Candidates: Allamakee County Board of Supervisors - Bechtel, Kuhse, Paul
Please provide some background information about yourself.
Daniel Bechtel: My name is Daniel Bechtel. My spouse, Sandra, is a partner at Mirror Images in Waukon. We are parents of Haley and Dakota. I am the son of Dean and Sherry Bechtel and the grandson of Lloyd and Neva Bechtel and Lynn and Virginia Halverson. We are buying and living on a fourth-generation farm - God willing, a fifth. We are members of Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon.
My farming operation consists of 150 ewes, which includes lambing to market. We also raise some unusual animals. Over the years, St. Patrick School and others have brought young kids out to view our animals. This fall I helped Northeast Iowa Animal Club with the petting zoo in Lansing for Fish Days.
I am a graduate of Waukon Senior High School and I attended Northeast Iowa Community College. I work seasonally for United Coop, now Innovative Ag in Waukon. I subcontract for Monona Wire Coop and help out local farmers, Gibbs Dairy and Grove Farms.
Cloy Kuhse: I am a lifelong Allamakee County resident. I am 59 years old and a crop and livestock farmer. I have been married for 38 years to my wife, Ardie, and we have raised our three children, Kyle, Jodi and Kraig, on our dairy farm 4-1/2 miles northeast of Postville. We now thoroughly enjoy visits to the farm from our four grandsons and their families.
I also have had previous part-time employment as an Allamakee FSA Program Assistant and worked for Cherry Valley Enterprises as a truck driver. I am currently employed at Winneshiek Mutual Insurance as a claims adjustor and property inspector for underwriting. Ardie and I are active members of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville, where I served eight years on the church council; three years as council president; ten years as the current Finance Committee chairperson; Spring Festival Co-chairman and I attempt to make a joyful noise as a member of the senior church choir. I enjoy golfing, bowling, hunting, fishing and dancing.
Dennis Paul: My wife, Sherryl, and I have been married for 23 years. We have been involved with Allamakee County since 1985. I worked for the Iowa Department of Transportation for 23 years in road maintenance and as a bridge inspector. Having retired from the DOT, I am now working part-time as a security guard at Trane Manufacturing in LaCrosse.
Public service has always been an important part of my life, be it as a foster parent or serving on the City Council. For 14 years I have served in local government as a City Councilman and have thoroughly enjoyed working with people, making sure services are provided and problems are solved.
As a candidate for Allamakee County Supervisor, what do you feel would be your ultimate responsibility to the citizens of the county if elected?
Cloy Kuhse: As a candidate for County Supervisor, I believe the majority interests of the citizens of the entire county need to be considered more than the sometimes more vocal minority interest groups. A willingness to be accessible and listening to people's opinions will make this possible. I also feel the Board of Supervisors meetings could be periodically held in each town in Allamakee County throughout the year. This would be less costly than having five supervisors or geographic supervisor districts while increasing accessibility to all the citizens of the county.
Dennis Paul: My ultimate responsibility to the citizens is to promote and protect the people of Allamakee County. This involves making sure the road infrastructure is adequate, that emergency services are available, that adequate services are provided and that taxpayers' money is used carefully and wisely. It is the responsibility of the Board of Supervisors to work with other local, state and federal officials to bring the necessary resources to our county for citizens to prosper and thrive.
Daniel Bechtel: If elected, my job would be to answer questions or help to find answers to the best of my ability. I won't just sit behind the desk. I would be willing to go out and see the problem or situation. This would be my job, advocate for the people of Allamakee County.
If elected, what would be your issues of highest priority in helping direct county government?
Dennis Paul: If elected, the issue of highest priority in county government is maintaining high level and quality services for the people. Taxpayers need to be assured that their money is being used to benefit them and their communities. Listening to the people, open communication and governmental accountability are top priorities. Working for everyone and not having a personal agenda are what I will do.
Daniel Bechtel: To support and help the businesses that are here and pull more businesses to this community. We need more jobs. To listen and hear and act toward the situations as they come and change. I would work for the majority but listen to and protect the minority.
Cloy Kuhse: I realize the economic importance of recreation and tourism and the very important flow through dollars that these industries bring to our beautiful Allamakee County. I also realize that the main industry of Allamakee County is agriculture. The county must continue to provide the best road system and infrastructure possible for the agriculture industry and all the businesses that depend on agriculture to make these things happen.
Allamakee County must continue working toward a zoning ordinance and subdivision regulations that will maintain the beauty and integrity of our scenic lands. This needs to be done with respect for the rights of private property owners to maintain or improve their properties. This must be done in an orderly fashion without damaging the environment or placing a burden on the county's infrastructure or emergency services organizations.
What are the current issues, good and bad, that you see facing Allamakee County and what does your candidacy offer in addressing these issues?
Daniel Bechtel: The bad issues - we are losing jobs. We need to build our own community so there is a future here for all of us and our children.
The good issues - we live in a great area. There are a lot of great people, but with no new jobs, more adults and children will be moving away to find a better future.
My candidacy is to let more issues be voted on, especially the big ones that will effect everyone, now and into the future, like the "bluff" issue. I'm part of this community as the generations have been. I'll make this my job, stop and talk. I live, work and shop here.
Cloy Kuhse: As the saying goes, "There ain't no free rides" - all county services cost money. Total property tax dollar costs are always important to county residents. In today's environment of lower state funding for some programs and unfunded mandates in others, our local tax revenues become even more important. My service as Post Township Trustee and clerk has helped me develop an understanding of the relationship between property valuations and tax millage rates. Having owned and operated farm equipment as well as driving heavy trucks, I understand the need for quality durable equipment for our county roads department in order to keep our roads in good repair throughout the year.
As a U.S. Marine Corps Viet Nam Veteran, I am a member of Amvets Post 27, American Legion Post 518 and VFW Post 417. I was proud to serve on the Allamakee County Veterans Memorial Committee. I feel that these memberships have given me an open line of communication with our county's veterans. By working with our County Veterans Affairs office, we can improve the services offered to our veterans. We need to work with our surrounding counties to secure regional health care services right here in northeast Iowa rather than requiring veterans to travel to Iowa City for care. I feel this can be accomplished by making better use of medical facilities that already exist in our area.
As an active farmer, I am aware of the farming economy and the current government farm programs that will help keep the Allamakee County Farm as a valuable income-producing asset for our county.
I feel we need to continue searching for ways to keep Makee Manor available as a top notch facility for the county residents utilizing its services.
Over the last 45 years, starting with the Allamakee County 4-H council and continuing on through the Farm Bureau Board of Directors, the County Dairy Board, the ASCS Committee, the Veterans organizations, Allamakee County Sportsman's Club, the Allamakee County Republican Central Committee and my off-farm employments, my involvement with Allamakee County has only increased. Following in the footsteps of gentlemen that I have great respect for - Dave Snitker, Lyle Zieman and Bill Clark, I would be honored to serve you as your County Supervisor and would hope to continue making Allamakee County a great place to live.
Dennis Paul: The biggest issue facing Allamakee County and the country is a struggling economy. This affects everyone. It means a loss of industry, failing Main Street businesses, mortgage foreclosures, decreased land values, lower commodity prices and strained city and county budgets. Working together with community agencies, groups and the state legislature will be necessary to get through these difficult times.
We must continue to be good stewards of the land and protect our economic bases, which are agriculture and tourism. There needs to be the proper mix of farming, development, new industry and tourism to support a high quality of life.
During my service in local government, I have been able to bring people together, promote good communication and solve problems. This kind of collaboration is necessary for good government and is something to which I am committed.
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