Schwartz picked: Retired farmer named to County Commission
David Schwartz, a retired farmer from the Spiritwood Lake area, was appointed to the Stutsman County Commission during a special meeting Thursday. Schwartz will fill the last two years of the term of Doug Kaiser, who died in late September. He takes office as soon as he signs his oath of office sometime in the next few days.By: Keith Norman, The Jamestown Sun
David Schwartz, a retired farmer from the Spiritwood Lake area, was appointed to the Stutsman County Commission during a special meeting Thursday. Schwartz will fill the last two years of the term of Doug Kaiser, who died in late September. He takes office as soon as he signs his oath of office sometime in the next few days.
Also interviewed were Steve Cichos, Clarence Daniel, Mark Dockter, Cal Dupree and Bob Lulay.
The four remaining commissioners and John Paulson, Southeast District Court judge, made the decision after interviewing six applicants. The commission had chosen the six finalists from the 19 applicants during its regular meeting Tuesday.
Questions regarding roads dominated the interviews.
“I understand that is a hornet’s nest,” Schwartz said. “And I know that there is no quick solution.”
Schwartz said he had previously served on the Stutsman County Road Steering Committee and recognized the difficulty in finding solutions that work.
“We have to recognize the financial situation,” he said. “The last thing I want to do is turn roads to gravel but when it comes to safety you have to make those kinds of decisions.”
Schwartz said he made the decision to seek the position while attending Kaiser’s funeral. Kaiser had been a longtime friend and former partner in a farming operation.
“I thought he would want me to carry on the things he believed in,” he said. “It wasn’t until a couple of days ago I found out he talked to people about me seeking the position.”
Paulson and the commissioners asked each of the six finalists the same questions dealing with availability to attend meetings, ability to deal with the public and road concerns.
A paper ballot was then taken with the intent to repeat the vote until one candidate received three votes.
Schwartz received that majority on the first ballot.
Sun reporter Keith Norman can be reached at (701) 952-8452 or by e-mail at knorman@jamestownsun.com
Tags: local news, news, stutsman, commission, schwartz
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