Candidates in county races set to face off in spring election

The Tribune Record Gleaner reached out to candidates in the Clark County Board of Supervisor races to ask the candidates questions about themselves. Their answers to each of those questions can be found below and can help you make an informed decision on April 2. If the candidate is an incumbent, that is indicated.

The candidates were asked the following questions: 1. Why are you running for public office? 2. What knowledge and/or experience do you bring to this position?

3. What issues or policy areas would you like to focus on, if elected?

4. Describe your community involvement (clubs, organizations, volunteering, etc.).

5. Is there anything else you would like the community to know?

District 16 Supervisor

Town of Colby Ward 3, Town of Unity, Village of Unity

Scott Johnson

1. Local government is one of the most important levels of government we can be involved in. We need people with integrity and honesty helping to ensure we can live quiet and peaceful lives. I hope I can help Clark County to continue to be a safe place to live and raise families with strong work ethics and respect for the rule of law.

2. I am recently retired from a career in information technology and currently am a member of the Clark County broadband committee. I have been a member of a local school board, the Marathon County special education board and am currently a director for Clark Electric Cooperative in Greenwood.

3. I want Clark County to continue to be a family-friendly place to live and work. Obviously broadband access for all is a priority for me and I believe we could do a lot better in maintaining, improving and adding to our county road system. I also believe railroad safety and access for our county is very important and should not be overlooked.

4. I am currently an elder at Faith Journey Church in Spencer, where we host a children’s and youth ministry called Club 3:16. Our youth group is often called on to help deliver beds for the Sleep in Heavenly Peace organization. I volunteer with the Ruby’s Pantry organization to help distribute food on a monthly basis. I try to be cognizant of those in our community that might need a helping hand from time to time.

5. Clark County is a great place to live and I want to help make sure it continues to be that special rural county that is known for caring for our neighbors.

Larry Oehmichen

1. I enjoy doing public service work and feel I am well qualified.

2. Chairman, Town of Colby, 38 years; president, Central Fire Board, five years; business owner, Short Lane Ag Supply, 35 years; farmer, Town of Colby, 50 years.

3. I’m always interested in how tax dollars are being spent, and if we can improve on highway improvement.

4. I’ve been president of the Colby Memorial Cemetery for the past 20 years, and do

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Scott Johnson

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volunteer work there for grave improvement and upkeep.

5. If elected, I would work hard to improve what needs improving and would look into ordinances on windmills in Clark County.

District 17 Supervisor

Town of Beaver, Town of Warner Ward 2, Town of Green Grove Ward 2

Tony Horvath

1. Events of the last five years show that the values of your local elected officials matter. I value a small government that provides basic services well but otherwise trusts that citizens can manage their own affairs without a politician’s “help.” Safe roads and keeping crime under control are some of those services. Politicians are tempted to spend other people’s money without considering the fact that people know better how to spend it themselves. I want an elected official who will resist that temptation. The best way to ensure we have such an elected official is to be that elected official.

2. Between being married for 25-plus years with four children and owning several small businesses, I have had plenty of firsthand encounters with government policies—state, federal and local. These have impacted my life and the life of my family, for good and for ill. These real-world interactions provide all the experience one needs if someone is paying attention and is a student of history, which I do and aim to be. If that is not experience enough, I was an elected official at one time. I understand how government works from the inside, as well as from the outside.

3. Having seen firsthand how intrusive laws and regulations and taxes make it difficult to be successful as a businessperson, I will work to ensure the county is “business friendly.” I will continue to raise pertinent issues with our state and federal representatives, as well.

We were fortunate to live in a county that handled COVID (relatively) reasonably. It is hard to imagine another pandemic, but should another occur, it would be a priority to ensure that common sense prevails.

I am concerned about the spread of fentanyl and meth in our communities. Addressing this would be a priority.

4. I have been a firefighter with the Greenwood Fire Department for about 10 years.

5. I am a strong believer in local self-government. However, for it to work effectively, citizens need to step up and take a turn on school boards, town boards and county boards. This keeps good people from becoming burnt out. It is also useful because it allows fresh eyes and new perspectives to look at old problems. Sometimes, people don’t step aside and let others have a turn. In cases like that, it is up to the voter to take action.

I am happy to meet with possible constituents and can be best reached by email at freedomhorvath@gmail.com.

Chuck Rueth (incumbent)

1. I have always had an interest for county, school board and township government. I feel that with 40-plus years of living in the district, I’ve gotten the feeling of what people are wanting out of county government. Clark County is a great place to live.

2. I have accumulated a vast amount of knowledge by participating on school board and town board, as well as county board. I believe that I have represented the district well, with the knowledge and experience that I have obtained to put forth toward this position. 3. If elected, my main focus would be to provide the people that are running our county government and the citizens of this district with fair and balanced representation. Primary issues would be law enforcement, highway, and health and human services, to provide a safe environment.

4. Past member of the Loyal Jaycees and FFA Alumni, Loyal School Board nine years, 20-plus years with the Loyal Lions, Town of Beaver Board four years, member of the Loyal Area Historical Society, chair of the 2005 and 2022 Farm Tech Days shows, past chair of Alice in Dairyland for Clark County, member of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Loyal, member of St. Anthony Holy Name Society.

5. Working relationship with the county officials; experienced, dependable, business owner, open-minded; have lived in District 17 for the past 44 years; honest, fair, community- minded. I appreciate your past support and ask for your vote on April 2.

Tony Horvath

Chuck Rueth