Posted: 9/7/04
Primary election Tuesday for fifth district Houston County commissioner
Houston County voters in district five can vote for a county commissioner candidates at the primary election on Tuesday, September 14.
The top two vote-getters will then be on the general election ballon on November 2.
The district five candidates are:
ď Thomas A. Bjerke, Spring Grove, owner of Bjerkeís True Value Hardware in Spring Grove.
ď Danielle Burg, Caledonia, owner of Time Travel gift shop in Caledonia and Hokah.
ďNels Gulbranson (incumbent), Spring Grove, a retired farmer.
ď Matthew Myrah, Spring Grove, a farmer and owner /operator of Myrah Bagging, a custom farming business since 1997.
District five contains the cities of Spring Grove and Eitzen, and the townships of Blackhammer, Crooked Creek, Jefferson, Spring Grove, Wilmington, and Winnebago.
Districts one and three also have commissioner elections, but there is no primary election because not more than two people filed.
In district one, Larry Graf, who has held this seat since 1999, is the only who filed. This district includes La Crescent City - 1st Precinct, and La Crescent City - 2nd Precinct, incumbent Larry Graf, La Crescent,
In district three, incumbent Ann Thompson, Caledonia, and Mark J. Coffield, Caledonia, have filed. This district includes Caledonia City - 1st Precinct, Caledonia City - 2nd Precinct and Caledonia and Mayville Townships.
Candidates respond
The Argus sent questionnaires to the four candidates in district five. Here are the questions and their answers.
ď Why are you running for Houston County commissioner?
Bjerke: Iím running for Houston County Commissioner because I want to offer my time, ideas and open mind in keeping our County safe, clean and economically prospering.
Burg:To be a voice for the 5th District and all the citizens of Houston County. My experience and knowledge in business, human services, and family farm issues qualifies me for this office. My ability to be upfront and express opinions realistically will add a much needed dimension to the current county board.
Gulbranson: I have been commissioner for nine years and I have some projects which we are working on and I want to see them completed.
Myrah: My custom farming operation involves traveling throughout the county everyday, visiting with Houston County residents regularly. I enjoy listening to young and old and feel I can make solid decisions that will better the county based on the peopleís voice!
ď Do you support county funding for the airport? Why or why not?
Bjerke: I see the airport as an asset to our county. It has the potential to bring economic growth to our area. By having county support, it allows the county to: (1) Have input on potential opportunities and (2) Help make decisions that will affect the future of the airport.
Burg: Yes, I support county funding on the airport, although, I would need to investigate how much it will cost the taxpayer to maintain and continue with it. I would need to learn about all the pros and cons of continuing having our airport. I feel having an airport in Houston County is an asset for the continued growth of the local economy.
Gulbranson: I was one who made the motion to proceed with hiring a firm to draw up a plan for the airport. Then sent it to government for funding. They will pay 95 percent and county pays five percent.
Myrah: The airport is an asset to the county and I think we should take care of our assets instead of letting them slip away.
ď Do you support the county hiring an agricultural agent? Why or why not?
Bjerke: We live in a rural farming community. Each one of our communities in Houston County relies heavily on our farming families for economic stability and growth. Farming has changed dramatically and I believe that farmers do need to have someone to go to with questions. There are many resources that are available to our farmers. If the opportunity arises where we could share an agent with another county, I think it should be looked at. If we donít, we might see the end of the small to medium farms, they will be swallowed by the large corporate farms.
Burg: Being an agricultural county, the many issues and concerns that need immediate answers makes it important to have this resource for use and reference. The complexity of agriculture for our farming population supports the need for this service. The dollars used to employ this agent should be carefully considered though.
Gulbranson: I would be in favor of hiring a part time agent with other counties. The state had a budget freeze on the county and this is why we had to tighten up our budget.
Myrah: Agriculture is the foundation this county was built on, without it Houston County would suffer. With the many varieties of farm programs, and the constant changes, I feel an ag agent would be an asset to the farmer.
ď What are some other issues that the county is facing, and how would you address them?
Bjerke: Economic growth within the county is an issue that I see as very important. We need to stay competitive with the rest of Minnesota. We need to try and bring jobs in to Houston County. People are being forced to travel for jobs in La Crosse and Rochester because of the lack of the job market in our county.
Burg: The issue of a new jail is one of the biggest issues facing our county. From everything Iíve read and learned regarding the costs of our current jail and added expenses involved with it makes it seem necessary to address this concern as quickly as possible. It appears that this issue has been on the table too long and procrastinating any further will only cost us more tax dollars.
Gulbranson: We also have a jail issue we are working on and we have been planning on a new highway building. I think we should be funding for it now with interest rates done.
Myrah: I am ready to represent you, residents of district five.
ď Any other comments?
Bjerke: I look forward to serving as your county commissioner. Iím coming into this process with an open mind, a willingness to work with others, and would be coming in with a clean slate with no hidden agenda. I see it as an opportunity to learn more about Houston County and look forward to serving district five. Iím a good listener and easy to approach. I would appreciate your vote at the primaries on September 14.
Burg: If elected I intend to listen to all sides of an issue. I will welcome input and calls from citizens of Houston County and voice their concerns at board meetings. I will always listen, value and consider the input of those that approach the board with their concerns. It is extremely important to make them feel comfortable in bringing their issues to a formal or informal meeting. I will look into ways to cut costs involved with out county budget in all areas. Creative thinking, being open minded and economical are just a few of the assets I will bring to our county board.
Gulbranson: Because I am retired I do have the time to attend the many meeting the county has.
Myrah: Just vote Myrah.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com