Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
With 50 days remaining before the 2018 Primary Election, details have emerged regarding the candidates who have filed for local races and vote by mail procedures for Election Day.
According to Eddy County Auditor Patty Williams, there will be a few contested races locally this June. Two challengers have filed petitions to run against incumbents Jeff Pfau and Neal Rud for the two open seats on the Eddy County Commission. They are David Gehrtz of rural New Rockford and Michael Carter, a Warwick area farmer and cattle rancher.
The race for Eddy County State’s Attorney is also contested, with current state’s attorney Travis Peterson and challenger Ashley Lies both seeking that position.
Several other county races are uncontested with incumbents filing to seek re-election, including Auditor Patty Williams, Recorder/Clerk of District Court Patty Hilbert, Treasurer Kathy Anderson and Sheriff Paul Lies.
In the City of New Rockford, DeVon Allmaras seeks re-election to her seat on the commission, and Ryan Hager has filed to fill the second open seat. Commissioner Amy Ellingson will not seek re-election.
The New Rockford Park District has three open commissioner seats, and only one person, incumbent Jonathan Fortney, submitted a petition as of the filing deadline. The other two seats are open for write-in candidates.
Eddy County residents are reminded to watch for their vote by mail application and ballot for the Primary Election. Vote by mail applications will be sent out April 23 to all active voters of Eddy County who are listed in the Central Voter File provided by the N.D. Secretary of State. Anyone who is an eligible voter and does not receive a ballot application in the mail can simply call the auditor’s office, through May 3, and an application will be sent out. Applications are also available through the N.D. Secretary of State’s website, sos.nd.gov, or can be clipped from the New Rockford Transcript in the coming weeks. A signed application must be returned to the auditor’s office either by mail or in person in order to receive a ballot.
Starting May 3, ballots will be sent to voters whose applications are received by the auditor’s office. Voters must return their marked ballots to the auditor’s office by 4 p.m. on June 11, the day before the election. If mailed, ballots must be postmarked no later than June 11, 2018, the day before the election. Voters unable to meet these deadlines will have to go to the polling place on Election Day to cast their ballots.
Eddy County is encouraging voters to vote by mail; however, one polling place will be open for voters who prefer to cast their ballots in person. The polling place will be located at the Brown Memorial Auditorium, 3 - 7th Street South, New Rockford, and will be open for the Primary Election on Tuesday, June 12 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Those who cast their ballot through the mail may not vote in person.
