McKenzie County ND

Free food and a panel discussion around five questions, a time to address any issue of candidate’s choice, and a Q & A period, brought about 25 people together to Meet-the-Candidates for county commissioner in the Alexander City Hall Sept. 18, 2008.  The forum lasted just 90 minutes.

Please read the Sept. 24, 2008 issue of The McKenzie County Farmer (scroll down for story) for an account of the candidates’ prepared comments on the first two questions on the program regarding oil industry impacts and county infrastructure. The short answers are “roads, water, housing and jobs.”

This blog will provide a brief summary of responses that evening, in the hopes of motivating the readers to attend the next Meet the Candidates Forum to be held Thursday, Oct. 16 at 6 p.m. in the Watford City Civic Center.

Panel members decided to address the separate questions regarding underage access to alcohol and underage access to tobacco as one question. Ron Anderson and Richard Cayko prefer the problem be addressed by everyone, and pointed out the current supports given to local law enforcement. Dale Patten, on the other hand, feels the problem has a relationship link to parents and families–and work should be done comprehensively in order to change behaviors and social norms.  Michon Sax stated that if any kid has access to the illegal substances, “you have a problem… The solution is to work as a community and for parents to be part of the solution.”

To the question about living in poverty in McKenzie County, most agreed that if you are living in poverty anywhere it is not a good condition. However, Cayko pointed out that there is no excuse to not find work if you are physically and mentally able and concluded that if the commissioners can be helpful, they will. Patten pointed to McKenzie County Social Services for assistance to those in poverty. Sax says folks will find compassion in McKenzie County and that access to government help is the same in all counties. Anderson feels poverty is terrible but our county has opportunities for upward mobility by upgrading a low income job into the oil field job arena.

A few Q & A questions from the crowd were hand written upon cards which were passed to the moderator, Pastor Timothy Swenson. They sought explanations about the partial funding of a recent request made by the McKenzie County Healthcare Systems, looked for some specifics regarding the oil extraction tax, sought worker pay-range information and objected to the used of “lousy” scoria on county roads around Alexander.

Do attend the next Meet-the-Candidates forum in the Watford City Civic Center so you may hear the presentations and offer your own questions to the county commissioner candidates.

Water bottles announcing the criminality of underage drinking and highlighting research on the positives paths youth must take to ensure their own prosperity were heartily accepted during the Old Settlers’ Day parade and dinner held in Alexander on Aug. 30, 2008.

“That water saved my life!” stated Lucille Paluck about the refreshing qualities of the bottled water on the 90-degree-plus day. She agreed with the label whose backside pointed out a Countdown for Success:

avoid criminal activity which includes underage drinking, tobacco and drug use

don’t get pregnant until you’re married and once you’re married, stay married

be willing to work any job, even if the pay is initially lower than what you had hoped

graduate from high school

The research information then revealed that anyone not achieving these four markers had a 93 percent chance of living in poverty while the person who achieves the four markers has less than a one percent chance of living in poverty.

Katie Paulson, a member of both sponsoring organizations, the ‘Watford City Community Coalition’ and adviser to the two chapters of SADD, Students Against Destructive Decisions noted, “The people were not only happy to get the free water on a hot day, but were in agreement with the message and endorsed the idea of confronting the drinking problem in our youth!”

Over 600 bottles of water with their homemade labels announcing ‘Underage drinking! It’s a Crime’ were distributed free but with the insistence that people read the label and change their mind about the importance of fighting the crime.

The 63rd Annual Old Settlers’ Days had a parade led by the American Legion Color Guard of Watford City. The Forrest E. Williams American Legion Auxiliary post #94 followed with their float among a large wave of participants.