Elect Dulaney Barrett - Practical Preacher

My parents were strong on work ethic: a day's work for a day's pay; don't wait to be told what needs to be done--observe and get to work; rely on your common sense son--common sense with smarts will get your problems solved....on and on I could go. These are the roots of where I learned to be a practical preacher.

In a 50+ year career as a United Methodist pastor, campus minister, university chaplain, mental health program director, executive director of camping ministry for New Mexico Conference, I sought to lead by getting the leadership and membership of each group to dream, look at the big picture/vision and then set out a plan to get there--who does what when and how to get us to the goals we have set.

Another part of being practical for me has to do with always asking "Will it work?" "Will people be served effectively by what we (the governing board) are proposing?"

When faced with a recreation center in a dangerous state of repair, I set into motion the process of permitting; getting architect plans, bids--the whole works to replace that building with a safe, useful and attractive building. Eighteen years later it is still serving the practical needs of that business well.

When hired as one of three mental health coordinators, I immediately set out a plan to get the word out to rural and city folk in a five county area about mental health and mental retardation services that were available. Within a year there was a waiting list for most services. I worked with public and private schools, an area university, spoke to every service club and every ministerial alliance in each county. I taught courses related to the services provided and helped to develop counseling groups for Vietnam veterans suffering from extreme stress--a syndrome that the government was still at that time denying existed. Practical solutions to very real needs were offered.

Being now a retired practical preacher well qualifies me to be a part of the County Commission and to help move us along in good practical changes for a better life for all Otero County