Koochiching County Commissioner District 5 candidates

The following questions were posed to the candidates:

1. What do you see as the major issues facing Koochiching County and what would you do to address those issues?

2. Have decisions been made in the last year by the Koochiching County Board that you have disagreed with and why? What would your position have been had you already held a seat on the board?

3. Why are you the best candidate for this position?

Linda Dreher

I am Linda Dreher, married to Rick for almost 40 years, and we have 5 children, 9 grandchildren and I would like the chance to be your full-time commissioner.

Generations of my family have lived in Koochiching County and raised their families here. We are proud to live here and would like to see it thrive again.

I have dedicated my life to my family and my community. I have been a 4-H leader for 24 years, working with parents and their kids promoting their interests and encouraging them in their endeavors. 

I have worked in the Northome area all my life.  I ran my own Family Child Care business for 23 years and then filling the community void by starting a newspaper that covers the southern end of Koochiching County, Northern Beltrami and Northern Itasca County. Business experience is something that I have accomplished.

I am a First Responder for Northome and the surrounding area. The desire to help people led me to become an EMT-B. That same desire to help people has interested me in running for the office of commissioner of District 5. I am willing to work seven days a week, unlike other candidates who feel that their input on Tuesday board meetings will be enough. Attending committee meetings can bring opportunities for you that don’t arise at a Tuesday board meeting.

I am available anytime, seven days a week to answer any questions you may have.

I come to you with no hidden agenda, no special interest groups to represent, just any concerns that you may have.

I am a proud member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post #499.

1. Our county roads continue to be a problem. So is the lack of jobs through out the county.  We need to show support to the businesses we have and also encourage new ones, this will keep people in the area and encourage growth.

2. I feel that the past commissioner (Mike Hanson) and his colleagues have done a good job for our county. These are tough economic times and trying to stay a float or just creep forward, is a sign of good leadership.

3. I have always had a desire to help people and have done so all my life. I have started and successfully run two businesses and would be a full-time commissioner. I have served the county on two boards and know a lot about budgets. I would like the chance to bring a few new ideas “to the table

Although I would be representing District 5, it is the whole of Koochiching County that needs to work together for job growth and ultimately a better economy and stronger County.

Karin Elhard

Karin Elhard has been a long time resident of northern Minnesota of which the last 16 years she has lived in Northome.  She offers a unique perspective to the Commissioner’s seat as she has been employed for the past 15 years as city administrator-clerk/treasurer for the cities of Northome and Blackduck. This work experience offers valuable insight regarding the responsibilities of government to the citizens in which it serves. She is dedicated to finding fair and equitable solutions for citizens and government.

1. Karin Elhard understands employment opportunities to be a major issue for Koochiching County and as Commissioner she will utilize her entrepreneurial skills to seek and promote private sector employment opportunities. She is also concerned about the disparity regarding essential services, most recently she has learned of Veterans residing in remote communities are having difficulty receiving services; also, residents have shared their concerns regarding road maintenance in the rural areas of our county; and the lack of law enforcement coverage in the remote communities is another area of concern for residents. We need to be sure these essential services, and all other services defined as essential, are equally represented throughout the county.

2. When asked if she has disagreed with past county board action she indicates that it is difficult for her to judge without knowing all the facts. And she also notes, her concerns at this time do not require a quorum or a majority vote at the table, they are simply county responsibilities.

 3. Karin Elhard is the best candidate for this position because of her extensive experience working with various levels of government. She will find opportunities for Koochiching County! And she will listen to citizens so she will represent us! And she will always search for fair and equitable solutions! To learn more about Karin Elhard give her a call at 218-407-4859.

Chris Pfeifer

I am 45 and live in Gemmell. Have been an Independent Party member for many years.  Served as a simple member, then as a state delegate. Eventually became a central committee member, and then was elected by a state convention as an at-large executive committee member. For many years I was the only northerner involved in the governance of that party. Finished my career with that party as a twice-elected state party secretary. 

Feeling that a northern point of view needed to be expressed at a well covered state-wide convention, in the spring of 2010 I ran a token campaign for the IP endorsement for governor. Portions of that convention can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlO5jAyBjzo&feature=relmfu [my best bit is at 18 and a half minutes in], and at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3_wV2807lU [a 10 minute long speech].

Ran for and won (beating a write-in candidate by 3,000 + votes) election to the Koochiching SWCD (district 4) in November of 2010 [please see our website at http://koochichingswcd.org/]; began serving as a member of that board in January of 2011.  Resigned as IP State Party secretary in December of 2011. Have been serving as chair of the Koochiching SWCD board since January of 2012.

My current elected position, District IV SWCD board supervisor, has boundaries nearly identical to the Koochiching County District V County Commissioner district seat I am currently seeking election to.  They are both districts that are larger than most counties.

Whoever survives the primary and wins election in November will begin serving in January of 2013. Whichever of us it is, that person will be the new guy, not in a position to make any changes to anything for quite some time. Whatever I personally might wish to change or do will be irrelevant for many months. The first meeting your newly elected commissioner attends will be an annual re-organizational meeting. At that meeting committee assignments will be doled out.  As the new guy, I will take what the more senior board members will give, committee assignments that they don’t particularly want. 

If elected, it will be in the second, third, and fourth years of my term that I will be able to make some difference.

I do believe that I am the best candidate for this job. Board work is what I do; it is my profession, and I’m very good at it. The base pay for a Koochiching County Commissioner is apx. $13,700 a year, plus meeting pay and mileage, plus full health care. The average Koochiching County Commissioner makes apx. $31,000 a year. plus health care.  While it’s not a lot of money, its not nothing either.  It will be enough to allow me to hold regular office hours in the Falls, Birchdale, and Northome.  Citizens should be able to know where and when they can speak personally to their County Commissioner.

Wayne Skoe

My name is Wayne Skoe, I am a life long resident of Koochiching County and owner of Skoe Lumber & Timber.  I have been married to my wife, Carol for 33 years and have two sons, Paul and Erik.   

1. I feel  the major issue of Koochiching County is the decline in population and how the county can continue to provide services as revenues decrease without significant tax increases.  It is extremely important that we maintain and increase jobs in the county.

2. Over the past years the Koochiching County board  has done a good job and have no set agenda for changes.  

3. I believe the timber industry is the major source of revenue for District 5, and feel my experience in this area and my other business makes me the most qualified candidate.

Louis Slapnicker

I was born in Hibbing, Minn. St. Louis County. Louis E. Slapnicker. Northern Minnesota/2012/running for county commissioner. Work for the people.

International Falls. New business. Rhubarb. Wetlands. Cranberries. No place to go land.

Koochiching County work cities. County. Work state work no work federal. Jobs.

Big Falls. I want to damming the river natural resources together to create a energy industry high paying jobs projects electricity clean air. New business in county.

Mizpah. Creating jobs for Minnesota, families. Mizpah have put in jail land state — out of cities, hold loo men and women, cities, county, work state jobs, federal, county, state jobs.

Northome. City, county work state jobs, projects, work, jobs, federal projects, state.

I Louis E. Slapnicker work for cities and counties work state jobs federal projects.

I the answers, candidates not the candidates. Not running International Falls.

Big Falls and Mizpah and Northome candidates. Louis E. Slapnicker. Big Falls. Work counties, and state jobs, federal projects. Working for people. Cities take them on.

Work? Jobs? State Jobs? Counties? Counties work.