Voters in Voting Precinct #3 will elect a Council Commissioner in District 3 for a four-year term. Vote for one of the three candidates.

Precinct #3 is made up of voters in the northeast section of Ipswich City (north of US Hwy 12 and east of 4th Street) and Adrian, Belle, Cleveland, Fountain, Harmony, Huntley, Ipswich, Liberty, Powell, and Rosette Townships.

The candidates responded to questionnaires from the Ipswich Tribune/Roscoe-Hosmer Independent. Their responses follow:

Nathan Davis

Family and Background:

Parents: Darrell & Sylvia Davis. Brother: Justin (Courtney) Davis

I am a lifelong resident of Edmunds County. I graduated from Ipswich High School, and went on to earn my Bachelor of Science degree from North Dakota State University. After graduation I worked at NCFE for 7 years as a grain merchandiser while farming part time. After that I returned to the farm full-time.

Why are you running for Edmunds County Commission:

I am running for the same reason I did eight years ago. People asked me to run and represent them on the commission. When people ask for help I do whatever I can to the best of my ability to help them.

What experience would you bring to this position:

I have been a county commissioner for the past eight years. I am also on many other boards including Rosette Township (Clerk/Treasurer), Zoning Board (Chairman), Agtegra, Aberdeen Brown County Regional Railroad Authority, and Trail Days (Past Chairman). I also served on the Ipswich City Council, church council, and Ipswich Fire Department (Sec/Treasurer). I also live and work in the county every day and am able to see firsthand the concerns of the county.

What would your goals be as a Commissioner:

My goals as a Commissioner would be to make sure that Edmunds County taxpayers’ money is spent wisely and to make sure that Edmunds County continues to be a great place to live and work.

Mark D. Mulder

Family and Background:

Wife- Lynette; Children- Kimberly, Michael, Melissa and Benjamin; Four grandsons- Jayden, Kinnick, Kellen, and Evan

Lifetime Edmunds County resident/farmer

Why are you running for Edmunds County Commission:

Due to this last year of many different circumstances, and not always with the outcome I would have hoped for. I just feel maybe I can make a difference. I feel all requests made to county offices need to be followed up on as they are all very important to someone, or they would not have asked for help. I personally made a request on 7/16/2018 and to this day I have heard nothing, not even a phone call. I feel there are certain roads that are not being bladed enough to justify the traffic. And why does the townships have us mow our road tops by a certain day for safety, and the county highway is exempt.

What experience would you bring to this position:

My past experience that I feel would be an asset to the commission is two terms on the Ipswich School Board, past Chairman of the board. 20+ years for the highway dept. With two terms as highway supt. 10+ years with WEB Water as a Rural Operator and always a taxpayer. Having the experience working with the public and spending taxpayers’ dollars.

What would your goals be as a Commissioner:

My goals as a commissioner would be to learn as much as possible and meet with all our county officials and appointed staff on a rotation schedule at least quarterly including a road inspection of all county roads/bridges in the whole county twice a year. This could be done on the days of short meetings and early adjournments. Also check into a discretionary formula and see if this would create some economic development for the county and at the same time give a tax break for a couple of years.

Jerome Schaffner

Family and Background:

I am married with three adult children and five grandchildren. I have been with Edmunds County for the last 25 years, before that I was in the road construction, farming and cattle business.

Why are you running for Edmunds County Commission:

I would like to see more transparency by the commission so tax payers know why they take this actions they do.

What experience would you bring to this position:

I know the highway department inside and out. I have 21 years experience on the Ipswich School Board, and 15 years on township boards as treasurer.

What would your goals be as a Commissioner:

To try to make sure there is no wasteful spending and try to get a good working relationship among all the county employees and department heads.