Jeff Hajny

    On Tuesday, May 13, polls will be open to vote in the 2008 primary elections. In the running for District Four county commissioner, two Republican candidates are still remaining.
     Current commissioner Larry Dedic and John Culver of Milford are running for the Republican spot in the general election.
     Dedic was appointed as a commissioner in October 2007 and has served on the board of commissioners since.
     "It's been a huge learning curve," Dedic said. "Since I've been in, we've had some interesting discussions regarding the selection of an architect for a new jail and road maintenance during the winter."
     This is Culver's first year of running for a public office. He is originally from Central City but owns a farm by Milford and a cabinet business out by Crete.
     "I've been active with the military along with the Boy Scouts and I own a business so I feel with all these I've learned how to be a leader," Culver said. "Hopefully these should qualify me for a commissioner position."
     Both candidates have goals for both the present and the future.
     "The roads are always a problem," Dedic said. "They're something that are always being used so maintaining them has to be a top priority. Before long, we will be dealing with the budget. It will be my first go-around with that so it should be interesting.
     "It's interesting hearing people talking about maintaining the rural lifestyle here in Seward County. I'm hoping to maintain that as well. In Seward County, we have that tendency because of the encroachment of Lincoln. Many people think that isn't very desirable."
     "I'd like to find some way to improve the roads in certain parts of the county," Culver said. "If I didn't have four-wheel drive I couldn't get home. It's getting ridiculous.
     "I know for a fact that there's a lot of debris brought out to the landfill by Milford from Lincoln, which would be fine if they would pay an excise fee. Lincoln has their own but they would rather use Milford's landfill area. The amount of debris in that area
    
    is growing fast and we need to do something about it."
     One of the recent issues facing the county commissioners has been the proposal of a new county jail. Both Culver and Dedic had their own opinions regarding the issue.
     "I'm all for it," Culver said. "It could basically pay for itself. The jail we have now is inadequate. The judges, sheriffs and prisoners need to be in one area. I would love to see it consolidated."
     "The original committee proposed a 100-bed facility and I don't know if the need for 100 beds is really there," Dedic said. "That may be too many. We can go with more of a modest size with an addition down the road if needed. We can't ignore the jail situation because the one we have right now is getting overcrowded. I guess we'll see what the voters think."
     The primary election for Republican District Four County Commissioner candidates will be Tuesday, May 13, and polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
     "As commissioner, I can bring experience. I have quite a few other board experiences and have an understanding of the challenges with budgets and the dynamics of the board," Dedic said. "I'm the only full-time farmer on the board right now so I understand the problems of agriculture. As a farmer, I always try to keep an eye on what is the most efficient way to do something and then try to bring that to the board."
     "I think I can bring useful ideas to the board of commissioners," Culver said. "I've grown up on farms and stand on the side of farmers. I understand that the big guys are trying to push them out but the farmers in the area are trying to keep the county and the state rural."