Incumbent Eric Jackson running against Will Aullman for Bingham County Commission seat

BLACKFOOT — Two locals are racing against each other for a seat on the Bingham County Commission in District 3.

Incumbent Eric Jackson is running against Will Aullman, who is currently the chairman of the Bingham County Planning and Zoning Commission.

This is a four-year term. Both candidates are Republican.

EastIdahoNews.com sent the same eight questions to each county candidate. Their responses, listed below, were required to be 250 words or less. EastIdahoNews.com is publishing the answers in their entirety, and without any grammatical or style editing.

The primary election is May 21.

Tell us about yourself — include information about your family, career, education, volunteer work and any prior experience in public office.

Aullman: I was raised in Thayne, Wyoming, right in the center of Star Valley.  My father was a small business owner that worked in the local timber industry and my mother was employed by her family’s meat processing business.  I graduated from Star Valley High School in 1995, and I served an LDS mission to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 2006, work brought me to Blackfoot, and it was here that I met my wife, Amanda Wolfley, whose family has lived in Bingham County for generations.  In February of 2007, we were married and began our life together in the small community of Rose.  We have six children, ranging in age from six to sixteen. Our children keep us busy and they are our greatest source of joy.  For the last seventeen years our family has owned and operated a small commercial greenhouse located in Riverside. Our business allows us to work together as a family and to interact with our loyal and friendly customers.  I have a bachelor’s degree in political science from Idaho State University.  For the last seven years, I have been a member of Bingham County’s Planning and Zoning Commission, and I am currently serving as the chairman.

Jackson: I have enjoyed serving as County Commissioner for the last year and half and the experiences I have been given will help me immeasurably if I am re-elected.

I was born and raised in Bingham County on a dairy farm, it’s where I found my love of agriculture and a strong work ethic. Without a doubt, my family is my proudest accomplishment. My wife and I have been married for 47 years and we have 5 children. I’m a fourth generation resident that chose to raise my 5 children in Bingham County. After farming, my professional path has included positions for the University of Idaho Extension in Aberdeen, Snake River School District, and Bingham County Courthouse. I have made volunteerism an integral part of my life. I have volunteered in youth programs, scouts, community dinner table as well as at my church.

Why are you seeking political office? Briefly explain your political platform.

Jackson: I am an enthusiastic member of the Republican Party. I believe capitalism and free enterprise are what has made our nation the greatest nation in the world. The more freedom we have the more we will prosper. My platform addresses the concerns in the community around growth and our community’s future. I want to bring structure and long-term sustainability to the growth in Bingham County. Our agricultural economy and rural setting will always be my priority but our young families also need jobs and homes. I will work closely with community leaders to create a unified plan, lean on the professional opinion of the Planning and Zoning committee, and look at every application on individual merit. I currently work closely with both county and city leaders. I would like to continue to foster a great working relationship to enhance our community’s quality of life such as creating job growth and protecting our parks and natural areas.

Aullman: For the past seven years, I have been serving on the Bingham County Planning and Zoning Commission. This has given me critical insight into the important work on local issues that are core to our community. While serving on local councils is not without challenges, I’ve gained valuable education and experience, and with that, I want to continue to make our community a better place to live for everyone.  My experience on the Planning and Zoning Commission has shown me that citizens are better able to accept difficult decisions if they are listened to.  A representative must be able to discuss issues, often among varying viewpoints, in a way that leads to a positive outcome.  I am committed to listening to concerns, gathering information, and acting in the best interests of the citizens of Bingham County.

What areas in your county need immediate improvement? What actions will you take to address those needs?

 
Aullman: While I believe our representatives should be able to focus on many issues at once, we would see immediate benefits from improving the relationship that our government institutions have with each other.  If elected, I would push to have regular, in-person council meetings with our cities so that we can build better working relationships, discuss needs, and develop solutions to community problems. Bingham County is a large and complex area, and we have to be intentional about making sure our citizens know they are all included. In any community, there are varying viewpoints and conflicting interests that can make meeting and interacting difficult. We have to be willing to work through these challenges and to foster a feeling of community between all of our residents. We have to be willing to disagree without ending relationships.  Elected representatives must look past disagreements and try to find ways to work together for the success of every group involved. I would be committed to doing just that.

Jackson: Our aquafer depletion is a major concern throughout the State and Southeast Idaho, I have attended several conferences and water board meetings to help find solutions and brain storm new ideas for ways to stretch our water supplies to meet agriculture as well as domestic water use.

What are the greatest long-term challenges facing people in your county? What is your plan to meet those challenges? 

Jackson: Record growth in our State and our county is an issue that will cause problems with our infrastructure if we don’t continue with strategic planning. I will continue to work together with leaders in the community, (business leaders, farmers and elected officials).
 
Aullman: While there are many long-term challenges in Bingham County, the growth we are experiencing creates both challenges and opportunities that our county commissioners will play a major role in addressing. Bingham County’s rich, agricultural foundation must be protected while collaboratively meeting the demands of growth in our area. We have the mechanisms in place to balance these two things through our planning and zoning codes, planning staff, and the Planning and Zoning Commission. As an elected official, I will be committed to supporting our community, keeping our ordinances current, and to ensuring that our commission is filled with people who are trained and ready to represent their districts. Another long-term challenge comes from our need to train a new generation to continue the fight for what we have been given. We have an incredible resource of wisdom and knowledge in Bingham County that resides in our older generations.  They paved the way for what we have and I know that it is crucial that we utilize information from them on how to govern the county.  Recently the chairman of our Planning and Zoning Commission retired after ten years of service. We lost a tremendous resource with his retirement but I am happy to have him as a friend. I can reach out to him at any time to acquire his view based on his vast experience. I am committed to helping our older generations pass on the crucial lessons and experiences they have learned, to better inform our decision-making today.

How will you best represent the views of your constituents – even those with differing political views? How will you communicate directly with constituents?

 
Aullman: Representing the views of Bingham County constituents will require me being accessible and focused on listening to them.  I know that public discourse can be contentious and every citizen has strong beliefs on political matters.  We have to have an open exchange of ideas to arrive at the best solutions. I am running for District 3 County Commissioner, who represents the largest district in our county. The constituents of District 3 deserve time, deep dedication, and someone who will build friendships with them so they know that they are represented both collectively and individually. I can and I will listen to and learn from differing political viewpoints. Ultimately, I believe that a representative should spend time with the people they represent and I am committed to doing that.

Jackson: I want to continue to be a person that our community members feel like they can approach with their issues. I have always taken pride in my ability to listen and problem-solve. I want to be a voice for my constituents, both opposing and supporters, in a time of change.

What parts of the county budget could use more funding? Where are places in the budget that cuts could be made? 

Jackson: Right now we can’t hire prosecuting attorney deputies because they can make more money in the private sector. We also can’t hire or keep truck drivers because they make more money in construction jobs or over the road jobs that pay more money.
 
Aullman: As a fiscal conservative, I believe that our current county budget is sufficient for our current demands. But I also understand that circumstances change, with an ever-present pull on the county’s budget. For me, a top priority will be making sure our police have the equipment and training they need to meet the changing world we live in. I cannot promise cuts to the budget but I can promise to be extremely careful with public funds. These funds are collected from all of us and that comes at a great sacrifice. If or when the time comes that an increased budget is needed, I will thoughtfully analyze data and collect citizen input as I put forth my votes. Ultimately, the voice of the people will dictate my priorities with the budget.

What is the role of local media in your community? How can county officials work to have a better relationship with the media?

 
Aullman: Local media has always been the lifeblood of our republic and our communities. Local journalism provides connection, informs voters, and establishes a feeling of inclusion. Our country has suffered a huge loss as local papers have struggled to survive. Thankfully, we still have some newspapers that are filling this role, whether they are printing hard copies or providing content online. As a county official, I will work to maintain an open dialogue with the citizens of Bingham County, including engaging with the media to keep us all informed on county actions and issues. I am committed to being open and transparent with the media by publishing commission agendas, events, informative statements, and other county business so that our citizens have every opportunity to be connected to their government.

Jackson: As a republican, freedom of speech and the press is essential in my view. The more our elected officials can be transparent with the community, the better. As commissioner, I want to continue to encourage transparency. I will encourage the media to report on public meetings and be an essential part of keeping our citizens informed of the decisions being made in their community.

Voter turnout and participation continues to be low in Idaho. What efforts can be made to stimulate greater voter involvement in elections and government? 

Jackson: I feel it’s everyone’s civic responsibility to study the issues and vote. It is my responsibility as commissioner to be visible and let my constituents know of the important matters that are being addressed

Aullman: Our elections are open to every eligible citizen and sadly participation is low. Thankfully, the people who care are the people that vote.  I am happy that our government is elected and directed by the citizenry that cares the most. Our elected representatives have the responsibility to inform their constituents on issues that directly affect them and to try to inspire them to care about these issues. For example, agriculture is the backbone of Bingham County’s economy and our farmers bring an incredible amount of revenue into our area with the production and sale of their crops.  We all benefit from their efforts, and farmers are constantly battling to maintain their right to use groundwater. County commissioners have no ability to dictate the outcome of this battle but we could be a factor in informing the electorate and bringing this to the attention of citizens. As county commissioners we could unite with other counties whose farmers are also facing this battle and we could form a coalition that would have political influence. County commissioners, united with a purpose and backed by an active and informed citizenry, could be an influential voice that could make a difference. When people are invited to the table, they recognize their votes can have an impact, which will result in a more informed, engaged community. As elected officials, we have the responsibility to actively seek out our citizens and truly value their input.