Meet the Candidates: Texas County Presiding Commissioner

Editor’s Note: Incumbents and candidates for opposed races at the county level and the District 143 State Representative race have been asked to submit a short article regarding themself and their campaign. This week’s incumbent and candidate are competing for the office of Texas County Presiding Commissioner in the General Election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

Incumbent Scott Long – Republican:

I would like to first thank The Licking News for this opportunity to connect with the voters of Texas County. Over the last eight years I have been honored to serve as your Presiding Commissioner. We as commissioners have diligently reviewed all the needs of the county and worked hard to provide what we could to solve issues which have arose in our county. As one of three commissioners, it has been extremely rewarding to be entrusted by the people to make sure the tax dollars of this county are spent in a manner which allows for maximum viability of our county for years to come. Texas County is one of a few area counties who continues to have a surplus of revenue and has received positive reviews on our annual audit reports. I am seeking re-election to this position to continue the progress obtained and to make sure we follow this path of financial responsibility.

I am a retired Agriculture Education Instructor who continues to operate a small cow/calf operation with the help of my family. My wife and I operated a small USDA meat processing business in Cabool for over ten years. My wife now operates a small business in Cabool as well as serving on the Cabool School’s Board of Education. We have five adult children and five grandchildren that are a big part of our lives and are the reason we do what we do. Being a part of our communities is important for our future and we want to show our grandchildren the importance of being involved.

It is imperative that we as citizens elect individuals who will protect the freedoms and liberties for which God provided. If elected, I will continue to have an open-door policy concerning county issues. Transparency in government is of the utmost importance in establishing trust with the people of the county. Protecting personal property rights has become a major issue as well. County government should never infringe upon the rights of a landowner to use his/her property in a manner they desire as long as they do not tread on their neighbor’s rights.

In closing, I would appreciate your vote on November 3rd. I ask to serve the people of Texas County for one more term. Most of all, I ask for the people of this county to be active in their government by stopping by or calling the commission office to ask those questions that are important to you the voter. Find out what is actually happening. Individuals who like to paint negative narratives on social media about what occurs in government cannot be trusted to show you the truth so ask the tough questions. Government works best when the people express their concerns and we solve problems together.

Again, thank you for the last eight years and I ask for your vote in November to continues the positive direction forward for Texas County.

Candidate Lee Kern – Democrat:

I’m running to be your next Presiding Commissioner of Texas County. I’d like to thank The Licking News for this opportunity to share why this election is so important.

A little bit about me. I have lived my entire life here in Texas County. I graduated from Houston High School. Most of you first met me at H&R Block, where I worked for 12 years. I have a huge passion for animals and nature. I’m also honest and not scared to say something that needs said. I’m not a career politician. I’m just like you! I’m a taxpayer, a working person, someone who lives here and cares about where our county is heading.

My campaign is simple:

Data centers and Flock cameras are an absolute NO for me.

I will work with the Planning and Zoning Commission and the County Commission to make sure we do everything legally possible to keep data centers from being built in Texas County. Also, if we have any Flock cameras that are being paid for with county funds, that will come to an end immediately.

Transparency shouldn’t be a chore!

To get basic public records, you have to file a Sunshine Law request and pay a $15/hour fee. To talk with the commissioners, you have to take off work between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Even our county website has completely blank sections for recent budgets. It shouldn’t be this hard.

When elected as your Presiding Commissioner, I will work to change this from day one:

Everything Online: We will move all eligible budgets, audits, meeting minutes, and other public records into a free, searchable online database.

Evening/Saturday Town Halls: I will host monthly evening meetings across our towns and villages so working people can actually have a voice.

Stop taking 5% of County Aid Road Trust funds when those dollars should be used for roads.

Our townships struggle with having enough funds to properly maintain our roads. Why are we taking more money away from road work when our roads already need so much attention? Five percent may not seem like a lot, but when you receive over $1.5 million a year in CART funds, that 5% sure adds up.

I’m not going to promise that I can fix everything overnight. I also know that the Presiding Commissioner does not have the power to make every decision alone. What I can promise is that I will ask questions. I will look at the numbers. I will listen to residents. I will work with the other commissioners, elected officials, and township officials to do what’s right for you.

This campaign isn’t about red or blue to me. It’s about Texas County. It’s about making sure our government works for the people who pay for it.

Every Road. Every Town. Every Voice.