A Little About Me

Your vote matters and I don't just want your vote, I want to earn your vote. As a member of the council, I will fight for the welfare of the community while bringing a fresh perspective, new ideas, and a willingness to listen to those I represent to ensure their voices are heard. Having grown up in Republic, I am familiar with our community and what makes it special. Even with the growth we have seen, we are still a small town where families can live and grow. As a husband and father, I am driven to ensure this continues to be the case because every decision affects not only you, but myself and my family. Further, my time in the military has allowed me to develop both strong leadership and strategic planning skills while my work in the fast paced and ever evolving software engineering field has developed both critical thinking and problem solving skills. These skills would be a valuable asset in our local government. By voting for me, you are supporting a candidate who will take care of the community and believes in Integrity, Transparency, and Accountability in city governance.

Republic is my home. I grew up here, attended school, and graduated from this community. Now, as a homeowner with my own family here, my commitment to ensuring Republic is the best it can be has never been stronger. I've served both our community and country in various capacities throughout my life, and I see this as another opportunity to continue that service. I believe I can bring a fresh, new, and unique perspective to the council.

This is an excellent question, and I wish it were asked more often of those running for office. A good leader, which any council member should strive to be, prioritizes decisions based on facts, logic, and reason over personal beliefs. If I find that the best decision conflicts with what the voters want, I will happily explain my reasoning. Transparency is important in decision making matters and providing a clear, factual basis for my decisions to ensure that, even if we disagree, the process and my rationale are understood.

I am committed to the virtues of "Integrity, Transparency, and Accountability" in decision-making. Without these, trust cannot exist. Honesty goes hand-in-hand with transparency and is key to ensuring it. I don't believe in beating around the bush to justify my decisions; frankly, I find it irritating and disrespectful when others do this to me. If asked, I'll explain my reasoning for my decisions and accept that sometimes, others may disagree with me. My decisions will always be based on the facts at hand, logic, and reason.

Leaders should always be open to both positive and negative feedback, as it helps us understand when we're succeeding or falling short of expectations. With all the possible methods of staying in touch available today, there's no excuse for community leaders not to seek feedback from their community. Council meetings are a prime opportunity for community members to voice their concerns and share what meets or misses their expectations. Staying a few minutes after meetings provides an excellent chance for one-on-one conversations. Moreover, using social media platforms allows for quick and easy communication between community members and their local government officials. My website, justindsnider.com, is an excellent resource for anyone looking to reach out to me directly.

Republic has a bright future. I've watched this town evolve from a small, barely noticeable place on the outskirts of Springfield into one of Southwest Missouri's most significant and notable communities. Two decades ago, few would have predicted that Republic would become one of the fastest-growing areas in the state. In the next decade, I envision Republic expanding further, bringing more opportunities to the region. To contribute to this vision, I plan to encourage more businesses to establish here, support residents in starting their own businesses, and advocate for more community and public spaces. Growth is great for a community, but poorly planned growth can lead to disaster. A people and community-first approach will ensure everyone has the opportunity to succeed. I would like to see an increase in family-friendly activities in town; for instance, go-karts and mini-golf would be excellent additions. The possibilities are truly endless.

My beliefs stem from a variety of sources and have been shaped by my experiences over the years. The foundation comes from my family—my parents are hard workers who always did their best for me and my siblings. They taught me to always strive to do my best and never give up. My dad instilled in me the value of service to community and country, inspiring me to follow his path (and that of many others in our family) by serving in the U.S. Military. My military experiences further expanded and reinforced these foundational beliefs, enriching my worldview.