Five running in county board primary

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, February 14, 2001

The number is five.

Wednesday, February 14, 2001

The number is five.

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Five individuals have decided to pursue the position of Mower County commissioner, replacing retired Fifth District Commissioner Gary Nemitz.

A primary election for the five candidates who filed by last Friday’s deadline will be held Feb. 27. The top two vote-getters will run in the March 20 election. Austin City Councilman Dick Chaffee, one of the five candidates, was featured in the Austin Daily Herald on Feb. 4. Here are comments from the remaining four candidates:

Garry Ellingson

Former Chief Deputy Sheriff Garry Ellingson said his previous position exposed him to numerous issues throughout the county.

"I gained knowledge of the total area," he said. "It takes years to learn all that stuff."

Ellingson was born in Osage, Iowa, and served on the Mower County Sheriff’s Department since 1964.

He said, with some pride, that former Mower County Sheriff Wayne Goodnature once said of him: "Garry will give you 120 percent."

In stating how he views the position of commissioner, he said, "There is an obligation to handle money very prudently and especially very wisely, so the people in the county get the full value of their dollar."

Richard Lees

Richard Lees serves on two boards, the Austin School Board and the Southeast Service Cooperative. Through his work with both, he has been exposed to issues of "communication, finance, personnel and negotiation."

His work as a probation officer has made him responsible for the supervision of other individuals.

Though his campaign is just starting, he plans to accelerate it into some advertising soon.

"I’m anxious to represent the city of Austin in District Five," he said.

Donna Olson

Donna Olson is ready to work for the people of Mower County.

"I’m willing to go to battle for them, if they need a battle," she said.

Olson has been a board member for the League of Women Voters for many years, as well as an editor of Highlights. She also has worked for the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce and the Mower County United Way.

She said her work for these organizations resulted in an understanding of issues throughout the county. In addition, she has been trained in mediation and diversity issues and helped to create programs such as Victims Offender Mediation. She feels this will be important training for the commissioner position.

"I choose to live in Austin," Olson said. She was born and raised in northwestern Iowa, but moved to Austin many years ago. Though her two children have since grown and moved away, she has stayed, finding much to like in the city and the county.

She already has started her campaign, spending time visiting homes in the area.

"I’m willing to go out and work for this," said Olson who, as of Monday night, had been out campaigning three nights in a row.

Thanking Nemitz for his "hard work and dedication" to Mower County over the years, she added "If I have the privilege of having the people believe in me, I will be a new kind of voice."

David Tschann

When asked why he decided to run for the open commissioner position, retired Austin Fire Department Capt. David Tschann answered, "I’m semi-retired and I have time."

Tschann now works part time for Robbins Furniture.

While with the Fire Department, he was responsible for keeping the public safety in mind. Specifically, he was a state fire instructor and worked throughout the county, training fire department employees.

As for what he can bring to the board, Tschann said, "I will bring a clear head to the Board of Commissioners. I’m willing to listen to see what I can do."

Tschann, an Austin native, graduated from Pacelli High School and majored in business management at Riverland Community College, Winona State University and Minnesota State University at Mankato.

He has seven children and 16 grandchildren and said if he is elected to the position, he "will do a good job for the people in the county. I’m interested in good government."