Editor’s note: Quay County residents have started voting in the June 1 Primary Election. Quay County Clerk Ellen White said early voting continues through May 29.

The only local contested race is for the District 3 Quay County Commission seat.

Here’s how candidates responded to questions from Quay County Sun reporter Thomas Garcia:

Edwin A. Bruhn

Q. Why have you decided to run for the position?

A. I have been a resident of Quay County (District 3) for many years. I feel our county and its constituents deserve proper representation.

Q. What experience in public service or community relations do you bring to the table?

A: I served as District 3 Commissioner from 1999 to August 2001. I stepped down as commissioner after I was appointed to be the Quay County Magistrate Judge from August 2001 to August 2006.

Q. What issue or concern do you feel needs to be addressed first if you are elected?

A. With the current state of the economy, the commissioners will have to operate wisely with decreased budget. The Commission will need to work together to determine which projects and services are vital and cut spending where it is needed.

Q. One of the main concerns from your constituents has been the condition and upkeep of the roads near Nara Visa and Obar. How will you address this issue?

A. I have driven on those roads and experienced first hand the conditions which have raised the concerns of those residents. One of the roads is a school bus route. Several of the county’s residents depend on those roads for every day to access their lands, livestock, home and for some it is their only way in or out of their property.

I feel the main problem with the roads is the county has not been able to hire a blade operator with the training and experience of Blanton Morrison. Blanton was operating the blade in District 3 when I was a commissioner. I can remember Blanton operating the blade in the early morning hours after a snow storm. He made sure the county’s roads were clear and maintained for the residents. One solution the county can pursue is further and increased training for current and future blade operators.

Q. If elected, what new policies will you pursue or what changes would you make to an existing policy?

A. Once elected you cannot start changing things with the wave of a hand. It simply does not work that way. I alone cannot change any policies or alter the way the county operates. To have a positive impact, I will need to work with my fellow commissioners. By working together, I can ensure the best interest of my constituents and the county’s residents are represented.

Brad Bryant

Q. Why have you decided to run for the position?

A. I feel I have the time and energy it takes to serve as county commissioner, hear the citizens’ concerns and make myself available to the county where I choose to live.

Q. What experience in public service or community relations do you bring to the table?

A. From 1990 to 1998 I served as trustee for the village of San Jon. From 1998 to 2002 I held the position of mayor of San Jon. I have served as a board member on the Economic Development Corporation and for the past 10 years have served on the Dan C. Trigg hospital board.

Q. What issue or concern do you feel needs to be addressed first if you are elected?

A. I have no immediate agenda. While campaigning, the issue that always seems to come up is the roads in all of Quay County. I have listened and made some notes of these concerns and if elected will start attending meetings in June so I will have six months to get up to speed on the issues and concerns facing the county at this time. Then in January I will be ready to serve and bring my constituents’ concerns to the board.

Q. One of the main concerns from your constituents has been the condition and upkeep of the roads near Nara Visa and Obar. How will you address this issue?

A. I have been to Nara Visa several times in the past few months and have driven the roads that my constituents have talked to me about. They truly do have genuine concerns. The people I have visited have sound ideas about how the county could improve these roads and as county commissioner I will bring these concerns and ideas before the county.

Q. If elected, what new policies will you pursue or what changes would you make to an existing policy?

A: Once again I cannot make judgment on any current policies until I have the opportunity to serve and see which policies work and which policies do not. At that time I will have no problem voicing an opinion.

Bill Cone

Q. Why have you decided to run for the position?

A. Over the last 5 1/2 years that I have served on the Logan school board I have found it to be a rewarding experience working with other board members and the community to give our kids the best education possible. I want to expand on that and work for the entire county, with the commissioners, to ensure our county government is working for the people of Quay County.

Q. What experience in public service or community relations do you bring to the table?

A. I am a rancher and conductor/engineer for Union Pacific Railroad. I have served on the Logan school board for the last 5 1/2 years. Our school has made AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress standards) every year, and for the last two years Logan has been given a bronze medal by “U.S. News & World Report” for being one of the “Best Little High Schools” in America. This was accomplished by working together with the school board, administration, teachers, and great kids. I will bring my experience as a board member to the Commission as well as my work ethic as a rancher and railroader.

Q. What issue or concern do you feel needs to be addressed first if you are elected?

A. With the current economic situation our state is in, funding from the state has been cut across the board. We have to have our priorities in order. The first thing I will be focused on is road maintenance from 11-mile road to Nara Visa, and county wide we have to find funding to keep our roads in safe condition. It really doesn’t matter where you are in the county, that seems to be one of the biggest concerns.

Q. One of the main concerns from you constituents has been the condition and upkeep of the roads near Nara Visa and Obar. How will you address this issue?

A. We have to find a solution to this problem. Our school buses loaded with our children run up and down these roads. Our bus drivers express concerns over the condition of the roads. I am sure our commissioners are working on this, and if I am elected, I will be very focused on road maintenance. It is a safety issue plain and simple.

Q. If elected, what new policies will you pursue or what changes would you make to an existing policy?

A. The job of our elected officials is to make sure the government is working for the people, spending our hard-earned tax dollars wisely. I am a very conservative person. I will work with the other commissioners to make this happen.