Commissioner candidates address top issues

The Dodge County election series is back. As voters get ready to vote on crucial local races the DCI will be asking candidates for local, county, school district, and state house seats a question each week leading up to the Nov. 3 election. The goal of the series is for voters to understand where candidates stand on various issues. Dodge County Attorney, and County Commissioner candidates will answer questions on opposite weeks to accommodate space. Unopposed candidates will not be participating in the weekly series. Suggestions on questions can be submitted to dcielections@gmail.com

Dodge County Commissioners

Question of the Week:

What do you feel is the top issue that needs

to be addressed in Dodge County?

District 2 
Troy Stafford

One of the most important issues facing Dodge County is keeping property taxes affordable, particularly for seniors and others living on fixed incomes. Many longtime residents have worked hard to pay off their homes, yet rising property taxes can make it increasingly difficult for them to remain in the communities they helped build. When incomes remain relatively stable but taxes continue to increase, homeowners face financial strain that can force difficult decisions about housing, healthcare, and other essential expenses.
Maintaining fiscal responsibility while continuing to provide quality public services should be a priority. County leaders must carefully evaluate spending, seek operational efficiencies, and ensure taxpayer dollars are used wisely. Thoughtful budgeting, responsible planning, and pursuing other funding opportunities can help reduce pressure on local property taxes without compromising essential services.
Keeping property taxes in-check also benefits working families, veterans, and individuals with disabilities who often face similar financial constraints. Affordability contributes to stable neighborhoods, encourage homeownership, and strengthen the local economy.
By balancing responsible government with sound financial management, Dodge County can remain a place where people of all ages can afford to live, retire, and thrive. Protecting taxpayers, while preserving essential county services, is fundamental to maintaining a strong and sustainable community.

District 2 
Tim Tjosaas

The biggest challenge facing Dodge County is maintaining essential services while keeping property taxes affordable.
County government is facing increasing financial pressure from several directions at once. State and federal funding is becoming less certain while many of the services we provide, particularly in Human Services and Public Health, are state or federally mandated regardless of the funding provided. At the same time, inflation continues to increase the cost of equipment, roads, technology, employee benefits, and construction projects.
Our responsibility as County Commissioners is to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars.
Over the years, we have worked hard to keep levy increases as low as possible while maintaining the high-quality services our residents expect and deserve.
Going forward, the challenge will be finding new efficiencies, prioritizing our spending, and making thoughtful long-term investments so we can continue delivering excellent county services without placing an unnecessary burden on taxpayers. That means making difficult decisions, focusing on needs rather than wants, and ensuring every tax dollar is spent wisely. Maintaining that balance between fiscal responsibility and quality public service will remain Dodge County' s most important issue in the years ahead.

District 4 
Ashley Martin

The top issue that needs to be addressed in Dodge County is communication. Strong communication is essential because residents need timely, accurate, and easy-to-understand information about county services, decisions, public safety updates, and opportunities to provide input. When communication is clear and consistent, it helps build trust between county leaders and the community, reduces confusion, and ensures residents feel informed and included in decisions that affect them.
Being a part of this community and county for over four years, I have noticed a lack of communication and transparency. Nobody likes to be surprised by things, especially when finding out their road is being worked on last minute or not having the opportunity to be a part of the discussion of county needs at board meetings. Being open and honest from the start reduces confusion and can help make transitions smoother for residents and county workers.
Everybody deserves to know where and how their tax dollars are being spent. It shouldn’t be hard to search for information or difficult to read and understand what is being stated. Language should be clear and simple for residents to understand.

District 4
Rhonda Toquam

As I thought about this question, there were things that came to mind, but none of them seemed to qualify as an “issue”. We have some challenges and concerns for various things, but none that I feel have escalated to an “issue”. Let me share what I feel some of those are.
Over the past few years, wages and salary packages have increased in many areas across the industry. County employees including the Sheriff’s Department, are not exempt from that. Balancing wages and benefit packages to stay competitive while keeping a close eye on the budget as to not raise the levy more than absolutely necessary is a challenge. However, maintaining and attracting qualified employees is also very important.
The cost of human services continues to rise for various reasons. One of those being the state continuing to mandate counties to provide services and programs to qualifying constituents without providing enough, if any funding from the state to cover those costs. This too must come from levy dollars.
Ambulance and EMT services are a major concern in our small rural communities. With more and more people working in larger cities, it is hard to have daytime EMTs available to cover the calls in the area. On top of that, reimbursements for some of these services provided is not always enough to cover the cost of the call and service.
Finding and maintaining the right balance in allowing property owners to have the freedom to do with their property as they wish, but also balancing the collection of vehicles and various items on their property. Sites can become a public health concern or safety issue.
And probably the thing that commissioners are most known for is maintaining roads and bridges. State funding cuts, and lack of funds from the state to maintain roads and bridges has been a major issue in the past few years. Rural communities, although not as populated as the metro areas, still have a need for good roads and quality bridges. This too comes at a cost, and once again needing to squeeze more out of our local tax dollars to fund these various projects.
In conclusion, prioritizing, understanding, and staying informed on the above concerns and challenges, and many others that county elected officials and county staff encounter, we are able to keep these things from becoming an issue.

LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES 

Question of the Week:

President Donald Trump endorsed Mike Lindell in Minnesota’s Governor race. For Republican candidates, who do you plan on voting for in the August Primary and why? For DFL candidates who do you plan on voting for in the August U.S. Senate Primary and why?

House District 24A
Heather Holmes —
DFL
I’m planning to support Peggy Flanagan. She’s not taking corporate PAC money, which is important to me. I want my senator to answer to Minnesotans, not donors. She’s also been concrete on her positions on agriculture: pushing right to repair laws so farmers aren’t stuck paying dealer prices to fix their own equipment, advocating for fair markets for our farmers, and fighting for a full multi-year farm bill.
Further, rural hospitals and clinics run on thin margins, and Medicaid cuts hit them first. Peggy opposed gutting Medicaid, SNAP, and WIC to pay for tax breaks for billionaires. She grew up relying on Medicaid herself. I believe her when she says she’ll fight for those programs because she knows what’s actually at stake for a family that depends on them. I believe that’s the kind of senator greater Minnesota needs: one who stands up for the people who actually live here, not the people who fund campaigns.

House District 24A
Duane Quam — Republican
Did not respond.

SENATE DISTRICT 24
Simon Glaser — 
DFL
I have great respect for both candidates in this race who have stepped forward to serve in the US Senate. The people in our community know their priorities better than anyone, and I encourage every voter to learn about the candidates, ask questions, and vote for who they believe will best represent their values and priorities for Minnesota. I’ll be doing the same.

SENATE DISTRICT 24
Nels Pierson — Republican
Since getting a late start following Sen. Carla Nelson’s retirement announcement, I have been focused on earning the votes of the people of Senate District 24 not on campaigning for other candidates. Voters are focused on issues of affordability, high taxes, and ending the fraud in Minnesota. If I am elected, I will work with whomever is elected to be our next Governor to address these issues.