BROOKINGS – Timothy Bauer, independent candidate for Brookings County Commission, wants to see more representation from towns outside of Brookings on the board. That’s why he filed nominating petitions this spring to join the race.
The two winners of the June 2 Republican primary for county commission will join Bauer on the November general election ballot, with three candidates competing for two four-year Brookings County Commission seats.
In the running in next week’s Republican primary are Mike Bartley, Shawn Hostler and Ryan Krogman. As an independent candidate, Bauer moves direclty to the November ballot without having to compete in a primary race.
Bauer has lived in Brookings County his entire life. He and his wife currently life in rural Elkton and have two children and four grandchildren. He currently works as a farmer and for Timmons Construction. He recently retired from working for South Dakota State University as a mechanic for 22 years.
Bauer had served on the Elkton School Board for 18 years and said he since left the position to vie for Brookings County Commission. He has also served seven years on the Brookings County Weed and Pest Board. He was also on the board for Our Lady of Good Council Catholic Church in Elkton for three years.
“One of the biggest reasons why I’m running is that I kind of think that the county is not represented very well outside of Brookings. And living out there on the countryside, I think that’s one of the biggest reasons why I want to run,” Bauer said.
Bauer believes that the county should be broken up into three different wards and have a commissioner from each ward, with two of the three wards representing entities and interests that are not based in the city of Brookings. This way, he said, the County Commission can more accurately represent those who live in the surrounding townships.
Bauer said he is running as an independent candidate because he does not want to be perceived as having an allegiance to any particular interest.
“I like to keep an open mind all the time and go into meetings with an open mind, not really having an agenda. I know that there are people out there with different kinds of agendas trying to get on different kinds of boards and stuff like that, thinking they can change things that way,” Bauer said. “I like to listen to the people, after I know what’s going on, I like to work with people, not thinking I’m going in there trying to change the world.”
“Even out in Washington, I don’t think that if you’re going to be on those boards and such that you should be Republican or Democrat and that you should have an open mind. I switched to an Independent because you’ve got to have an open mind; you can’t just be of one party affiliation,” Bauer said.
Bauer said the county is made up of all sorts of political beliefs and that someone who is an elected representative in any capacity should be there simply for the people.
“I know there are a lot more people going to be Independents because of that fact. They’re not liking how Republicans and Democrats interact with each other nowadays,” he said.
Bauer knows he’ll need to catch up on the finer details on the various issues Brookings County faces, but he’s not worried.
“When I got on the school board at first, as far as the public service …, I didn’t really know how school and education systems got their money. It is a good learning experience. Education is a priority of mine and I would like to see more funding for education. … I don’t think you’re ever too old to learn more things,” Bauer said.
Contact Matthew Rhodes at mrhodes@brookingsregister.com.
Correction
The feature stories about the Republican candidates for Brookings County Commission, published in the Register last week, did not accurately report that there is a fourth candidate for Brookings County Commission, independent Tim Bauer of Elkton. Bauer is not listed on the South Dakota Secretary of State’s 2020 Candidate List, but the Brookings County Finance Office confirms that Bauer has filed his nominating petitions and is a candidate in the commission race.
The Register regrets the error.
