Dana Kjersem in primary for Hill County Commission

Dana Kjersem will be on the ballot in the upcoming Democratic primary for Hill County Commissioner.

A newcomer to politics, Kjersem faces off against incumbent Mark Peterson June 5.

The winner of the primary will go up against Dale Hansonl, an Independent, in the November general election. No Republican filed to run for the seat.

Kjersem said she decided to run because the county is important and she can bring insight on changes that need to be made.

All specific items voted on or discussed by the County Commission should be listed on the agenda, Kjersem said. She said she thinks they need to list the items so people know what the commission is doing.

The County Commission has voted on some issues in recent weeks without listing the specific issue on their agenda.

How to meet the financial needs of the Great Northern Fairgrounds' is something Kjersem said she would like to work on if elected.

Concern about the fairgrounds financial condition is something Kjersem said she has heard at fair board meetings and on Facebook.

To deal with the increasing costs of county government, she thinks rallying public support within the county to hold events to boost revenue for county items such as the fairgrounds . In other departments, she said ways on how money can be saved and efficiency increased should be looked at.

She said that the county should provide funding through taxes for nonessential functions such as Beaver Creek Park, the H. Earl Clack Museum. She said support the counties give those entities keeps them running.

If a budget were to need to be cut, the county is required by law to fund some services such as the sheriff's office and the road department, but services such as parks, museums and fairs are not required to be funded.

Kjersem said that she would only support a mill levy increase for the fairgrounds if there are no other options available.

She said that, right now, there is a large group of volunteers in the county willing to help out and hold events that can raise money for the fairgrounds.

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Dana Kjersem

Date and place of birth: Dec. 16, 1982, Great Falls

Education: Graduated from Havre High School, 2001; Bachelor of Science in health and physical education, Montana State University-Northern, 2006;

Work history: Child protection specialist, Montana Child Protective Services; Former owner of Laugh and Learn Day Care, Montana State University-Northern Daycare

Family: Randy Cloninger, husband; four children

Political experience: none