Who is
Steve McGuire?
Name: Steve McGuire
Position: Mississippi County Judge
Years in Position: 15 years
Family: Wife, Anne; son, Eric; and daughter, Tyler
Interesting Fact: Served in the U.S. Navy between 1962 and 1966. Served under the command of John S. McCain Jr. while in the Amphibious Forces, Atlantic Fleet.
Quotable: "Government exists so that we can provide services collectively that we can not provide individually."
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About this feature:
"Five Questions with ..." is a weekly feature, offering readers a unique look at newsmakers in Blytheville and the surrounding area.
1. Did you ever have any intentions of becoming a county judge when you were growing up?
No. After my children had graduated college and gotten jobs, my wife and I made the decision to cease farming after 26 years. I was doing a variety of individual work. The incumbent county judge, Joe Gurley, made the decision to resign from his position. I was approached about considering being appointed to finish out his expired term. State law says that if you are appointed to finish out an expired term, you cannot run for re-election. I thought that if I took the appointment and I liked it, I couldn't stay in it. That's the first time I really considered being in this position. I decided to run for the position instead. I was fortunate enough to be elected and have been in this position ever since. It's a very educational position in which to be. You learn something new every day.
2. If you weren't in this position right now, what would you be doing?
I quit farming about four years before I came into this office. I was doing some mechanic work and welding work. I worked with a gentleman out of Steele dispersing irrigation equipment. If I weren't in this position, quite honestly, I've never really thought about what I would do.
3. What are some of the other "hats" that you wear besides county judge?
One of the things I did after I quit farming was getting into trailer sales. I built one myself. There was a man in the trailer manufacturing business who offered me an opportunity to become a dealer. I found out that I could buy one put together and ready to sell cheaper then I could if I built it myself. That's when I got into the trailer sales business. I have a permit that allows me to sell trailers.
Ironically enough, I just dragged my feet up literally today to get my permit reissued.
4. Besides the air base
closing, what has been the biggest change to Mississippi County since you've been here?
That (the air base closing) was definitely the biggest. No question about it. That, in addition to the positive transition of technology for one of our largest industries, if not the largest industry in the county, agriculture. Agriculture requires fewer employees for acre of work because of the technological enhancements that have been made. That caused the population of the county to decrease pretty significantly, and it's been a slow transition.
I'm excited about the 2010 Census. I think the collaborative effort of this county of economic development will show we have turned a corner. I believe our population growth will have transitioned back to a more positive direction. That will be the first time that that has happened since the 1950s or 60s.
5. How has the recent situation with the hospital effected you personally?
That is one of the things that I am very intensely concerned about. Not exclusively for the hospital, but in general, services provided for the county and our citizens. The hospital medical service for Mississippi County, not for any one particular place, but for the whole county, is to provide that service, medical service, to the whole county. Certainly, that's another really big issue with me.
Regardless of the issues, the first thing I consider, "Is it legal?" I've worked very closely with our county attorney, Dan Ritchey, to insure that we're moving in a legal direction.
Second, I ask, "Is it equitable?" We want this medical service to be provided in such a way that every citizen has access to that. We are positively working to assure that the hospital service is maintained.
-- Compiled by staff writer Aaron FitzPatrick