VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The City Attorney for Valley City Lilie Schoenack announced she will run as a write-in candidate during the June 12 primary election to get her name on the November ballot for Barnes County State’s Attorney.

The current State’s Attorney, Carl Martineck will not be seeking re-election. He told KOVC Radio that he is pursuing another opportunity.

Schoenack served as the assistant Barnes County State’s Attorney for more than two years before accepting a position with the city of Valley City in 2017.

The following is a question and answer session issued to the media by Lilie Schoenack.

Why are you doing a write-in campaign so late?

Unfortunately, the current State’s Attorney, will not be seeking reelection this year. However, it’s too late for him to get his name off the primary ballot and it’s too late for me to get my name on the primary ballot. Since it is also too late to circulate a petition in order for me to get my name on the November ballot, I’m asking that you write my name in for State’s Attorney on June 12 instead of voting for Carl Martineck, since he’ll be taking his name off of the ballot for the November election. If I get enough write-in votes, my name will be on the November ballot instead.

What experience do you have to be Barnes County State’s Attorney?

I was the Assistant Barnes County State’s Attorney for more than two years. I left the office on August 1, 2017 to serve Valley City as the City Attorney/HR Director. Before that, I clerked for a federal judge. My empathy for victims transcends anything that can be shown on a resume, however, and is vital for a successful prosecutor. I was a victim of a crime at young age and I know what it takes to keep our community safe and really fight to make sure justice prevails.

Why is public service so important to you? Tell me your back story.

I grew up in Central Minnesota in the 1980’s on welfare in a family with five kids and a single mom. Nevertheless, I had a lovely childhood because I had a mother who loved me and showed me how to be strong and kind. I became a hard working public servant, in fact, by modeling the same strength and drive that my mother harnessed to keep five children warm and fed and loved while putting herself through college. With this background, I developed a strong work ethic, intense sense of appreciation for the opportunities I have realized, empathy for those who have not encountered similar opportunities, and sense of responsibility to share my success and good fortune with others.