A former Bellevue mayor and City Council member throughout much of the 1980s has announced he will seek election to a seat on the three-member Blaine County Commission.
Dale Ewersen, a Republican, said this week he will run for the south Blaine County seat currently held by Commissioner Dennis Wright, a Democrat, and also a former mayor of Bellevue. Wright has not yet said whether he will run for re-election.
Tammy Eaton, a member of the Bellevue City Council, also has announced her intention to run for the seat held by Wright. However, she did not state her party affiliation at the time, and it is unclear which candidates may first face off in next spring's primary election.
The 2006 primary election is May 23 and the general election is Nov 7.
A Bellevue resident for the past 32 years, Ewersen, 55, works as an insurance agent out of his home. He is a member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA). He's also part owner of the Splash and Dash convenience store in Bellevue.
Ewersen graduated from the University of Idaho in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science degree in forestry.
Ewersen said a desire to get involved in public issues again and be a strong voice for the south county influenced his decision to run for office. "That's (the south county) where a majority of the growth is going to come," he said. "I want to get involved again."
While Ewersen doesn't have negative things to say about the current Blaine County Commission, that hasn't lessened his desire to run. "I have no criticism of them at all," he said. "It's just my urge to serve again."
Ewersen said the primary issue facing Blaine County right now is water, both in terms of its quality and quantity. "Water is a finite resource," he said. "People need to be reminded of that."
Blaine County growth issues related to transportation and zoning density are the second most pressing, Ewersen said.
Still, all growth issues eventually relate back to water, he said. "How many straws can you stick in the cup before the cup goes dry?" Ewersen asked.
Fiscal responsibility—something Ewersen said he understands and would be a strong voice for because of his business background—is the No. 3 issue for Blaine County, he said. "Wise use of taxpayer money," Ewersen said. "Always looking for efficiencies in managing funds."
"I just want to offer another viewpoint," he said.
