We often see a media image portrayed of elected officials as corrupt, power-hungry individuals who only look out for themselves. Thankfully, we have a Boone County Commissioner who is the complete opposite.
Janet Thompson is an innovative, collaborative, and duty-bound leader who not only carries out the nuts and bolts of county government, like ensuring road and bridge maintenance, she also brings novel solutions to Boone County problems.
In spite of declining crime rates, crime is an important issue on voters’ minds across the nation, but in Boone County, we are taking a preventative, rather than a reactive, approach, thanks to Janet’s leadership. One example, Upstream Youth Mapping, seeks to address the issues that lead young people to criminal activity before a crime is committed.
We all want Boone County to be a safe place to live, work, and play. Janet and Sheriff Carey work closely together to provide county law enforcement the support they need, but they also work together to prevent crime. Another innovative program that Janet has brought to Boone County is the Reentry Navigator Program. This initiative seeks to end the revolving door incarcerating the mentally ill in the county’s jail. The navigator would assist those released from jail to connect with the mental health resources, treatment, transportation, and other services vital to their successful re-entry into the community and reducing the likelihood of re-offending.