Local Elections

Incumbents seek reelection in Ward County

Three incumbents are seeking reelection to their Ward County offices in the Nov. 3 general election.

Ward County Sheriff Robert Roed said he is seeking a third four-year term to the office. Ward County Commissioners John Fjeldahl, finishing 20 years on the board, and Jason Olson, finishing his first term, are seeking additional four-year terms.

"There are still some things I would like to see done," Roed said.

He would like the Ward County Sheriff's Department to be able to supply school resource officers to the two schools in the county in communities not served by local police departments. The department, which has a resource officer at Minot Air Force Base schools through Minot Public School, has been looking to bring the program to Des Lacs High School and South Prairie School.

"They definitely have a purpose," Roed said of deputies in schools. "They are not there because of criminal and drug activity. They serve a larger purpose."

He said officers can be a positive influence in schools and can aid schools in situations such as investigating or curbing truancy. Roed said funding, which comes 75% from schools and 25% from the department, has been the biggest hurdle to bringing more resource officers to Ward County schools.

Another program Roed wants to see enhanced is the Skillbridge program, which gives separating military members six months of experience in a field of interest as they transition to civilian jobs. The Ward County Sheriff's Department has used Skillbridge to acquaint military personnel with the department through activities such as civil processing, court security and doing ride-alongs with officers.

"We have gotten some good people. We have hired all but two of them out of seven," Roed said, noting the other two chose to go on to other professions.

Participants aren't eligible to attend the law enforcement academy during their six months in Skillbridge, and that is something Roed would like to change. He has been working to bring the issue before legislators. Allowing participants to enroll in the academy would speed their entry into a law enforcement career, Roed said.

Roed added the sheriff's department expects to welcome another K-9 officer next spring. The department currently has one K-9, having retired its first K-9.

Roed has been employed with the Ward County Sheriff's Office for nearly 36 years.

Following service in the Marines from 1985-1989, Roed attended the Lake Region Law Enforcement Academy in Devils Lake. He began his career with Ward County in 1990 when he was assigned to the jail. Roed was promoted to patrol deputy in 1992, to sergeant in 2000, lieutenant in 2003 and captain in 2015. He has served the past eight years as sheriff.

During his law enforcement career Roed has been involved in nearly all aspects of the sheriff’s office, including general training, weapons training and active shooter training.

Fjeldahl, who serves as Ward County Commission chairman, said he continues to be interested in the business of the county, particularly road issues, which is what drew him to run for the commission the first time.

"We've got lots to do there yet," he said.

The unanticipated items that come before the commission, such as the latest conversations around providing Courthouse space to Minot Municipal Court, make the commissioner's role interesting, too, he said.

A Berthold farmer, he operates a cabinet business, which he said he is beginning to phase out, giving him more time to devote to the commission.

In the next four years, he sees various issues touching on the county that will require the commission's attention or management. For instance, a pig iron plant in a Minot industrial park and a rural anhydrous facility would be significant developments for the county, and the commission can do its part in helping make those projects happen, he said.

Fjeldahl said even though the county is in a good position with its budget, the commission needs to continually look at how it is managing its funds. In the coming year, the Ward County Commission plans to examine its grant programs to economic development programs in the county to determine potential changes in how fund distributions are decided, he said.

If reelected, he said, he plans to continue communicating with other political subdivisions and the Legislature on issues of mutual concern, including the state's 3% cap on local property taxes.

"Many people that probably thought it was a good idea in the beginning are realizing this isn't such a great idea," he said of the cap. "In my mind, it never should have happened. I think people want to let their duly elected people make those decisions."

Olson said keeping taxes low while maintaining services in the challenging environment of inflation will be important in the next four years. The commission has been able to accomplish that in the 2026 and 2027 budgets, even as it ensures employees' compensation keeps up with living costs, he said.

"It's essential to maintain our excellent staff, so having a compensation package that's competitive is critical," he said.

Olson recalled entering his first term as the county was paying off bonds on the construction of the administration building. That freed up money for county roads and infrastructure. The county has been able to make improvements to roads and bridges and continues those efforts, he said, noting that maintenance of highways also is a top priority.

He has appreciated the opportunities to work with other political subdivisions, such as helping the City of Minot by providing a temporary dog pound and now considering space for Minot Municipal Court in the Ward County Courthouse.

"Having the different entities trying to find efficiencies by working together has been rewarding," Olson said. "I have really enjoyed serving as a county commissioner and just working with the team of the other commissioners. I think it's a great group right now. We bring different perspectives, but yet everyone is pretty conservative and really has a desire to be good stewards."

Olson retired in 2020, following a long career at the Minot Police Department, where he served his final eight years as police chief. He later served about a year as federal compliance officer, overseeing grant projects, for the City of Minot.

Other incumbents seeking reelection on the Ward County ballot are Jessica Bock, Foxholm, Ward County Soil Conservation Service supervisor, and Alan Walter, Minot, Garrison Diversion Conservancy director. The contest for official county newspaper includes The Minot Daily News and The Kenmare News.