Albright feels experience as administrator is a strength

Editor's Note: This is part of a series of candidate profiles based on answers to a questionnaire sent out by the Tribune.

Republican Barbara Albright is running for the Bourbon County Commission District 2 seat vacated by Jingles Endicott in the Nov. 6 general election. Albright was born and resides in Fort Scott. She currently works at H&H Agency as a real estate sales associate.

Albright said she believes her 21 years of school administration experience, coupled with a positive approach in working with people will be demonstrated in her collaborative leadership style when facing the needs and future of Bourbon County.

Albright received her associates degree from Fort Scott Community College and her bachelors, masters and EdS degrees from Pittsburg State University.

"In addition to fulfilling my desire to serve the public, I have the right mix of energy, ideas, and understanding for the important role of county commissioner that can greatly benefit us all," Albright said in response to why she was running for county commission.

Albright lists her strengths as commitment to the citizens of Bourbon County, which she said would be her focus. "Which, in turn, would draw on my leadership strengths including collaboration, building and balancing a budget, problem solving, strategic planning, and being available to constituents," Albright said.

As for weaknesses, Albright had the following comments:

"The development of my working vocabulary and understanding of road construction has been a priority in preparation to serve the county," Albright said. "My personal observations and questions of county roads and quarries, personal constituent interviews, and road construction/maintenance explanations have been most helpful in preparing me for decisions regarding our county's roads and bridges. I recall living on a county road and recognize the importance of good, safe roads in rural transportation."

Albright said she knows her ideas and suggestions will take commission consensus, so she said she will share a single suggestion for the January transition : provide a joint session for county department heads to share and explain their roles and responsibilities.

"With our county providing an "umbrella of services," it will not only help employees understand the county's numerous services, but also enhance communication to the people we serve when seeking county services," Albright said.

Albright also said it is most important to continue improving the city-county relationship to better leverage public dollars for economic development.

"Regional cooperation can better serve our citizens of Bourbon County by bringing multiple county department leaders together to achieve a shared goal," Albright said. "Collaboration in Southeast Kansas is most important for those living in Bourbon County. For example, the nearly formed Southeast Kansas (SEK) Regional Health Coalition consisting of nine counties including Bourbon County, has a shared vision to improve health issues based on concerns released in the "County Health Rankings" in 2010."

Albright is a member of numerous boards and organizations, including Friends of Tri-Valley Foundation, The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, Friends & Alumni of Ft. Scott Community College, Chapter CA, P.E.O., Pioneer Kiwanis and Delta Kappa Gamma.