Hansonl qualifies as independent in Hill County Commission race

Dale Hansonl of North Havre will appear on the ballot as an independent this November in the District 3 race for Hill County Commissioner.

Hansonl said a lack of communication exists between the commissioners and the public, and this is something he hopes to address if elected.

"I had to go around and collect signatures to get on the ballot and that was one of the things I kept hearing over and over again from people is there doesn't seem to be very good communication between the commissioners and the people of the county," Hansonl said.

Hill County Commission Chair Mark Peterson and challenger Dana Kjersem will face off in the June 5 Democratic primary. The winner will go up against Hansonl in the general election.

The Hill County Clerk and Recorder's Office certified March 23 that Hansonl received 194 signatures of registered county voters, more than the 172 needed.

Clerk and Recorder Sue Armstrong said Thursday that to get on the ballot as an independent in the commissioner race, Hansonl had to get the signatures of at least 5 percent of the total votes that were cast for Peterson, who won the seat in the 2012 general election.

Hansonl said he is a former farm and ranch hand who is now a truck driver and heavy equipment operator for Rock Solid Materials Inc.

He said he has never before run for office, but added Thursday that he decided to try and run for the commission a couple months ago.

He said that he also wants to get a better idea of how county dollars are being spent. The Great Northern Fairgrounds, he said, is a good example.

The fairgrounds faces a budget shortfall this year, and he said he wants to know where the money it receives from the county is going.

"What is going on there? Nobody seems to have a good answer," he said.

As an independent, Hansonl said, he is uncertain about how much support he will receive.

"I guess we will find out in November," he said.