Fw: Candidate Shipp

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Candidate Shipp

Candidate Shipp

On August 6 VOTE....

R. Shipp

Republican

Vernon County Clerk

Who is Shipp? Why is he running for County Clerk? What does he

stand for?

My name is Shipp and I am running for the Republican

nomination for Vernon County Clerk. In Missouri, you cannot split your ballot in

the primary, so I invite all persons to take a Republican ballot, even if you

normally do not, and vote for me on August 6. The county clerk’s position is a

very " local " office and is somewhat nonpartisan in nature with no divisive

political issues surrounding it. The main duties of the clerk are to see that

people get registered to vote, elections are held, and votes are counted,

although the clerk does also serve as clerk to the County Commission.

Being a Vernon County native, many of you may already know me. For

those who do not, I was born in Nevada in 1960. My parents were Francis and Ella

Shipp, who owned Shipp’s Bargain Basement on the northwest corner of the square

from 1964 to 1972. They also owned numerous other antique and auction businesses

between 1945 and their retirement in 1980. I am a 1979 graduate of Nevada High

School and attended Nevada public schools for 12 years. My wife, and I

have been married since 1989 and have four children, , 12, Kristi, 11,

, 10, and , 5. All four children attend Nevada public schools.

My varied education background, I feel, is an asset for holding

public office. I have an Office administration degree from State Fair College

(1981), a Bachelor of Arts in History from Southwest Missouri State (1997), and

a Master’s of Arts in English from Pittsburg State University (2001). In

addition, I will be awarded a Bachelor of Science in Education from Missouri

Southern in Dec. 2002 and am also currently pursuing a second Masters (in

History) from Pittsburg State. I also have 39 hours in Spanish and 23 hours in

business. During the past three years I have taught as a substitute, an " After

School " instructor, and a Graduate Teaching Asst., teaching students English,

Spanish, Social Studies, and general education from kindergarten through

university ages.

Other jobs I have held in the past twenty-three include

Administrative Assistant at Berlex Labs in Richmond, Calif., Office Manager of

Home Renew Inc. in Springfield, Accounts Payable Clerk at Ross Stores central

office in Newark, Calif., and Data Entry Clerk for Diversified Collection

Services in San Leandro, Calif. I have also held various sales and marketing

positions, which have given me good oral and written communication skills and an

ability to work with all kinds of people. In addition, I had my own flea market

business and typing service in El Dorado Springs, MO. From 1980 to 1988 and have

been a published writer since 1979.

I am running for county clerk for several reasons. First, I feel it

is a citizen’s duty to run for public office and I feel a special call to duty

since the events of last September 11. I had planned not to seek office in 2002,

but decided to run because I feel an obligation to serve America since the

tragedies of September 11. What better way to serve than to hold public office

in my native county?

I am also running for county clerk because I am passionate about the

political process.. I have been interested in politics, government and elections

since I cast my first vote in a Weekly Reader election for President at

School in 1968. Since one of the main duties of the county clerk is to set up,

monitor and record elections, I feel I would be right at home in the clerk’s

office and could do the job with enthusiasm, a vital component of public

service.

When I filed for election on March 7, I sat before the current

clerk, Wava Halcomb, who has done an outstanding job the past 16 years, and

noted to myself that there would be nothing I would change physically about the

office except to put a picture of Dwight Eisenhower next to lin

Roosevelt’s, and a picture of Reagan next to harry S. Truman’s.

Your vote will be appreciated on August 6. Please register and vote

if you are not already registered. One of my goals, if elected, would be to see

that more people are registered to vote and more go to the polls on election day

than currently do. I would also like to extend absentee voting hours and make

voting by mail a reality. Of course, these goals depend on others besides

myself. The county clerk must follow state and federal guidelines for elections.

Thank you for your time.

Remember…Vote R, Shipp for County Clerk on Tuesday August 6.

Election information brought to you by: Tweten and Company, Inc.

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