Dick Mercer
EMPLOYMENT:  Double M Farms
Spouse: Alice
Children: Steve, Scott, Sandy, Brian, Debbie

Dick Mercer
Why are you interested in serving on the Board?  I was on the Board for some 33 years and feel there are quite a few issues to be decided on yet and in the future.

What is your position on temporary suspension on drilling new wells and expansion of irrigated acres?  I fully support this decision at this time mainly because of the continuous drought and the uncertainty of our future water supply.

Do you have a position on the Platte River Cooperative Agreement?  I will not take a definite position until the three final meetings are held.  At this time, I am leaning towards supporting the Agreement.

What are your suggestions for the Integrated Management Plan?  This is a very difficult question to answer, we are entering into new areas of discussion and compromise that have never been dealt with in the past.  The IMPs, both NRD & Basin, are going to take a tremendous amount of compromise on the part of all parties involved.

Brian Keiser
EMPLOYMENT:  Farmer/feeder.  
Spouse:  Torey
Children: Kelly, Amy, Katie

Brian Keiser

Why are you interested in serving on the Board? 
I want to protect our water rights and to help continue fair distribution to all water users.

What is your position on temporary suspension on drilling new wells and expansion of irrigated acres? 
I understand a temporary suspension with our present drought, but we need to meet the needs of our crop production.

Do you have a position on the Platte River Cooperative Agreement?  
This is very important and we need to work together to continue to provide water to our cropland.

What are your suggestions for the Integrated Management Plan?  No answer.

EMPLOYMENT:  
Gothenburg Irrigation 
Richeson Well Service, Owner/Manager
Spouse:  Sonia
Children:  Joe, Tana

***Jay Richeson (up for re-election)


HISTORY  
Broken Bow High School, Associates Degree in Aeronautical Technology at Western Nebraska Community College at Sidney NE.

INTERESTS/ACHIEVEMENTS 
I am interested in the water issues that are facing the people in CPNRD.  
I am also concerned that the control of the CPNRD is in jeopardy of being moved to the eastern part of the state and will be taken out of the control of the local boards.  
I am concerned that the Dept.of Natural Resources is pressuring the CPNRD into making decisions without the correct technical data to base their decision on.

EMPLOYMENT:  
Vasey Farms Inc./Farmer
Spouse:  Mary Jane
Children: Doug, Susan, Nancy

Bill Vasey  Chairman

HISTORY  
1948-1953       Received Bachelor Degree from Colorado State University
1955-Present    Owner/Operator Vasey Farms, Inc.
                 
INTERESTS/ACHIEVEMENTS 
*  Received Water Stewardship Award from the Nebraska Water Users
*  Received Nebraska Pioneer Farm Award from AK-SAR-BEN    
*  Served on education boards for 31 years.

EMPLOYMENT:  
D&D Farms Partnership/Farmer
Spouse:  Sally
Children: David, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Dallas, Lisa, Gregg, Eric, Clark

***Dwayne Margritz (up for re-election)

HISTORY  
Graduated from Lexington High School in 1955.  
Raising corn, alfalfa and soybeans.
     
INTERESTS/ACHIEVEMENTS 
My interests are family, farming and flying.  
Lifetime member of First Presbyterian church, two 3-year terms as treasurer of The Gideons International.
15 yrs treasurer of Dawson Co School District #17.  Been through all of the officers of Nebraska Flying Farmers & Ranchers-currently 8th year as treasurer.  
Currently elected on Lexington Airport Authority.  
Commercial Pilot.

EMPLOYMENT: 
Farmer since 1974
Spouse: Janet
Children: Hubble, Hilary, Haylee

*** Marvion Reichert Jr. (up for re-election)
                                           
HISTORY    
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.  
Raises 1,500 acres corn, soybeans, wheat & alfalfa; 25 acres sweet corn production.  
Licensed pump installer.

INTERESTS/ACHIEVEMENTS 
Family, ag production, new technology, community.
President of school board, member of Tom Osborn Ag Advisory Committee

EMPLOYMENT: 
Farming/Livestock Production
Spouse: Julia
Children: Matthew, Daniel, Michael

***Keith Stafford  (up for re-election)

HISTORY    
Graduated from Kearney High School. Received Bachelor of Science Degrees from University of Nebraska at Lincoln and at Kearney.  
Worked in biological research and development in Maryland from 1970-1974 when he returned to Nebraska.  
Served on Kearney Chamber of Commerce on the Ag Committee.  
I'm employed at the Platte Valley State Bank & Trust Co.

INTERESTS/ACHIEVEMENTS  
Would like to see the board ensure preservation of local control of natural resources.  
I believe water is the most valuable commodity known to man after air.  
Nebraska is blessed with abundant supplies of underground water.

EMPLOYMENT:  
Farmer & Pioneer Sales Rep
Spouse: Sharon
Children: Nate, Barb

Bob Schanou 

Why are you interested in serving on the Board?  I served three years on the NRD Board when I replaced Carl Gangwish.  
I have always been very interested in water issues, since it has a big impact on all of us.

What is your position on temporary suspension on drilling new wells and expansion of irrigated acres?  The easy position would be to be against the suspension.  The right position is to be for the suspension.  The big question is if it should have been done sooner.

Do you have a position on the Platte River Cooperative Agreement?  
At this time I haven't ready anything about the Agreement, so I don't have a position.  But like any big agreement, there will be good parts 
and not so good parts; so a person will have to look and weigh and see if some changes can be made on the not so good before agreeing 
or disagreeing on the Agreement.

What are your suggestions for the Integrated Management Plan?  I have not seen the Plan.  There needs to be a massive cleanup of the Platte River.  
The NRD has done a lot of good projects, but the Platte River is in bad shape.  A mature Salt Cedar uses 200 to 300 gallons of water a day, compound 
this with all the Cottonwood trees and other phreatophytes and it is easy to see that we could have a significant increase in water flowing down the Platte 
River.

EMPLOYMENT  
Farmer since 1974
Spouse: Carolyn
Children: Heather, Jamie, Shane

***Jim Bendfeldt  (up for re-election)

HISTORY    
Bachelor of Science Degree in Business from Nebraska Wesleyan University.
General Farming in partnership with son, Shane.  Served 12 years on ASCS & FSA County Committee, 11 of those as chair. 
Served 7 years on Fort Kearney Cattleman Association, one as president.  Past chair of Gibbon Chamber of Commerce Ag Committee.  
Graduate of Nebraska LEAD program and current board member of Nebraska Ag Leadership Council.

INTERESTS/ACHIEVEMENTS   
My family are all farmers.  We foresee strict pumping restrictions coming.  
The current and ongoing drought foretells what is needed.  
My goal is to protect the farmers interest as a priority.

Jim Shiers

No Response to Profile Request

EMPLOYMENT: 
Farmer
Spouse: Teresa 
Children: Brian, Brad, Aaron, Andrew

***Dan Ohlman  (up for re-election)

HISTORY   
Farm with two brothers, David and Ernest.  I'm a concerned water user.  My family has farmed in this area close to 75 years.  
This is a great opportunity to help everyone who makes a living from agriculture.

INTEREST  
I would like to see the Board continue to find ways to fund some of the existing programs so that more farmers and ranchers can benefit from them 
& to find a sensible solution to the Platte River Cooperative Agreement.  
Would like to continue to see monitoring of our groundwater for nitrates and continue to help irrigators convert from gravity to center pivot irrigation 
to save water.

EMPLOYMENT: 
Woodman Farms
Spouse: Dena Woodman
Children: Courtney, Devin

Scott Woodman

HISTORY   
Graduated from Shelton High School and Hastings Tech.  
My wife, Dena, and I own and operate a mid-size farm and we run a cow/calf operation with the help Dan Raasch.  Dan has been with us for ten years.

INTERESTS/ACHIEVEMENTS 
Courtney and Devin (my kids).  They seem to be involved in everything at school.  
Another of my interests include the farm and cattle operation.  I have been on the board for a number of years.  
I feel that I am now in a position to help guide the board with all of the programs and activities.  
I hope that I can give good input to the Cooperative Agreement and that we can come out of this or influence the Governor in the right direction.

EMPLOYMENT: 
Self-employed as farmer.
Spouse: Tina 
Children:  Evan, Ryan

***Jerry Wiese  (up for re-election)

HISTORY  
I farm land 3 miles northwest of Grand Island, on the same farm I was raised on.  
I've served on the Aurora Coop Board of Directors and the Northwest Educational Foundation.

INTERESTS/ACHIEVEMENTS 
My interests include rights of irrigators, high groundwater levels and water levels in the Platte River.

Stoltenberg Irrigation
Spouse: Deb
Children: Brian, Todd, Sarah

Ed Stoltenberg

Why are you interested in serving on the Board?  
I grew up on a farm in Hall County and have been involved in an irrigation business in Hall County for 30 years.  
I've worked with our natural resources all of my life and feel I could be a good person for the position.

What is your position on temporary suspension on drilling new wells and expansion of irrigated acres?  
Dry years come and go, so I don't have a problem with a temporary suspension of well drilling.  
I would like to see some leniency on expansion of irrigated acres.

Do you have a position on the Platte River Cooperative Agreement?  Does not look feasible due to considerable expense involved.

What are your suggestions for the Integrated Management Plan?  
I'm not real familiar with the IMP, but it does appear to be more of a problem with the western areas of CPNRD.

EMPLOYMENT: 
Central Community College

Spouse: Dan
Children:  Michele Eberl

Alicia Haussler

Why are you interested in serving on the Board?  I have no hidden agenda only want to help to make sure that our natural resources are protected 
for both farmers, citizens in the towns and the wildlife in our area.

What is your position on temporary suspension on drilling new wells and expansion of irrigated acres?  
I agree with what the Board did with the temporary suspension on drilling new wells.  Many times Boards are required to make decisions that are not supported by all.  The main reason they choose to make these decisions is that they feel the decision will be less harmful to the citizens in the area, 
because if they cannot make some of the hard decisions than the state will make the decision for us and local control is better.

Do you have a position on the Platte River Cooperative Agreement?  
I believe that the Platte River Cooperative Agreement needs to be completed and feel lucky that we will base the decisions agreed upon, 
on the COHYST model.  This model is based on facts, which can be supported and not just on what people want.  I think we have no choice, 
we either come up with an agreement that is accepted by all or the state or Federal government will do it for us.

What are your suggestions for the Integrated Management Plan?  
Currently I understand since a law was passed by the state, and that committees have been formed and meeting held in order to seek information 
from the citizens and farmers in the area, on what needs to be included and how best to comply with the law.  I feel at this time that we should 
continue to seek input and discuss the options with our stakeholders.  Since I am not aware of all that is required, I have no other suggestions at this time.

EMPLOYMENT: 
Semi-Retired Insurance Agent/ Adjuster
Spouse: Catherine
Children: Kent, Todd, Connie, Michelle

***LeRoy Arends  (up for re-election)

INTERESTS/ACHIEVEMENTS  
Very concerned with our groundwater table declining and want to keep control of our groundwater at the local level and not by the Federal government.  
Very  concerned about groundwater for farmers irrigating an for pure drinking water for our cities and towns.

Issues NRD should undertake: 
1) Keep the Federal Fish & Wildlife from getting control of the Platte River.  
2) Eliminate the Sandhill Crane folks from determining what and how much water flows down the Platte River.  
3) Help get a spring hunting season to "thin" down the goose/duck population.  
4) Encourage more "center pivot" irrigation within rather than gravity type to conserve water.  
5) Better irrigation water management practices.

EMPLOYMENT: Farmer
Spouse:  Marilyn 
Children: Paula, Lee, Steve, John

Ed Kyes

HISTORY  
Raised on a farm 11 miles northwest of Central City.
1962- Central City High School
1962-1967  B.S. Civil Engineering Degree, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
1973-Present  Owner/Operator Grain Producer

EMPLOYMENT: Farmer
Spouse: Donna
Children: Marie, Marla, Megan, Dan

***Loren Schuett  (up for re-election)

HISTORY  B.A. in Education, M.S. in Educational Administration at UNK

INTERESTS  
I believe we need to strive diligently to ensure that our city-municipal and agricultural water supplies are not put at risk and at the same time 
trying not to negatively impact rural and city dweller alike.

The Board needs to continue efforts to maintain water quality and quantity for agricultural and urban interests.

EMPLOYMENT:
Obermiller Seamless    Owner/Manager
Spouse: Angela
Children: Miranda

***Barry Obermiller  (up for re-election)

HISTORY  
Graduated from Doniphan High School, Attended UNL 1989-1993, Bellevue University Accelerated Bachelors Degree Program

INTERESTS  
To help keep local control of our natural resources.  I'm not part of any Special Interest Groups trying to push their agendas.  
I am just a local citizen trying to help protect our natural resources for future generations.

EMPLOYMENT:
Schuppan's Trailer Sales

Spouse: Lori

Stephen Schuppan

Why are you interested in serving on the Board? We need to have a more ag representation on the board.

What is your position on temporary suspension on drilling new wells and expansion of irrigated acres? 
I don't think that we have enough information or history that we can make a suspension as we have done.

Do you have a position on the Platte River Cooperative Agreement? Against it.

What are your suggestions for the Integrated Management Plan? I don't really have the information now to make a suggestion.