FOUR CANDIDATES, ONE POSITION

The four candidates for one Kimball County Commissioners seat all replied to questions from Observer reporter Daria Anderson-Faden for this report preceding the May 14 primary election. Their answers follow, with the candidates listed in alphabetical order of their last names: Matt Bright, David R. Hottell, Carl Stander and Sarah Weisbrook.

MATT BRIGHT

Please provide brief background info on yourself:

I was born and raised in Kimball. I have a wife and a son that we would love to continue to raise in

Kimball. I have served on city council and was the city council president for part of my term. I am involved in multiple businesses in and around the Kimball area.

What qualities make you a desirable candidate?

I take pride in looking at all angles of decisions. I am not afraid to vote NO if I don’t think a decision is right for the people of the community. I enjoy talking to people and helping to try and find a middle ground or a solution to the issues at hand.

How will you be able to commit to the time that it takes to be a commissioner?

I am self-employed with great employees to allow me to spend the necessary time it takes. I also plan to use technology to limit travel expenses when a meeting can be done over zoom or by email or phone.

What do you consider the most critical issues about the position you are seeking?

I feel the excess spending and unaccountable spending in the county is a real threat to our property tax. I plan to go through claims with diligence. I feel there are areas of the county government that could possibly be scaled back. I also want to see things move in the most efficient way possible.

How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process in our town?

If elected I would like to have quarterly town hall meetings in the evening where people can attend and let us know what issues they are having so we can take those issue into account and work on making Kimball County a better place to live. I would also like to see at least one of the county commissioner meetings done late in the day or evening so that the meeting would be easier to attend. I would also want the meetings live streamed to help with transparency.

Kimball County a better place to live. I would also like to see at least one of the county commissioner meetings done late in the day or evening so that the meeting would be easier to attend. I would also want the meetings live streamed to help with transparency.

DAVID R. HOTTELL

Please provide brief background info on yourself.

I grew up in Banner County and married Juanita (Keim) in 1977. Together, we raised four children, all of whom attended Kimball Public Schools, with several grandchildren currently enrolled there. After 37 years of marriage, in 2014, Juanita passed away. In 2017 I married Karen and together we have been blessed with 25 grandchildren.

In 1980, we relocated to Kimball, where I worked in the oil fields until 1997. Following that, I joined the Kimball County Highway Department for 23 years, serving as the Highway Superintendent for seven of those years. I retired from the Highway Department in 2020 and now work part-time for the SPNRD at Oliver Reservoir.

What qualities make you a desirable candidate for County Commissioner?

I believe in the welfare of Kimball County residents and I recognize that the county commissioners make decisions that impact both now and the future. Before making important decisions, I will take time to think, analyze and evaluate options. I have a strong work ethic and I am a fiscally responsible conservative.

How will you be able to commit to the time that it takes to be a commissioner?

I am retired and work part-time at Oliver Reservoir. I can set my own hours, and I am committed to the time commitment needed for the position of county commissioner. I have the time to meet with, listen and hear what is important to Kimball County citizens.

What do you consider the most critical issues about the position you are seeking?

Currently we have an extremely inflated government from the top to the bottom. County commissioners need to represent the taxpayers of Kimball County. Irresponsible spending is a critical issue. Roads, the Transit Service and the City/County Economic Development Program also need to be addressed. I am committed to long range planning, building a realistic budget and staying within the budget.

I believe the main job of the government is to make sure that all law abiding citizens have the freedom to maintain or improve their own quality of life.

How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process in our town?

Kimball County commissioners need to move into the 21st century, providing easy and transparent access to information for all residents. In addition to information in the local newspaper, agendas need to be online prior to the meeting, up to date minutes should be readily available online. We need to work toward making meetings available on Zoom and recorded for those who cannot attend.

CARL STANDER

Please provide brief background info on yourself:

I was born and raised in Kimball County, graduated from Dix High School in 1971, and Hasting College in 1976. I have lived in Kimball County most of my adult life and have raised my family here.

What qualities make you a desirable candidate?

As a life-long citizen of Kimball County, I have a vested interest in its current and future progress. I want it to be a community of choice for our citizens. I want Kimball County to be a place people want to live. I am open-minded and am always willing to listen and learn from our citizens. I have the desire to learn from our citizens, and to learn from our other branches of our government. I am a thinker, and a researcher, always wanting an explanation to pass on to our citizens. If I don’t know the answer to a question, I don’t pass it off, I research for the answer.

How will you be able to commit to the time that it takes to be a commissioner?

As a current county commissioner, I serve on 13 boards, different committees, and am a commissioner contact. I have committed to approximately 30 hours a week to represent the citizens that I have served for the past three years. I am retired and have the time and the desire to serve.

What do you consider the most critical issues about the position you are seeking?

I believe it is the responsibility of an elected official to maintain and improve the quality of life for the citizens he serves. One critical issue is to work to achieve a broader tax base, with economic development, i.e., retail stores, vibrant school systems, and recreation, which requires growth in our population. We need to be able to fund amenities to entice people to want to live here, not just work here.

Since the day I took office in January 2021, Kimball County has just recently opened their new $42 million dollar hospital, which is 80% guaranteed funded by the USDA. The Kimball Transit Service has brought in almost $4.25 million dollars from the FTA and NDOT Rural Transportation Grant.

The quality of life of the Kimball County citizens is an ongoing critical issue. I feel it is a commissioner’s duty to work diligently to collaborate and work toward providing amenities.

How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process in our town?

I can learn by having conversations with citizens and listening to their thought and ideas. I am always willing to have these conversations. I believe as a commissioner you have a duty to talk to citizens and be willing to ask for their opinions and knowledge on different topics. I am willing to ask for help to understand things that I am not sure of. I an not afraid to ask questions.

SARAH WEISBROOK

Please provide brief background info on yourself:

I am married for 40 years to Mark. We farm and ranch. Raised 3 kids in Kimball County.

What qualities make you a desirable candidate?

Having to budget on our farm/ranch makes me a great candidate. Over spending is not an option. Having worked in the Treasurer’s office has exposed me to meet most of our taxpayers.

How will you be able to commit to the time that it takes to be a commissioner?

I would choose to be a full-time commissioner to make sure that all matters are taken care of.

What do you consider the most critical issues about the position you are seeking?

Budget and safety on our county roads are both a big concern. Encourage new business to Kimball County.

How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process in our town?

Being a commissioner is about Kimball County and to invite all residents to the commissioners meeting to share input and ideas.