White County Commission Q3 Candidate Responses

The Main Street Journal – Sparta has been listening to the community. Over the past several weeks, readers have submitted questions they want answered ahead of the 2026 election—and we’ve taken those directly to your County Commission candidates.

Here is your third question, and answers from those candidates who chose to respond.

There are on average 2700 registered voters (approximately 4700 people) in each District. What will you do to reach out to the majority of your constituents in order to determine what is important to them?

BRYAN COLE: I will use a combination of social media, community events, and direct communication to stay connected with the people I serve. I also plan to hold regular district meetings to give residents an opportunity to share their concerns, ideas, and feedback. Being accessible and consistent is key – I don’t just want to hear from people during election season, but year-round so I can truly understand and represent what matters most to our community.

ANDY DAVIS: With that many folks in the district, you can’t just sit back and expect them to come to you. You’ve got to go find them.

I’ll spend time out in the community every week. Not just at meetings, but at ballgames, church events, local businesses, and out on farms. That’s where you hear what really matters to people.

I’ll also keep it simple for folks to reach me. Phone, text, email, whatever works for them. And I’ll actually respond.

On top of that I’ll use things like short surveys and social media to check the pulse of the district, especially for folks who stay busy and can’t make it to meetings.

But the biggest thing is being present and consistent. If people see you, know you, and trust you, they’ll tell you what’s important. And that’s how you make sure you’re representing the whole district, not just a small piece of it.

ERICK DILDINE: That’s a really important question, because if you’re only listening to the people in the room, you’re missing most of the people you were elected to serve.

As District Commissioner, I believe my responsibility is to represent everyone in White county because our problems don’t stop at district lines , not just the few who are able to attend meetings. A lot of hardworking people in our county are raising families, working long hours, or taking care of loved ones. They don’t always have the time or ability to show up to a meeting, but their voice matters just as much.

That means I won’t wait for people to come to me I’ll go to them. Just like in my campaign , I plan to stay active in the community by knocking on doors, attending local events, and having real conversations with folks where they are. I also want to use social media as a tool to keep people informed and give them a chance to speak up, because that’s where a lot of communication happens today.

Another thing I believe in is being accessible. If someone has a concern, they should be able to call me, message me, or stop me in town and know I’ll listen. And just as important, I’ll follow up. Too many times people feel like they’re not heard after the conversation ends that’s something I want to change.

When it comes to decisions at Commission meetings, I’ll make sure I’ve taken the time to understand how those decisions affect the whole district not just the voices in the room that day.

At the end of the day, representing District 2 means showing up, listening to everyone, and making sure every family feels like they have a voice in their local government.

DERRICK HUTCHINGS: The commissioner's position is unique in that it is only part-time. It makes it very challenging to hold down a full-time job and still reach the majority of my constituents. I pride myself on being accessible. I attend as many community events as I can, especially the Fire Hall Breakfasts at Cassville. My cell phone is posted on my election page and the county website. I promptly respond to Facebook messages or texts and return missed calls. I’m also the most active commissioner on social media, posting county updates & responding to county questions.