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SHERBURN -- The Sherburn Civic and Commerce Club sponsored their Political Forum for this election year on Tuesday at the Sherburn Theatre. There were approximately 50 people in attendance to hear candidates for local and county offices.
The candidates present were: Brandon Clarke, Bethany Miller and Tom Studer who are some of the candidates for the Martin County West (MCW) School Board; Richard Koons and Julie Laue who are candidates for the fourth district for Martin County Commissioners; Matt Owens who is a candidate for Martin County Sheriff; Sarah Kramer and Michael Krutzman who are candidates for Sherburn City Council and Warren Olson who is a candidate for Sherburn Mayor. The emcee was Greg Grave who asked questions listed by the C and C committee and then opened the forum for questions from the audience. The candidates each gave a short biography to begin the forum.
Kautzman stated that he was a resident of Sherburn for four years who was recruited by Kramer to join the city council and he wants to manage long term actions and contribute to the city.
Kramer stated that she has been a council member for four years and would like to be re-elected and continue serving the community.
Olson said that he replaced the former mayor who dropped out of the council and he wants to see things through. He has lived in Sherburn for five years and works at Temperance Lake Ridge.
Owens stated that he thought the Lord called him to run for sheriff and that he has worked for the county for 25 years and lives near Truman.
Laue shared that a former county commissioner inspired her to run for commissioner. She was a nurse at Mayo in Fairmont and was on the school board in Fairmont where she worked on many committees and experienced team work.
Koons stated that he has been one of the county commissioners for eight years and lives near Welcome and Sherburn. He is very interested in the tile and drainage system in the county and would like to continue his service to the county.
Studer is involved with the community through the school system and lives in Sherburn. He would like to improve the fiscal responsibility and accountability of the school board.
Miller was a nurse and would work on being a good steward of the tax dollars and promote good communication with the community and the board.
Clarke stated that he was a resident of Sherburn for 20 years and worked at FREA. He would work on a positive transition to the new school and wants good things for the students and the community.
The first questions posed by the C and C committee were to the school board candidates.
One question asked about personnel reduction in the new school.
Studer stated that 80 to 90 percent teacher turnover has happened in the high School. He thought there were too many staff now for only 600 students and favored eliminating the administration positions not needed.
Clarke said that in the new building reduction should be able to be achieved and thought that reduction of staff was mentioned in the referendum recommendations.
Miller agreed that reduction could be studied and favored pro-rated classroom size also.
Another question asked if the candidates favored having life skills classes in the school curriculum.
Clarke stated that life skills are taught in general classes and that skills like balancing the checkbook and things that used to be taught in home economics classes are needed.
Miller said life skills are taught in the day to day experiences and they are needed.
Studer stated that shop classes were getting trimmed and he thought they are needed and so is band and choir and other classes and they should be funded.
Finally the candidates were asked what should be done with the old school.
Miller felt that they should be sold or made into a community building to be used by all.
Studer pointed out that the high school is going to be demolished and made into a parking lot and he hoped the others would be sold, possibly to the city for a city hall type use in each city.
Clarke stated that he went to a school that had four buildings left over and one just sat and got dilapidated and he hoped that would not happen to either the Trimont or Sherburn school buildings. He acknowledged that buildings need repair and it would be better if they were sold and off the city taxes and also for safety reasons.
The C&C questions moved to the County Commissioner candidates next.
The first question for the commissioners asked what their plan to control taxes is.
Koons pointed out that there are five commissioners so he would have to do team work. He mentioned that he favored no new jail since the price was too much and there was no plan for paying for it worked out ahead of time. He would try to keep the levy low and work on the budget. He favored staff reduction at the courthouse.
Laue stated that taxes are spending and the opposite is revenue which needs to be improved by attracting manufacturing to the county. Resources should be used like EDA and County EDA. People should keep an open mind and use all resources available.
Another question asked what they consider to be the best thing in Martin County.
Koons stated that the people are the best thing and the diversity in agriculture which are good stewards of the tax dollar. He also praised the new businesses that have been added lately.
Laue said that the heart and health of the county and community are the best things. When people work together the voice of the people is important and things are done. She mentioned that mental health and the human services need help.
The next questions from the C and C committee were for the Sheriff candidate.
The first question asked about the long unanswered Bontjes murder near Trimont.
Owens stated that the investigation is open and any answers are being investigated. The profiles were not good enough for a family profile but partial profiles are being tested and testing continues.
The next question for Owens asked what he thought are the most challenging issues in Martin County.
Owens said that mental health and drug abuse and alcoholism are the biggest issues and most challenging.
Finally he was asked whether he thought the sheriff department was spread too thin across the county.
Owens stated that there is a need for more deputies especially in busy times. He said there are some cities in the county that have contracts with the Sheriff's Office.
*Editor's Note: The rest of the questions and answers from the forum will run in Saturday's edition of the Sentinel.