This interview is part of a weekly series of conversations with candidates running local government positions leading up to the November 4 municipal election. Its been edited for clarity and conciseness.
SCHNELLE: So why did you decide to run for City Commission?
PERRY: I decided to run for many reasons. I recently retired from the military after 25 years. I've always been a public servant. I've always had a draw to be a part of that, and this is just another way for me to carry on time and training and efforts that I've been given to be able to help our community and our society. What are your goals if elected. One of my primary goals is essentially to break down some of the barriers that the civilians have, the citizens have getting things done or asking questions. I've run into that myself, and I've had hundreds of people tell me that there's been issues getting information from the city or getting something accomplished within the city. So I hope to change some of that. I absolutely want to focus on efforts to get our property taxes down. People are struggling, and they voice that. To me, it's one of those things where people are really in a bad way, and we just have to pay attention to it more now.
SCHNELLE: So you're the first city commissioner that I've interviewed for, post forum. Is there anything that stood out to you that you'd like to point out from the forum throughout the different forums?
PERRY: I think some of the questions were very targeted. They wanted direct responses. There were some vague ones that were just kind of getting people to speak, and so the public could hear you speak. But I think we're all kind of focused on different directions, different areas. I think there's a lot of people that are running right now that have different things to offer. There's some incumbents that have very much done great things for the city, and they've got a good experience. And I think bringing what I have as far as my life experience, being a child of Pittsburg, a product of Pittsburg, a law enforcement officer and a military soldier, I think I bring something different than the other candidates are providing. What do you do for your day job? So currently I have to remind myself to say it this way. I'm semi-retired. I've been saying I'm retired. It's been about a year and a half, but I do work part time for the Sheriff's Department now.
SCHNELLE: What do you want voters to know about you?
PERRY: I'm doing this because I want to, not because I have to. I want voters to know that I'm not driven by any corporation or any big group. I'm doing this because it needs to be done, and I think we all have some responsibility to try to do this when we have the availability of being retired. I thought I was going to have more free time. You put more things on your calendar, keeping things effective and affordable and efficient and available for the city of Pittsburg, I think I can bring some of my military career and training and experience in schooling to the city of Pittsburg to help make that happen and make it a more affordable Pittsburg for everybody.
SCHNELLE: You said that you've been walking and basically canvassing around Pittsburg. How's that been?
PERRY: It's been wonderful. It's actually been the greatest part of this. I thought painting signs was fun at first, walking around the city of Pittsburg, talking to people. I think we've put in about 1819 miles now, and it's just been great. People have great conversations. They have stories to tell me about things that they've done in Pittsburg, about their family or their children. I've met a lot of new small animals that love me now. I guess it's been a wonderful experience. A lot of my friends that were encouraging me to do this, and some of the families were like, you know, it's going to be the hardest part, because you're out there in the evenings, you're away from your family, and you're doing all these things, but it's really been the most rewarding part of this. I'm actually hearing from large groups of people that they just want change, they want stability, and they would like different leadership. It's been wonderful.
SCHNELLE: Is there anything else that you'd like to add?
PERRY: Just that the city of Pittsburg is home. It is a wonderful place for so many great people. A lot of these problems we're having right now, we can solve them. We just have to work together. And I think a group of people we have right now have done a wonderful job doing that. I think it's just time for change.
SCHNELLE: You said you painted signs, so the signs that I'm seeing around town, did you paint those? Yes.
PERRY: So all of my big signs were painted. So all four by fours, I initially thought I had a process down, because I like to paint and restore old cars, and I was going to do it with a paint gun, and then we found out that it's much easier with a roller and paint. So I've had wonderful friends and family come together and help me paint all these signs. I currently have 24 of those four by four signs posted up in various places around the city of Pittsburg. That's actually been a great experience, too, just going and putting them up and talking to people, and it's been a fun experience.
Copyright 2025 KRPS. To see more, visit Four States Public Radio.
