Gage County’s newest employee loving the ‘good life’

On the top floor of the Gage County courthouse, David Battiato sits in his new office — an office filled with empty walls and furniture found in the courthouse basement.

Battiato is the administrative services director for Gage County, a new position that pays approximately $46,000 annually plus the county benefits package.

The Beatrice Daily Sun sat down with Battiato Friday after his first full week on the job to get to know the man behind the new Gage County position.

Daily Sun: Tell me about your family.

Battiato: I have three children and two grandchildren, and right now they’re all in the area. I don’t know how long that will last, especially with my youngest son. My youngest son, he’s graduating from high school in Lincoln and he’s being recruited by all these different colleges for football and track, so I don’t know where he will end up. And I have a grandson and a granddaughter.

DS: What are their ages?

B: My grandson is five, and my granddaughter is nine months.

DS: And your children?

B: My oldest son is, oh, 23, my daughter is 18 and my youngest son is 17. I hesitate when I say their ages because they all have birth dates coming up soon.

DS: Have you moved to the area yet?

B: I haven’t moved. I’ve been driving back and forth, looking for a place.

DS: What is going to be the hardest thing about leaving Lincoln?

B: I supposed being a little further away from the family, but it’s not really that far. I have not thought about it in terms of it being difficult, really. I’ve been so excited about moving.

DS: Why did you want to move to Beatrice?

B: When I moved to Lincoln, people used to refer to Lincoln as a big small town. In the time that I’ve lived there, it’s become a small big city. I grew up in a small town and I’ve always wanted to get back to that. And the timing was just right, with my youngest son graduating high school. When a job opportunity in a smaller town became available, I jumped on it.

DS: How do you think Gage County differs from other counties?

B: Well, I don’t know that I have enough information yet to answer that precisely. In Nebraska, I think there is a big difference between the three highly-populated counties and the 90 others. I think Gage County has a lot more in common with the 89 other counties, rather than Douglas, Sarpy or Lancaster. What I’ve noticed is that I think this is a very progressive area. People want to be proactive. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it so far. I really do think it’s the personification of the Nebraska slogan “The Good Life.” This really is the good life.

DS: Since this is a new position, what have you had to do this week to get it started?

B: Much of it has been making contacts with both people and organizations. I’ve been somewhere, or several somewheres, every day this week. I’ve been meeting with county officials. Just yesterday (Jan. 8) I went to the Emergency Services advisory committee meeting with (Gage County Board of Supervisors) Chairman Rex Adams and met several people there.

I’ve already been to several chamber of commerce functions. Yesterday, I went to the ambassadors events. I think that’s a great idea. It’s a great chance for people in the community to get to know a business, and it makes (the business) feel like part of the community, especially if they’re new to the community. I was a guest of the Rotary Club at their luncheon.

I’ve been collecting business cards left and right. I mean, I’m literally starting from scratch. They dug this furniture out from the basement. I spent one day just getting my computer up and running.

I’m a strong believer in communication. I’m building my database, my directories, my Rolodex. I’m working on building an e-mail list so that I can send e-mails to the board members as a group as things come to my attention.

DS: Is it good or bad not having had someone in this position before you?

B: Probably, I think it’s some of both. When you succeed somebody in any job, you have the advantage of what they can pass on to you and what you can build on to. It’s also nice to be able to bring your own ideas. It is my job to carry out the vision of the board. The board has definite ideas of this position and what I’m to be doing, but I suspect, over time, that those ideas will change. That’s who I work for is the county board. I will offer my suggestions, but ultimately, it’s their decisions. I will just follow through with them.

DS: What are you most excited about with this position?

B: I like working with people. My best friend in law school sits in a corporate office in Omaha writing contracts. He makes a lot of money, but he doesn’t work with people. I knew early on that I wanted to work with people.

I enjoy working with something that people have already created. Although there has been a fair amount of publicity on this position and on me, most of my work will be behind the scene. I want to make everything work better for Gage County.

DS: What do you hope to accomplish in the position?

B: My initials goals are to learn more about the community and the county, about what it means to be in “The Good Life” in Gage County. I want to see what I can do to add to that. Hopefully, over the long term, I can help build the community. This is my community. This is where my children and grandchildren are going to come visit me. I want it to be the best possible community.

DS: The county board hasn’t always played nicely together. What are your thoughts on that?

B: I think there’s a parallel between public service and community service. People get involved and they do so because they care. And that usually means they’re caring passionately. They have strong positions. Reasonable people don’t always agree. I think the best of democracy is to see the different opinions, see good discussion, and then to make good decisions. Active discussion is a good thing. I think it’s because people care. That’s why I’m here, because I care.

DS: Do you have any plans to get into politics?

B: Well, never say never, but honestly, probably not. I like the behind the scenes a lot more. I like to be the implementor, the facilitator, the coordinator. I think more gets accomplished behind the scenes than in a formal meeting or formal setting. I recognize that to do the job I need to do, I need to be visible and accessible and I don’t mind that. As far as being an elected official, probably not. I don’t have any political aspirations.

DS: What is your personal motto?

B: The one I tend to refer to the most is “Today is the first day of the rest of my life.” To me, that means learning from the past, whether it’s good, bad or indifferent, but always looking forward. That’s very much true for me, especially in this position right now.