Decisions voters will make November 6

Kimball Mayoral Candidates

Keith Prunty

1. You just received a $100,000 donation and you get to decide where it is spent. How would you spend the money?

I would put the money into our parks. We are trying to update our parks and we don’t have the funds for it now, so I would put it towards the parks.

2. How would you work to improve the coordination between the City and the County?

I think we really have good coordination right now. We currently have interlocal agreements for dispatch, roads, park and rec. I personally speak with our elected officials at the courthouse on a regular basis to keep lines of communication open.

3. What do you plan to accomplish as Mayor of Kimball?

I want Kimball to be a place that people are proud to call home. I believe decreasing blighted areas, cleaning up dead trees, and bad buildings is a good start to attracting new citizens and businesses.

4. Do you have any specific ideas on how you could increase the growth of Kimball and bring more businesses, people and economy into town?

In addition to the answer above, we can improve our external image to entrepreneurs by utilizing economic development programs and funds. You need to have a place where people want to move to. Improving quality of life and having a clean city will help with people wanting to live here. The frisbee disc course, the walking trail, and the movie theatre are three new things the citizens of Kimball can enjoy.

James Cederburg

1. You just received a $100,000 donation and you get to decide where it is spent. How would you spend the money?

My first thought was to use the money for economic development to recruit new businesses to come to Kimball. However, there is a significant amount of money available for economic development that is just sitting there. I would include the $100,000 in the budget for needed improvements to the ballfields and golf course. These are valuable recreational assets for our citizens and they also bring out-of-town money to our area through softball tournaments and golf outing for those who choose to travel to Four Winds to enjoy playing golf on an excellent course.

2. How would you work to improve the coordination between the City and the County?

Improved coordination comes through improved communication. I personally get along very well with the County Commissioners. We need to be sharing ideas and explore ways we can work together in the best interest of our citizens.

3. What do you plan to accomplish as Mayor of Kimball?

I am retired so I have the time required to do the job without the conflicts that a job brings to the table. I was the CFO (Chief Financial Officer) of FirsTier Bank. I was responsible for financial reports, budgeting, financial analysis of ways to improve the efficiency and profitability of the bank and also managed the bank’s investment portfolio. I am the one candidate with the business experience to bring a strong business approach. This would include planning for more than one year at a time. My experience and new vision will better leverage your tax dollars in your best interest.

4. Do you have any specific ideas on how you could increase the growth of Kimball and bring more businesses, people and economy into town?

Amy Sapp does a superior job as project coordinator/economic director. She has worked to expand the programs available to address some of our past shortfalls in economic development. The City of Kimball currently has an economic development plan detailing the guidelines for a loan and grant program. However, we do not have a written economic development strategic plan. Developing this plan would allow us to reach out and actively compete for new businesses. I have a vision to work closely with Amy, Dan Dean and a select group of business leaders within our community to build a much more vibrant economic development strategy together. The City of Kimball and the select group of business leaders would then continue to work together with specific assignments of responsibilities and timelines for accomplishing our goals. It is my understanding that the assignment of tasks with timelines is an essential step that the City has not done in the past as follow-up to the numerous studies that have been done. That is one reason we frequently hear that we have talked about the tings we need but little seems to get done.

Candidates for Clerk of the District Court

Deb Diemoz – Republican Candidate for Clerk of the District Court

1. What would you do if the people above you were wrong or making a mistake?

I would bring to the attention the mistake and ask what can we do to solve the problem. I work with Supreme Court and we are always making decisions together to make sure we serve the justice system the best we can.

2. How would you determine your priorities when multiple projects are due?

Our justice system is always having to prioritize decisions. Priorities in the district court would mean making the timeline by statute and then follow through with the others in order as they have been presented.

3. Why do you want to keep this job?

It’s a very rewarding job and I’m very well trained in the job. You’re dealing with people’s lives, so being qualified is a must. This is not an easy job and takes years of development and training, the programs change often and I am aware of how the system works. I enjoy serving our community and working with others to better our judicial system.

4. How has your post-secondary education prepared you for this job?

I college you’re independent and learn endurance, integrity and getting the job done no matter what. My education has trained me to write letter to our Senators, make decision and be aware of how the outcome may affect others.

Diana Engstrom – Democratic Candidate for Clerk of the District Court

1. What would you do if the people above you were wrong or making a mistake?

If the people above me were wrong or making a mistake, I would ask them to explain to me how they arrived at that solution, or how they came to that decision. I might suggest that I came to a different solution and explain my process to them. Hopefully, it could be resolved amicably. I understand that mistakes do happen.

2. How would you determine your priorities when multiple projects are due?

I determine my priorities, first by looking to see which ones might have an earlier deadline and prioritize that project. Next, I would attempt to prioritize them by importance, working on the most important ones right away. If all the projects were equally important and had the same deadline, I would start with the ones that would take me the least amount of time so that I could complete those and efficiently move on to the next one.

3. Why do you want to keep this job?

I have worked in law offices for more than 35 years and have enjoyed it tremendously! I am curious to see now how all those pleadings and documents that I have worked on over the years are handled at the next level. I want to see what effect those pleadings have on the outcome of the court cases, and I’d like to see the court inaction on a daily basis. I have desired to work for the court system for a long time and I feel the time is now right for me to become the Clerk of District Court.

4. How has your post-secondary education prepared you for this job?

After graduating high school, I attended Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff, where I obtained an associate’s degree. Upon graduation, I worked for VanSteenberg, Myers & Burke Law Office in Kimball before moving to Wyoming for a few years. When I returned to Kimball, I was employed by American National Bank and enjoyed learning about banking in the loan department. I was offered a job at O’Brien, Huenergardt & Cook Law Office and have worked for several attorneys as they came and went from Kimball. I had the very best supervisor and teacher while working or O’Brien, Huenergardt & Cook, who instilled in me the qualities of accuracy dependability, conscientiousness, self-discipline, and professionalism. While working at the law office, I completed the paralegal program through WNCC, which I feel is a huge asset in preparing me for this job. I continue to have the privilege to work for attorneys today!