Brian Munzlinger Says Roads, Bridges and Local Growth Are Key Issues in Presiding Commissioner Race

LEWIS COUNTY, Mo — Brian Munzlinger, a candidate for Lewis County Presiding Commissioner, joined the Lewis County Scoop for an interview about county government, roads, bridges, economic development, internet access and why he wants to serve Lewis County at the local level.

Munzlinger is one of three candidates running for presiding commissioner. He previously served in the Missouri House from 2002 to 2010 and in the Missouri Senate from 2011 to 2018.

A lifelong Lewis County resident and farmer, Munzlinger described himself as someone who has spent much of his life in service to others. He and his wife, Michelle, have two children, Clint and Leah, and four grandchildren.

“I’m lifetime Lewis County,” Munzlinger said. “I’ve always been kind of a life of service, I guess I would say.”

He grows corn and soybeans and previously raised cattle, hogs and sheep. His background also includes service on the Lewis County Extension Council, Lewis County Farm Bureau Board and Lewis County Fair Board. He also spoke about his church involvement over the years, including teaching Sunday school and attending churches in Bunker Hill, Williamstown, La Belle and Monticello.

Munzlinger said he is concerned about population decline in Lewis County and believes more local business growth is needed.

“Unfortunately, we’re turning into a bedroom community,” he said. “We need more businesses here in Lewis County.”

The Lewis County Scoop asked Munzlinger to explain what the presiding commissioner does, since many residents may not fully understand the role.

Munzlinger said the presiding commissioner chairs the three-member county commission, which also includes northern and southern district commissioners. The commission handles county business, including roads and bridges, county office budgets and other local government responsibilities.

“We deal with basically everything here in the county,” he said.

He described himself as hands-on and said one of the most important parts of the job is listening to residents. If elected, he said he wants to travel every county road and inspect county bridges so he has a better understanding of what the county is dealing with.

“I want to see what they are,” he said.

Roads and bridges were a major part of the conversation.

Munzlinger acknowledged complaints about gravel road maintenance, ditching, snow removal, mowing, trimming and brush control. He said part of the challenge is staffing and experience within the county road and bridge department.

According to Munzlinger, only a small number of full-time road and bridge employees have been with the county more than three years. Others are newer, and the department also relies on part-time workers.

“It does take a qualified person to actually do the kind of jobs we ask them to do,” he said.

He also spoke about the importance of properly grading gravel roads. As a farmer, Munzlinger said he used to blade his own road and knows the importance of putting a crown in the road so water runs off into the ditch instead of down the roadway.

“We need crown in it,” he said.

The county’s bridge situation was also discussed. Munzlinger said Lewis County has several closed bridges and others that are in poor condition. He said the county needs to work with regional planning commissions to pursue grants and funding for bridge and infrastructure work.

The Lewis County Scoop asked why, after serving in the House and Senate, he wants to run for Lewis County Presiding Commissioner.

Munzlinger said he believes his experience and contacts can be useful to Lewis County. He said he did not want to run for another state or federal office after leaving the Senate, but the county office appealed to him because it is local and hands-on.

“I think I have something to offer with my past experience and my contacts that I’ve got,” he said. “I think I can be a benefit to Lewis County.”

He added that he enjoys serving people and believes the presiding commissioner position would allow him to work directly on county issues.

“I like the local aspect of this,” he said.

Munzlinger said the job would be different from serving in the Legislature. As a state senator, he represented 14 counties. At the county level, he said, he would be able to focus more directly on Lewis County and dig into specific local concerns.

“I think here in the county I can do that,” he said.

His legislative experience came up several times during the interview, especially on roads, bridges and agriculture. Munzlinger said that while serving in the Missouri House, he brought then-MoDOT Commissioner Mike Kehoe to northeast Missouri to look at bridges. That work, he said, helped lead to what became the 801 Bridge Replacement Project.

He also discussed his time working on agriculture issues in Jefferson City. Munzlinger served as chairman of agriculture committees and said he made it a point to visit with department leaders so he could understand what they did and what they needed.

“I’m a hands-on type of person,” he said.

The Lewis County Scoop also asked how a presiding commissioner can help bring more business to Lewis County.

Munzlinger said the county should work with the Missouri Department of Economic Development and regional planning officials to assess what Lewis County has to offer. He said the county needs to support existing businesses while also making itself more attractive to new ones.

Internet access is part of that discussion, he said.

Munzlinger said he still does not have high-quality internet at his own home and believes that is a problem for rural residents and future business development. While most towns have better service, rural areas outside city limits can still be left behind.

“If you want to bring people back to Lewis County or keep them in Lewis County, or bring businesses in, I think we’re going to have to have the good internet services,” he said.

The interview also included a question from a resident about road maintenance over the past 20 years, including gravel roads, snow removal, mowing and tree trimming.

Munzlinger said the county faces some of the same workforce problems many employers face. Finding qualified people is difficult, especially when other jobs in the region may offer higher pay. He said the work required by the county is not simple and often requires equipment experience, repair skills and judgment.

He also said equipment and manpower both matter. One tractor may be used for trimming trees, ditch work or other jobs, but the county still needs people available to operate the equipment and complete the work.

The Lewis County Scoop asked whether, if elected, he would be willing to provide regular public updates on what is happening in county government.

Munzlinger said he would. He pointed to his time in the Legislature, when he provided weekly reports to newspapers and also did radio updates.

“People need to know,” he said. “And they need to know you’re available.”

The conversation also included the idea of gathering road input from people who drive county roads every day, including mail carriers and school bus drivers. Munzlinger said that was a good idea and that the county should listen to people who regularly see road and bridge conditions firsthand.

School bus routes were also mentioned as a concern because buses depend on safe roads and bridges.

When asked what separates him from the other candidates, Munzlinger spoke about his experience but also said the county job would be different from his past work in state government.

“I’ve been down the road before in the House and the Senate,” he said. “That was different. This is different.”

He said he expects to keep learning if elected.

“The day we quit learning is a bad day,” Munzlinger said

In his closing message, Munzlinger said he would be honored to serve Lewis County and would use his background, experience and contacts to help the county move forward.

“I look forward to serving the people of Lewis County,” he said. “I’d be greatly honored to serve the people of Lewis County.”

The interview is part of the Lewis County Scoop’s effort to provide voters with direct access to candidates running for public office. The Lewis County Scoop does not endorse any candidate. Podcast interviews are provided for informational purposes only so voters can hear directly from the candidates and make their own decisions.