— Incumbent District 4 Commissioner Richard Vareberg, 61, of Detroit Township, is running for reelection against challengers Donald Skarie, a former commissioner, and newcomer Jason Dale Bristlin.
Vareberg is married with three children. He is the owner-operator of Vareberg Backhoe Service, an excavation company. He is a devout Christian and attends Summit Church.
He belongs to and supports the National Rifle Association and the Boys and Girls Club, according to his responses to a questionnaire from this newspaper.
His hobbies include Ice fishing, traveling and spending time at the lake.
Question 1. Why are you running for Becker County Board, and what skills, knowledge, personality traits, life experiences, etc. do you have that will make you a good county commissioner?
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As your current District 4 commissioner, I am seeking a second term on the Becker County Board. I am passionate about the great county we live in and all it has to offer, from economics to natural resources. I do not believe in big government and will work to keep the power in the hands of our citizens.
I have a strong Christian faith that makes me transparent and accountable for the decisions made in county government. As an elected official, I will continue to be honest and loyal when representing not only my district but all five districts within the county. I am not a politician and have never claimed to be.
I feel I bring a different perspective to the County Board as a regular, everyday individual trying to make sound decisions and spending other people’s money wisely and effectively.
Question 2. It’s been a busy past couple of years for Becker County. What has the county board done right, and what would you like to have seen done differently?
Our current board has accomplished a lot in the last four years that I am proud to have been a part of. We acted in an accelerated manner to construct the new County Highway Department building prior to an unprecedented inflation hike, which saved our county taxpayers millions of dollars.
Public safety became a top priority, with great investments made in our Sheriff’s Office, including an additional officer, an emergency manager position and lieutenant position.
We conducted an employee wage study to remain competitive in recruiting and retaining exceptional employees. Most recently we’ve become united in opposition in the effort to prevent the White Earth land-back movement.
I and other county officials testified at both the State Senate and House hearings, which was instrumental in preventing the transfer of thousands of acres and jeopardizing public recreation and private land access. I’m eager to continue working on this issue and others the future may bring.
Bowe covers the Becker County Board and the court system for the Tribune, and handles the opinion pages for the Tribune and Focus. As news editor of both papers, he is the go-to contact person for readers and the general public: breaking or hard news tips, story ideas, questions and general feedback should be directed to him.