VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Eight of the 13 City, County and Valley City School Board candidates running for local political office shared their goals and aspirations for our area at the Barnes County Primary Election Forum held on May 14th at the Hi-Liner Activity Center (HAC). The event was sponsored by the League of Women
Voters (LWV), in partnership with the Valley City Area Chamber of Commerce.
Dr. Anthony Dutton, Professor of History at Valley City State University and Dr. Alex Jorgensen, Associate Professor of Political Science at VCSU, moderated the election forum. The event was divided into four separate panels with each candidate giving opening remarks, followed by audience questions to the candidates and then closing remarks.
Valley City Public School Board candidates who spoke at the forum are Tommy Bergan, a local business owner who feels that his financial experience gives him skills in budgeting, and John Paul (JP) Jones who feels that his experiences growing up in Texas give him a helpful perspective.
Two candidates and longtime Barnes County residents are running unopposed for two county commission seats: Pete Paulson (County Commission District 5) and Mike Schwehr (County Commission District 1).
There are three candidates running for the two open seats on the Valley City Park Board, only one of whom attended the forum: Oscar Suniga, a recent VCSU graduate who spoke to the audience on the value of sports and the benefits he’d bring to the Park Board, being a younger person.
Three candidates are vying for two open seats on the Valley City Commission: Mike Bishop and Richard Gulmon, both incumbents, with Peyton Puckett, a recent Valley City High School grad, challenging them. One audience question they all recognized needs consideration was “How can Valley City be a part of the climate change solution?”
The June 11 election for the School Board, the City Commission, the Valley City Park Board, and the City Measures, while occurring during the primary, are final votes.
Two speakers in the fourth panel presented information on City Measure No. 2 regarding the sale of flavored e-cigarettes within Valley City. A “Yes” vote on this measure means you want to legalize the sale of flavored e-cigarettes and e-liquids. A “No” vote means you want to continue with the present ordinance prohibiting the sale of flavored e-cigarettes and e-liquids. Measure proponent City Commissioner Jeff Erickson said selling e-cigarettes is a right that should be allowed locally and that it would help businesses financially. Measure opponent Dr. James Buhr said that allowing vapes to be sold legally makes it more likely that our youth will become nicotine addicted. This vote is an advisory vote for the City Commission, who will make the final decision.
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, grassroots civic organization that envisions a democracy where every person has the desire, the right, the knowledge, and the confidence to participate. To find the LWV’s online voter guide: VOTE411.org
