Carleen Wild
Moody County Enterprise

It may not have been planned, but the two men that ran for the same seat on the County Commission this past week, found themselves sitting across the table from each other Wednesday afternoon.
It was the day after the election. The results were fresh.
The incumbent, John Schiefelbein, took a moment as he was the last in the bunch to arrive, but he quickly and graciously pulled out the chair in front of him and sat down across the table from his longtime acquaintance — and opponent in the election, Jerry Doyle. The two made eye contact, acknowledged the other and without saying a word, the results.
The table of old friends then continued on in their conversation as if it were just about any other day.

To the casual observer who might not know either gentleman, it may have seemed like any other day for them and the group as they caught up over an afternoon soda.
Knowing however what the two had just been through, the heart that each put into the election, the time they’ve spent for months talking with voters and canvassing, and how much both care about the position, this county and the people they represent, it was a pretty unique and heartwarming moment to witness. Running for public office and putting your reputation and name on the line takes a lot of courage and sacrifice, and the news we often see would make it appear few opposing candidates could ever get along let alone appear friends within hours of election results being given.
“You can’t take it personally,” said Schiefelbein, of the results.  
Speaking of results, if you have not yet learned of the election results from this past week,
your new State Representatives for District 25 are Jon Hansen, 1313 votes (29%) and Randy Gross 1581 (35%). Other candidate’s results were Dan Ahlers, 1000 and David Kills A Hundred with 641 votes
Sheriff Troy Wellman returns for another term with 77% of the vote receiving 1944 beating his opponent Rob Neuenfeldt who received 577 votes.
Brittany Bennett received 51% of the vote (1257) to be your next Register of Deeds over Kris Grootwassink who received 1209. A recount will be held Monday, November 21 in this race.
Doyle will return to his former office as County Commissioner for District 1 getting 259 votes to Schiefelbein’s 144 votes.
David Reker won in District 3 with 58% of the vote, 339 over Garnet Paulsen who had 242 votes.
Medicaid expansion was approved across the state with 55% of the vote and Initiated Measure 27 to legalize recreational marijuana failed. In Moody County, voters chose no on IM 27 and yes on Amendment D.
Of all registered voters in Moody County, 66% made it to the polls, either in early voting or this past week.
Back to the current Commissioner for District 1 and why Schiefelbein said he’s enjoyed his term in office, “It’s very interesting and you get to decide on a lot of problems and try to create solutions to them. As a board, all five work together to come up with solutions and it’s pretty good.”
The biggest challenges or problems that the county faces, both agreed that — smart growth, emergency management staffing, better understanding and addressing the high rate of turnover in that department specifically but at least one other as well, and the proposed CO2 pipeline are issues that they both will continue to pay attention to and address, on staff for the county or otherwise.
“Go back to creating the exit interview with all these people leaving us,” said Schiefelbein.  Right now, one person does it but we should be able to find out why all of these people are leaving, give us the truth. It’s behind closed doors, tell us. That’s what we need.” said Schiefelbein.