Meet the Commissioners
Presiding Commissioner Bill Reiboldt
Bill Reiboldt, a Republican, serves as Presiding Commissioner of Newton County in Southwest Missouri. He was elected to a four-year term in 2018.
Before assuming the County position, Bill served for eight years as State Representative for the area.
Following graduation from Neosho High School, Bill attended MSSU, then went on to Harding University, where he graduated with a Business Administration degree.
For over forty years Bill managed, expanded and worked on the family dairy farm before running for the State Representative position. The farm has now transitioned to crops and a beef cow operation.
Bill is a member of the Hillcrest Church of Christ, and is active in numerous organizations, including the Missouri Farm Bureau, Dairy Farmers of America, Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, Missouri Corn Growers, Missouri Soybean Association, the National Federation of Independent Business, the Neosho Chamber of Commerce, and the Neosho Lion’s Club.
In addition, as a State Representative, he was the House representative to the Missouri Ag Foundation Board and served as the chairman of the Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight. While a member of the House, Bill chaired Ag Policy, a Select Committee on Agriculture, and the House Committee on Transportation. He also was a member of four interim committees dealing with education, agriculture, and transportation.
Born and raised in Newton County, Bill lives on the family farm just outside Neosho, where the farming operation is still very active. He and his wife, Kathleen, have three children: Bryan, Beth and Jennifer, and eight grandchildren.
Before assuming the County position, Bill served for eight years as State Representative for the area.
Following graduation from Neosho High School, Bill attended MSSU, then went on to Harding University, where he graduated with a Business Administration degree.
For over forty years Bill managed, expanded and worked on the family dairy farm before running for the State Representative position. The farm has now transitioned to crops and a beef cow operation.
Bill is a member of the Hillcrest Church of Christ, and is active in numerous organizations, including the Missouri Farm Bureau, Dairy Farmers of America, Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, Missouri Corn Growers, Missouri Soybean Association, the National Federation of Independent Business, the Neosho Chamber of Commerce, and the Neosho Lion’s Club.
In addition, as a State Representative, he was the House representative to the Missouri Ag Foundation Board and served as the chairman of the Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight. While a member of the House, Bill chaired Ag Policy, a Select Committee on Agriculture, and the House Committee on Transportation. He also was a member of four interim committees dealing with education, agriculture, and transportation.
Born and raised in Newton County, Bill lives on the family farm just outside Neosho, where the farming operation is still very active. He and his wife, Kathleen, have three children: Bryan, Beth and Jennifer, and eight grandchildren.
District 1 Commissioner Alan Cook
Alan Cook, a Republican, serves as Newton County Commissioner in District 1. He was elected for a four-year term in 2012, 2016, and again in 2020.
He was born in Neosho and has been a lifelong resident of Newton County.
Alan is a graduate of Crowder College, attended MSSU, and then received a bachelors degree in Mathematics from Oklahoma Christian University.
He was employed by Leggett & Platt for 23 years in the Computer Information Technology department, serving as Staff Vice President – Head of Development, supervising as many as 65 programmers, and was responsible for all related budgeting. In that position he served as Project Manager for several multi-million dollar projects; and was involved in long range planning, disaster recovery, financial compliance regulations, and software installations.
He worked at EFCO, a Pella Company for over 4 years as a Business Partner in the Human Resources department. His responsibilities included managing employee relations for over 1200 employees, recruiting, designing and implementing a customer service Call Center, and conducting management level training courses.
Alan has also been very active in the community. He currently serves as Secretary of the Southwest Missouri Association of County Commissioners. He is President of the Missouri Southern State University Athletic Steering Committee. He is a member of the Carthage Church of Christ. He has served as President of the East Newton Schools Board of Education, as Chairman of the East Newton Schools Charitable Foundation, as President of Neosho Christian Schools Board of Trustees, as Chairman of the Newton County Extension Council, and Treasurer of Monark Springs Park Board.
Alan and his wife, M’lle, have been married for 34 years. They have two daughters, Breanna and Chelsey.
He was born in Neosho and has been a lifelong resident of Newton County.
Alan is a graduate of Crowder College, attended MSSU, and then received a bachelors degree in Mathematics from Oklahoma Christian University.
He was employed by Leggett & Platt for 23 years in the Computer Information Technology department, serving as Staff Vice President – Head of Development, supervising as many as 65 programmers, and was responsible for all related budgeting. In that position he served as Project Manager for several multi-million dollar projects; and was involved in long range planning, disaster recovery, financial compliance regulations, and software installations.
He worked at EFCO, a Pella Company for over 4 years as a Business Partner in the Human Resources department. His responsibilities included managing employee relations for over 1200 employees, recruiting, designing and implementing a customer service Call Center, and conducting management level training courses.
Alan has also been very active in the community. He currently serves as Secretary of the Southwest Missouri Association of County Commissioners. He is President of the Missouri Southern State University Athletic Steering Committee. He is a member of the Carthage Church of Christ. He has served as President of the East Newton Schools Board of Education, as Chairman of the East Newton Schools Charitable Foundation, as President of Neosho Christian Schools Board of Trustees, as Chairman of the Newton County Extension Council, and Treasurer of Monark Springs Park Board.
Alan and his wife, M’lle, have been married for 34 years. They have two daughters, Breanna and Chelsey.
District 2 Commissioner Jim Jackson
Jim Jackson, a Republican, was elected to the Newton County Commission in 2012.
Jim began his broadcast career in 1977 at KCTE Radio, Southwest City, Missouri.
He joined KTVJ TV-16 in Joplin, July 7, 1980. KTVJ became KSNF in 1982.
Jim served as the station’s main 6 and 10 pm news anchor for more than 30 years. He is a graduate of Missouri Southern State University.
Jim has served as an adjunct instructor of communications for 11 years at Crowder College, Neosho.
Jim is a combat veteran of the Vietnam War, having served in the U.S. Navy in the early 1970s.
Jim lives in Neosho with his wife Susan.
Jim began his broadcast career in 1977 at KCTE Radio, Southwest City, Missouri.
He joined KTVJ TV-16 in Joplin, July 7, 1980. KTVJ became KSNF in 1982.
Jim served as the station’s main 6 and 10 pm news anchor for more than 30 years. He is a graduate of Missouri Southern State University.
Jim has served as an adjunct instructor of communications for 11 years at Crowder College, Neosho.
Jim is a combat veteran of the Vietnam War, having served in the U.S. Navy in the early 1970s.
Jim lives in Neosho with his wife Susan.
