By Terry Bailey
A crowd of about 25 citizens gathered at the Down Under Ballroom Tuesday evening for a question and answer forum with folks running for office of local interest. All candidates were invited to attend but not all participated. The Forum was sponsored by the Post Rock Republicans.
With long standing state representative Susan Concannon choosing to not stand for reelection in the 107th House seat after serving six terms, the position became vacant. Gerald Johnson and Dawn Wolfe, both Republicans, have filed for that position.
Gerald Johnson, a combat veteran, lives on a farm near Glasco with his wife and seven children. Dawn Wolfe and her husband reside in Bennington where she is employed by the Bennington School District. She is serving her second term as an Ottawa County commissioner.
Each candidate was given three minutes to tell what he or she was for, what they were against, why they should earn the folks' vote. After that time was given for questions from the audience.
After all was said and done, the two candidates were very similar to one another. They both supported the second amendment, they were against abortion, they believed taxes were too high, and that too much money was being sent to Washington where we have no control over how it is spent. Both were open to the idea of school vouchers where people who send their children to private schools receive tax credit for that expense.
Two candidates seeking election to offices closer to home were present. Michelle Langham is running for Mitchell County Treasurer. Doug Strathman is running for the Second District seat on the County Commission.
Langham has worked in the County Treasurer's' office for 15 years, ten of them as Assistant Treasurer. When Yvonne Melton, current County Treasurer, announced she would not run for re-election this year she decided attempt to step up to the Treasurer's job. Latham said, "I have trained all the other employees in the office on how to do their jobs. I think I understand how the County Treasurer's work is done and I am ready step up and do it."
Doug Strathman is seeking election to the Second District seat on the County Commission.
He has worked for 18 years in agribusiness at the grain elevator in Downs. He lives with his wife and six kids.
Strathman's main concern is the fact that taxes keep going up and going up. He asked, "How much of our paycheck should go to taxes? When do we say ‘Enough'? We need to support our ambulance service, our hospital, our law enforcement, good roads and bridges. They are the basic necessities. How much of the other can we afford?"