From Mark's Desk

If there’s one thing that has guided me through every season of my life it’s this: I believe in being a servant. To me, service has never been a slogan or a political phrase. It’s something that has been lived out in my home, in my family, and in the hardest chapters of my life.

For 15 years, I stepped back from parts of my career because the people I loved needed me. My dad fought Alzheimer’s until the day he passed in 2022. My mother suffered with rheumatoid arthritis, became bedridden, and needed full-time support. And my aunt was also struggling with Alzheimer’s and needed constant care. My wife and I made their well being our priority. And we did it not because it was convenient, not because it paid us anything, but because it was right. That’s what a servant’s heart looks like.

And I’ve always believed that a servant doesn’t change depending on whether they’re helping family, friends, neighbors, or total strangers. If someone needs help and you are capable of helping, you do it. It’s conviction. It’s compassion. And it’s the recognition that humility and humanity matter far more than comfort and pride. A lot of people will tell you, “Well, that was your family. That’s what you’re supposed to do.” And I understand that sentiment. But here’s what I’ve said my whole life: It doesn’t matter if it’s family or not. If someone needs help, I’ll do what I can. That’s the standard I’ve lived by, and it’s one I refuse to compromise on.

I believe that when you pursue a position that serves the public, it shouldn’t be for recognition, power, status, or comfort. It should only be because you care about people, and because you’re willing to put yourself on the line to create something better for them.

In this outreach there’s a video interview where I talk about where that heart comes from;  my faith, my experience, and the conviction that service doesn’t begin and end when a work day does. It’s a mindset where you stay available, show up, listen, put others ahead of yourself and you don’t walk away just because the situation is hard or the sacrifices are heavy.

That’s how I approach community involvement. That’s how I approach stewardship of responsibility. And that’s how I approach the idea of serving Boone County. If someone walks into the sheriff’s office and needs help, they shouldn’t be treated like an interruption, they should be met with respect, with clarity, and with a willingness to assist or guide them. Because the minute you step into that office, you are working for the people who trusted you enough to put you there.

If I’m able to help someone, whether that’s through leadership, clarity, communication, or personal involvement, I believe that’s exactly what I should do. A servant doesn’t look for the spotlight, they look for the need. That’s what I mean when I say I have a servant’s heart. And that’s the foundation of how I view the role I’m pursuing, the people I serve, and the community I call home.