Emily Parks - Candidate for Butler County Collector

Oct 28, 2014

Emily Parks wants to be Butler County’s new County Collector. She feels she has both the experience and the desire to do an outstanding job in the position.

“I’m a sixth generation Butler Countian,” said Parks. She knows the county well, and with a degree in business administration from the University of Missouri, she feels that she is well-equipped for the position.

Since graduating with that degree in 2004, she has held three different positions. She started her career as an account manager in political fundraising, and in 2008 she was appointed by then Missouri Matt Blunt to fill a vacancy of the position of Circuit Court Clerk in Butler County.

Then in 2010, she became the Director of Development and Executive Director of the Three Rivers Endowment Trust.

She noted all of these positions involve trust and serving the public.

She is the daughter of John and Jeanette Clark, and is married to Chad Parks. They have two children.

She is the candidate chosen by the Butler County Republican Party, and she cites her father, a long-time local attorney, as one of her role models.

“My mother and father have taught me so much about love, life, and family, and my father is one of those people who is so caring and compassionate. He would do anything he can for anyone in need. I admire him greatly for that,” said Parks.

She also cites Ronald Reagan and Jackie Kennedy Onassis as role models.

“I admire Ronald Reagan because he seemed to genuinely like people, and he was comfortable with who he was. I admire Jackie Kennedy Onassis because she was intelligent, elegant, polite, smart and very strong,” explained Parks.

In reference to what has come to be known as “The $25,000 Question,” Parks gave her opinion.

“Let me begin by saying that I have every confidence in the way Brenda Fox ran the Collector’s Office,” said Parks.

“But all aspects of the procedures and policies of the Collector’s office, or any public office for that matter, should be regularly reviewed from the top to bottom to make sure we are spending the taxpayers’ money effectively and as efficiently as possible,” she added. “If elected, my first priority will be to conduct that review, including the office’s contract with the City of Poplar Bluff. It would be premature for anyone to promise to make changes of any kind until they have the chance to thoroughly familiarize themselves with the Office. To say otherwise would be merely for political expediency.”

Parks says the voters should have as their primary objective to cast their vote for a person who is both adequately qualified for the position, and to someone who has enough experience to professionally handle the office of County Collector.

“I think I have both the educational background and the real world experience that is needed for this position,” she concluded.

“I just want to make sure every precious tax dollar is safeguarded, and I want to ensure that taxes are kept low for our families and small businesses,” concluded the Republican candidate. “I’m asking the citizens of Butler County to give me a chance to serve them on November 4.”