First Three Months As Your District Three Supervisor

First three months as your District Three Supervisor.

The question I have most often received so far while being in office, other than what are you going to do about our roads, is “what is it like being a new Supervisor?”

Being a new Supervisor is like starting any new position at any organization. You have some understanding, and yet you have a lot to learn.

I have been promoted several times at the prison. With each promotion, I have learned to lay aside my anxieties about the change, accept the learning curve and work hard. My life experiences have prepared me well for the role of a County Supervisor.

While at the prison, I am a mid-level manager/supervisor, I have bosses and I have staff who work under me. As a County Supervisor, I am at the top of the food chain. Having both perspectives, gives me great understanding of what the worker bees have to deal with. It’s easy to tell staff what to do; it’s another to understand how reasonable your requests are.

As a County Supervisor, there is a lot of reading and research. If you don’t read into the issues, you won’t know or truly understand what it is you are voting on or making decisions on. Basically, do you job.

I have decided off the get go, to let the leadership team and department heads know that I trust them and their ability to present the most accurate information to me as a board member. While I trust the county staff, it is my responsibility to understand the information at hand and verify information that I may not understand or agree with. Ask questions.

Government moves slow. I am a fast past person, yet getting things done in government will take time. This is why at the BOS meeting at Rush Creek back in January, I wanted to focus on a top few priorities that we as a board want to accomplish, if we can get a few things done, verses a lot of things started, it will be a successful year. This is also why, at my request, I had the six points posted on each BOS desk and distributed throughout the department heads. I want the entire organization focused on a few  priorities.

I don’t know it all, so I am surrounding myself with people who do. When it comes to certain issues, I love finding those people out and connecting with them and getting them connected to the appropriate resources.

A fulfilling aspect of this position is working with people who did not vote for me. I am growing in appreciation for other peoples points of view even though I don’t agree with them. Also, I have found we agree on more than what the media has wedged between us.

Every day, I ask God for wisdom, strength for me and my family and the ability to remain true to myself. Being a County Supervisor is a lot of work, and an awesome responsibility, but with the support of my amazing wife, kids and my community, I have been blessed to do so.

Anaiah Kirk