resources having served on several policy making boards. I work with government agencies, universities and private industry to achieve goals. My goals would be to make agriculture and forestry more productive while ensuring safe and sustainable land and water use. I also have a knack for envisioning new technologies (over 100 patents) which might surface while serving on this board.
5. Describe experiences where you are or have been engaged such as non-profit organizations, clubs, churches, boards, commissions, etc., where you have been of service to others.: I have served on many boards (previously cited) and active in a number of churches (I have lived in a half a dozen states). More recently served on the Kootenai School district #274 school board (6 years & as Chair & Vice chair). Also served on the New Milford, CT school board (6 years). Also served as President of WSU College of Agriculture Alumni Association (1986-94). Also served on 4 different university Food Science Advisory Boards (WSU, Cornell, Oregon State and UC Davis).
6. Do you describe yourself as fiscally conservative? Please, elaborate.: As the Technical VP in large US food companies (R & D, Quality Control and Engineering), I had to do zero based budgeting every year. That meant that I had to defend every dollar that I planned to spend. Every dollar had to have a return in the investment or support consistent quality of the food product or address safety issues. If you plan budgets with this in mind, you minimize waste. You absolutely need to be fiscally conservative because we are in competition with other nations. We have to be the most productive to survive.
7. Do you consider yourself as socially conservative? Please elaborate.: Yes, because you need society to have common values otherwise you will have conflicts. The Bible has set the standard for the values that bring about peace, harmony and prosperity. You have to have mutual trust or you will have conflict.
8. Describe which party platform best aligns with your positions on public policy (Republican, Democrat, Libertarian or Constitutional Party) and where do you disagree with that platform.: Republican. The platform is well drafted; it can always be enhanced as new issues need to be addressed.
9. Do you have any history of tax liens, criminal record, bankruptcy or conflict of interest that may affect your future decisions or desirability to be voted into office?: None.
10.Describe how you will make yourself available to your constituents and vote as their representative with FORTITUDE, adhering to the values and answers you have stated above.:Running for PCO allows you to meet and chat with your constituents. Being on the school board, you are very well known; we also run periodic surveys to see what the community thought about issues and potential issues.