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Verhey bows out of county election; Pedersen, Johannsen seek terms
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By ELISA SAND, Staff Reporter
| 02/03/2010 |
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Two current Lake County Commissioners are up for re-election, but only one plans to seek a new term this year. In addition, this election will see the return of a former commissioner on the ballot.
Commission Chairman Bert Verhey said Tuesday that this will be the last year for him as a commissioner.
"I've had a lot more yesterdays than I will have tomorrows," Verhey said at Tuesday's county meeting.
Since elected in 2000, Verhey said, his goal has been to be more visible among county residents.
"Wherever I go, if someone has a question, I'll be glad to answer it," he said.
He describes his time as commissioner as a constant learning experience.
"We still learn, all the time," he said. "You never quit learning in this job."
In the time he's been on the board, Verhey has noted several accomplishments made by the board, including renovating offices within the courthouse and establishing offices for both the auditor and treasurer; investing in equipment to upgrade the courthouse elevator; purchasing a state-of-the-art Search & Rescue vehicle; improving buildings on the Extension grounds; and replacing every vehicle, blade and payloader at the county highway shop.
Over the years, the county has seen changes in personnel and commissioners.
"There's always change," Verhey said. "I've had fun. I've enjoyed the people and all the employees we've had."
On Tuesday, Verhey said, he plans to tip his hat toward Vice Chairman Scott Pedersen, who indicated his intent to run for re-election and acknowledged that he has taken out a petition. Verhey said he plans to give Pedersen more opportunities to take a leadership role.
Pedersen said that he's enjoyed his time as a commissioner since his appointment to the board in late 2008.
"Thanks for giving me the opportunity," he said. "It's been a priviledge and an honor. In the past two years, I've come to realize what a great county Lake County is and the many opportunities we have, and I want to be a part of growing it to its maximum potential."
Pedersen said the current commission has been working on several things and he wants to see them come to pass. Those items include moving forward with the Water Quality Board, working through the details of adding a building inspector, adding an employee who can concentrate on enforcing county regulations, and continuing to develop the public access on Lake Madison.
Pedersen said being on the board is a time investment that goes beyond the bimonthly meetings, but it's also a government board where political party views don't affect the board decisions.
"At this level, common sense still prevails," he said.
Decisions aren't easy, however.
"The hardest part is being the middle man and trying to resolve an issue," he said.
Filing his petition in Tuesday was Craig Johannsen, a former Lake County commissioner who sat on the board for 10 years and ran unsuccessfully for another term in 2008.
Johannsen said it was good to take that break. In the past two years, he said, he's been able to remedy some health issues and deal with the loss of long-time commissioner Shirlee Leighton, who died in 2008.
"Losing Shirlee was tough," he said.
Johannsen's decision to run, he said, was made when Verhey said he would not seek re-election.
"I wasn't going to run against either one," he said.
But, he said, he feels there are still things that need to be accomplished within the county.
"A lot needs to be done yet," he said. "The new board is going to get a lot accomplished, and I'd like to be a part of it."
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©Madison Daily Leader 2010
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