Incumbent Gerald Boler is being challenged for the second time by his opponent, Steve W. Pierce, both candidates in the 2004 election for the Martin County District 1 seat.

Candidate Steve W. Pierce for District 1 should not be confused with Steve E. Pierce, who is a Martin County commissioner representing District 2, whose term does not expire until 2010.

District 1 includes the towns of Granada and Truman as well as a portion of Fairmont. It is comprised of Center Creek, East Chain, Nashville, Pleasant, Prairie and Westford townships and part of Fairmont Township.

Q: Why are you running?
Boeler: I am running because the experience I have gained representing my district, my county and my region will help me make decisions that will need to be made as state and federal aid is falling on hard and difficult times. I would like to represent my area for one more term.

Pierce: I work three jobs to try and make it through life, and I am tired of taxes rising and things not getting done to change this. My training at work will help me to attempt to slow down the rise of our taxes or maybe even reverse it. I am dedicated to my work and do a good job at it, so when elected, this dedication will be used to help the voters out.

Q: What do you see as top issues in the county and how would you tackle them?
Boeler: Martin County is a $20 million per year business. State and federal mandates have made county and township boards’ decisions more complicated because they do not send financing as we have found with our roads and bridges and area schools. There is pressure from the state to build new jails. Our board will try to provide what is necessary by possibly working with the new jails in Mankato and Blue Earth, which will be opening in 2009. The bond issues presented and passed by three county school districts will be a large enough burden on our taxpayers at the present time.

We hope to receive new gas tax money for our roads and bridges that will provide safe passage to our two ethanol plants, our soybean plant, our nationally recognized hog industry, and the new retail and medical facilities built and being built in Fairmont.

Pierce: I see rising taxes as the main problem. We need to tighten our belts. By having meetings to discuss ways to save money, places to cut back and make lists of most important things to get done to next important things to do and least. By doing this we can reduce the amount of spending and still be able to get projects done. Some may have to wait. With the cost of living going up, people can no longer afford higher taxes.