Bob Elmore assumed his seat Monday on the Monroe County Board of Commissioners, accomplishing a goal that was set while working at last year’s Monroe County Fair.

Elmore, a Republican, narrowly defeated incumbent Democrat Mike Kovarik in November for a seat on the county board.

A retired businessman from Springfield, Elmore and his wife Shirley moved to the quieter life of Waterloo in 2008.  Six children and 14 grandchildren complete their family.

His increased involvement with politics stemmed from a personal dissatisfaction with events in Washington, D.C., and in Springfield.

“Illinois’ finances are in a mess,” he said.

Elmore started work with a minimum wage job years ago.

“I was glad to have any job,” he said, citing even minimum pay work as being better than no work — and a good place to start.

He also served in the

Army National Guard.

Elmore started at the bottom in magazine, book, music and toy distribution companies.

“My first employer worked the Springfield area. I worked my way up the ladder, visiting businesses to promote our products, stopping in towns I had never heard of,” he said.  “I had to work hard and meet retailers’ needs to get ahead.”

That first employer sold out to a larger group. That happened again. During his career while holding several management positions, Elmore told how travel became a large part of his employment.

This business experience proved valuable to his post-retirement volunteer work as a Republican precinct committeeman, which included work on the party’s dinner committee and production of the dinner program booklet, among other contributions.

His background and goals all came together when several people (working with him at the Republican booth during the 2013 Monroe County Fair) persuaded him to run for county commissioner.

“They told me I spoke well, was energetic and had ideas – and they convinced me to run,” he said.

Another unexpected and unplanned event took place when Monroe County Republican Party Chairman Myron Neff stepped down due to health reasons and Elmore was voted in as new chairman this past April.

Settling in to the new task as a county commissioner, Elmore cites job development as a primary focus.

“I am very supportive of bringing a hospital to the county, possibly in close proximity to the expanding medical offerings on Hamacher Street,” he said.

A family member of Elmore’s wife, who was a resident at Oak Hill, had to be hospitalized when health deteriorated toward the end of his life.  The only choice was to move him to St. Louis for hospitalization.

“It would have been so much nicer to be able to care for him in his final days, closer to home,” he said.

 In addition to the comfort of families, Elmore cites the jobs a new hospital would generate.

“They run the gamut from entry level to highly paid skilled employment,” he noted.  “Right now, going to a hospital means leaving the county. I think a local option would be better for us all – families, patients and workers.”

The county needs to encourage other employment as well, Elmore said.

“I think there’s room in Monroe County for more retailers, including large ones. Warehousing and distribution firms in the Jefferson Barracks Bridge region make a lot of sense as well.  And of course, controlled, light industry should be promoted here,” he added.

Elmore is not in favor of growth at the expense of the environment, however. He spoke with enthusiasm for the value of the rich bottom land that is home to farming and the environmental concerns. Elmore’s appointment Monday to the Heartlands Conservancy Advisory Committee struck a vibrant cord with him.

“I will work with my co-commissioners to be a good steward of the citizens’ money,” Elmore concluded. “The tax dollars are their money. I am especially mindful of controlling government growth. I believe the job of government is to create a positive atmosphere for jobs.  Government itself creates only government jobs, if we are not careful.”