Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Part III of IV: Jamie Allmaras
It's time for part three of our weekly features on the four candidates vying for one of two available seats on the Eddy County Commission. This week, the Transcript is featuring Jamie Allmaras.
Allmaras is running for his first term as a commissioner, and enters the general election as the candidate who received more votes than any of his fellow competitors in the primary.
His responses to our questions are listed below.
Q: Introduce yourself to voters – what is your background and what experiences and/or skills have prepared you to serve as a county commissioner?
A: I was born and raised in New Rockford, and have been farming for 28 years on our family farm. I have served on the Munster Township board for 18 years along with various other boards, including the Elevator, Zoning and Rural District Fire Boards. I'm married to Kerstin and we have two children, Kate and Thomas, both in the New Rockford-Sheyenne school system, in most sports and music.
Q: Why do you think you would be a good commissioner for the residents of Eddy County?
A: I would be a good commissioner because I'd bring new ideas to the table with farm representation and hard work ethics. I realize we need to keep our government local and budget accordingly.
Q: What is the most important issue or challenge you anticipate tackling as an Eddy County commissioner?
A: I'm not sure on the pressing issues yet, just the usual roads and airport issues and the inflated costs that go with them.
Q: What do you see as the most pressing needs for infrastructure or capital projects in the county?
A: The infrastructure projects I know of are roads and bridges but I am sure there are many more I will learn about.
Q: If new resources were available, what one area of county services would you feel most needs additional support?
A: The county services all could use help, Ambulance, Fire, Sheriff's along with County Health.
Q: Should any part of the county budget be shielded from cuts? And if so, which area?
I'm not sure about shielding, they are all important.
Q: What element of the county's government is most effective, and why?
A: We need all the elements to make our county work.
Q: Currently, are county taxes too high, about right or too low?
A: I think our taxes are too high, but I think it's necessary to keep things working.Everything costs so much.
Q: Government transparency is viewed as an urgent need by many in today's world. As a commissioner, how will you ensure the county commission is accessible to the community?
A: The meetings are open to the public and posted in the paper.
