MONROE - Voters head to the polls Tuesday, April 1, to elect supervisors to the Green County Board.
Seven of the 31 races are contested, as many as County Clerk Mike Doyle can remember at the same time.
Starting today, the Times will present profiles of the candidates in the contested races. Today's profiles are on candidates in contested races in Districts 4, 6, 11 and 16.
The District 11 race pits incumbent Oscar Olson against Kelly Bartels for the right to represent all of Cadiz township and the village of Browntown.
KELLY K. BARTELS>
Age:> 45
Occupation: >Office manager at Davis Welding
Lived in district: >15 years
Offices held:> None
Volunteer positions: >Relay for Life, past volunteer with 4-H Youth and Youth Archery
1. Why are you running?>
I'd like to be more involved in local government. It's a shame more people don't run. What pushed me to do this is the Justice Center.
2. What is the most pressing issue facing the county and what are your plans to address it? >
I think it's fiscal responsibility. I realize certain things need to be addressed, such as the space issue and the Justice Center, but I don't think things need to be done on the scale that they are. We need a voice of reason and more responsibility in the money being spent. And I'd like to see the people have more input on the issues.
3. Why should people vote for you over your opponent?>
I think it's time for a few fresh ideas. My personal life experiences are more like the common person's. I have good organizational skills, and I'm a good listener. I'm really good at problem solving. I like to base all my decisions on getting all the facts and listening to people first; I don't make snap decisions.
4. What is your stance on residential and commercial/industrial development? >
There needs to be a lot more industrial and commercial growth. We need to be more open to that type of growth and a few more fresh ideas to attract people to our county.
5. What is your particular area of expertise or interest in county government? >
The agriculture industry in Green County is extremely important. We are an ag community, and it's a large part of the county. It needs to be a focus. That's something we need to keep alive and well and thriving in Green County. I also feel strongly about growth, as in industrial growth. We've become rather stagnant. The ethanol plant, for example, has been a big asset for the city and the county. We need room for growth in that type of direction.
OSCAR G. OLSON
(incumbent)>
Age: >64
Occupation: >Dairy farmer
Lived in district: >44 years
Offices held: >President of Pecatonica Co-op in South Wayne and a member 30 years; district chairman of Midwest Dairyman; served eight years on County Board of Supervisors.
Volunteer positions: >Past member of Honey Creek Watershed
1. Why are you running?>
I feel as though we should have some farmers' voices, as Green County's growth is based on agriculture. We don't have many farmers on the board, and we should maintain some voice out here.
2. What is the most pressing issue facing the county and what are your plans to address it?>
There are several, but right now, the Justice Center is going into effect. I think it's important that we support it. Our return on investment will be good. It'll help alleviate some labor and space needs. For instance, it'll help with deputy and transportation costs when transporting prisoners. That's one reason we put it out there (by the Sheriff's Department).
And it'll help with space needs throughout quite a few departments. Several departments were reporting that they were crowded, and that started us looking at what best to do to satisfy those needs.
The other thing is farming concerns, with ground water, and keeping up on that. The landscape is changing with larger farms. And manure storage is a big issue. I support conservation development along that line.
3. Why should people vote for you over your opponent?>
I'll do my best with what I feel needs to be done. And I respect the advice of my constituents.
4. What is your stance on residential and commercial/industrial development?>
We need more development; that's where the money is coming from, whether with manufacturing plants or better pay to keep people in the community. Shopping needs to be served here, so people don't have to drive 30, 40, 50 miles. We'd benefit from it, through sales tax.
5. What is your particular area of expertise or interest in county government?>
Conservation, Ag and Extension are my main end of it. I've served on the Conservation, Ag and Extension committees, and on the Railroad Corridor committee.
Seven of the 31 races are contested, as many as County Clerk Mike Doyle can remember at the same time.
Starting today, the Times will present profiles of the candidates in the contested races. Today's profiles are on candidates in contested races in Districts 4, 6, 11 and 16.
The District 11 race pits incumbent Oscar Olson against Kelly Bartels for the right to represent all of Cadiz township and the village of Browntown.
KELLY K. BARTELS>
Age:> 45
Occupation: >Office manager at Davis Welding
Lived in district: >15 years
Offices held:> None
Volunteer positions: >Relay for Life, past volunteer with 4-H Youth and Youth Archery
1. Why are you running?>
I'd like to be more involved in local government. It's a shame more people don't run. What pushed me to do this is the Justice Center.
2. What is the most pressing issue facing the county and what are your plans to address it? >
I think it's fiscal responsibility. I realize certain things need to be addressed, such as the space issue and the Justice Center, but I don't think things need to be done on the scale that they are. We need a voice of reason and more responsibility in the money being spent. And I'd like to see the people have more input on the issues.
3. Why should people vote for you over your opponent?>
I think it's time for a few fresh ideas. My personal life experiences are more like the common person's. I have good organizational skills, and I'm a good listener. I'm really good at problem solving. I like to base all my decisions on getting all the facts and listening to people first; I don't make snap decisions.
4. What is your stance on residential and commercial/industrial development? >
There needs to be a lot more industrial and commercial growth. We need to be more open to that type of growth and a few more fresh ideas to attract people to our county.
5. What is your particular area of expertise or interest in county government? >
The agriculture industry in Green County is extremely important. We are an ag community, and it's a large part of the county. It needs to be a focus. That's something we need to keep alive and well and thriving in Green County. I also feel strongly about growth, as in industrial growth. We've become rather stagnant. The ethanol plant, for example, has been a big asset for the city and the county. We need room for growth in that type of direction.
OSCAR G. OLSON
(incumbent)>
Age: >64
Occupation: >Dairy farmer
Lived in district: >44 years
Offices held: >President of Pecatonica Co-op in South Wayne and a member 30 years; district chairman of Midwest Dairyman; served eight years on County Board of Supervisors.
Volunteer positions: >Past member of Honey Creek Watershed
1. Why are you running?>
I feel as though we should have some farmers' voices, as Green County's growth is based on agriculture. We don't have many farmers on the board, and we should maintain some voice out here.
2. What is the most pressing issue facing the county and what are your plans to address it?>
There are several, but right now, the Justice Center is going into effect. I think it's important that we support it. Our return on investment will be good. It'll help alleviate some labor and space needs. For instance, it'll help with deputy and transportation costs when transporting prisoners. That's one reason we put it out there (by the Sheriff's Department).
And it'll help with space needs throughout quite a few departments. Several departments were reporting that they were crowded, and that started us looking at what best to do to satisfy those needs.
The other thing is farming concerns, with ground water, and keeping up on that. The landscape is changing with larger farms. And manure storage is a big issue. I support conservation development along that line.
3. Why should people vote for you over your opponent?>
I'll do my best with what I feel needs to be done. And I respect the advice of my constituents.
4. What is your stance on residential and commercial/industrial development?>
We need more development; that's where the money is coming from, whether with manufacturing plants or better pay to keep people in the community. Shopping needs to be served here, so people don't have to drive 30, 40, 50 miles. We'd benefit from it, through sales tax.
5. What is your particular area of expertise or interest in county government?>
Conservation, Ag and Extension are my main end of it. I've served on the Conservation, Ag and Extension committees, and on the Railroad Corridor committee.