WRIGHT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

District 1:

Tina Diedrick

Name:  Tina Diedrick

Position you are seeking: County Commissioner District 1

1. Tell us about yourself. You could include your age, family, part of the where you live, how long you have lived there, education, occupation, or any other information you choose.

My name is Tina Diedrick and I am running for Wright County Commissioner in District 1. I grew up in Annandale, enjoying the Heart of the Lakes. I have a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Political Science and Criminology from the University of Minnesota.  My husband, Brian, and I raised our five children in Norwood Young America for 25 years. I ran a small business for fifteen years providing licensed family childcare. I also provided foster care, crisis nursery, and respite care for children on the spectrum for five years. We moved back to Annandale three years ago to care for my father.  My father was a Vietnam Veteran and worked 27 years on the State Patrol.  My parents taught me what it means to love and serve the Lord, your family, community, and country. 

I enjoy serving and loving people with the gifts and passions God gave me. While living in Norwood Young America, I volunteered at church, school, library, parks, and city festival.  In 2010 I was honored to be elected their Mayor, and served almost 8 years.  I also served on planning and zoning, economic development, and personnel committees.

2. Describe your qualifications for the position you seek and how you can serve the people. You should include any leadership experiences and past accomplishments in the area of public service.

I led the city council to accomplish the following:

•Hired a new administrator and challenged the council with major financial changes.  We developed a five year financial plan, implemented a long range debt plan, and refinanced bonded debt to save the city millions of dollars.

•Responsible for leading conversations with federal, state, local officials, businesses, MNDOT, and Met Council to communicate transportation safety improvements along US Highway 212 corridor.

•Advocated and received almost $1.3 million dollars of Safe Routes to School Grants.  These funds built a pedestrian underpass to replace a six-lane school crosswalk on US Highway 212.

•Collaborated with local businesses to provide workforce training programs, and promoted our city industrial park at MNCAR events and online to bring new businesses, jobs, and an increased tax base to our community.

•Updated city policies including the employee handbook, training requirements, salary chart and benefits, employee job descriptions, and structural reorganization.

•Participated in a year-long leadership program building knowledge, statewide networking, and engaging in activities to provide excellence in public service.

•Active member of the Minnesota Mayors Association, League of Minnesota Cities, Mental Health Consortium, Local Government Workgroup, and SWCTC.  I also attended regional NEMO Workshops focused on plans and policies to protect our lakes.

3. Explain why you have chosen to run for this office.

It is very important to me to build relationships with people to understand their concerns. I am available, will do my homework, and use my experience and knowledge to serve you as commissioner. I know how to ask tough questions, problem solve together, and make wise decisions managing the growth in Wright County. I support our law enforcement to keep Wright County a safe and great place to live, work, and play. We need to protect our beautiful lakes and prime agricultural land, and update the gravel mining ordinance to address health and safety concerns, reclamation and restoration. We need to be diligent about supporting local businesses, attracting quality jobs, and providing additional business opportunities, while keeping taxes affordable.

Terry Strege

Name:  Terry Strege

Position you are seeking: County Commissioner District 1

1. Tell us about yourself. You could include your age, family, part of the where you live, how long you have lived there, education, occupation, or any other information you choose.

My name is Terry Strege. I am 53 years old. I have been a resident of Wright County since 1993. My wife and I have lived in Buffalo on the north side of Buffalo Lake since 1998. My education includes an Associate of Applied Science degree in Law Enforcement from Normandale Community College and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law Enforcement with a minor in corrections from Minnesota State University in Mankato, MN. While attending college I was a licensed part-time Police officer with the Mankato Department of Public Safety.

In 1993 I was hired by the Wright County Sheriffs Office. I have served  the residents of Wright County as a Sheriff Deputy for 29 years. I am currently assigned to the patrol division. I wish to continue working for the citizens of my district as a Wright County Commissioner. I look forward to a new chapter and career keeping the citizens of Wright County safe.

My hobbies include cooking, hunting, fishing, dog training, and judging dog competitions. In 2019 I was selected to judge the NAHRA Invitational in Palmer, AK.

I enjoy volunteering for  two charitable events of which I am a co-founder. Fetch-A-Cure gives the proceeds to a cancer patient and the other is a duck hunt for disabled veterans in Ney Park.

2. Describe your qualifications for the position you seek and how you can serve the people. You should include any leadership experiences and past accomplishments in the area of public service.

I am committed and dedicated to serve the citizens of Wright County. My qualifications and leadership experience expand over 31 years on the front lines in law enforcement. While serving as a police officer in Mankato I was promoted to the leadership roles of Corporal and Sergeant. As a Deputy Sheriff, I have been assigned to the leadership role of field trainer supervising and training the new recruits. I was assigned to the Major Crimes Investigation Unit (MCIU), Emergency Response Team (ERT), lead sniper, undercover on the Wright County Drug Task Force, now the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Recreational Enforcement Unit as a rescue recovery diver, and the court services division. As a Deputy Sheriff I earned three service awards.

I have been problem solving on the streets of Wright County for 29 years. I have dealt with the problems and issues of citizens from property line disputes, civil and criminal litigation, and statute and ordinance interpretation. I have enforced the laws and protected the rights of citizens the entire time. I have worked with all departments in Wright County and have developed working relationships with many individuals. I have worked in a mental health facility in Minneapolis and understand the unique needs, issues, and concerns of the mentally ill. I served as member at large, vice president, and president of the Four Points Retriever Club. As president I turned the club around financially and we now have a annual budget of over twenty thousand dollars. I organize and facilitate the two charitable events each year. I will serve the citizens of district one fairly and equally. I will also listen to the concerns and needs of all constituents district wide.

3. Explain why you have chosen to run for this office.

I decided to run for county commissioner because of my devoted service to the community as a Sheriff’s Deputy. I look forward to continuing my service using the experience I have gained over the past 29 years in Wright County.

I know I will help our  community grow in the future and maintain the high values and beliefs. I want to use my working relationships to make improvements and assist in making sound financial decisions. I want to fulfill the needs of the community and help make Wright County fiscally responsible.

I am happy living here in District 1 and have no plans of leaving. I am motivated to build our community and elevate our way of life.

4. What do you consider to be the two most important issues facing your district now? Describe that issue and tell how you would propose solving it.

The most important issue facing District 1 and the entire county is safety. Your safety is my number one priority. Supporting and funding for the safe schools initiative is crucial. I will support Sheriff Derringer in his statutory obligation of public safety. I will give him the tools and personnel necessary to accomplish this vital mission. This is why people are moving here. Wright County is a great place to live and grow up away from many of the dangers and issues found in other communities.

The second most important issue facing District 1 and the county is financial responsibility. We have made some major investments in the infrastructure of the county from buildings to roads. I will continue to look toward the future with necessary upcoming projects. With that in mind I will be fiscally responsible to the citizens by evaluating the needs with the wants of the community and act accordingly. We all  pay taxes and work hard for our money. Over spending, squandering, and waste are pet peeves of mine and I will work to eliminate them. Transparency and communication with the public are critical in accomplishing these goals and solving these issues.

5. What do you consider to be the three most important issues facing the state now? Describe each issue and tell how you would propose solving it.

The first major issue facing the state is crime. Each day that goes by police are “handcuffed” in their ability to deal with criminals. There are bad people out there and we need to effectively deal with them. The criminals and the issues associated with them are here and more and more arrive daily. (IE Allina clinic shooting and St. Michael standoff most recently). Our County Attorney does a good job at the local level charging criminals. At the state level we need to write legislation that will allow police to do their jobs, protect us! Legislation needs to install appropriate penalties for crimes with weapons and vehicles. No more slaps on the wrist and plea bargains eroding away the seriousness of the crime and tragedy’s suffered by victims. I will communicate and work with legislators to meet the needs of our Wright County residents.

The second major issue facing the state is infrastructure. We have roads, bridges, and facilities that need to be updated. These need to be prioritized. The juvenile detention facilities need to be expanded to contain and educate our problem youth. We need appropriate jail space for our offenders. Funding needs to be allocated to update these projects throughout the state. I will contact our legislators and facilitate the funding and help in the prioritizing of these type of projects.

The third major issue in the state is the safety of our children. Local law enforcement is working on policies and procedures in the schools. The state and department of education need to streamline the communication to provide information regarding threats in our schools. This extends to school events like football, basketball, and all school functions on and off site of the schools. At risk students need to be identified sooner and communicated to law enforcement, our children’s safety is paramount. I will work on legislation to streamline the system through our elected officials and lobby for the allocation of resources and funding.

District 3:

Jeanne Holland

Name:  Jeanne Holland

Position you are seeking: County Commissioner District 3

1. Tell us about yourself. You could include your age, family, part of the where you live, how long you have lived there, education, occupation, or any other information you choose.

I was born to Duane and Kathy Barthel in St. Michael and lived in the STMA area my whole life. I married my husband Wesley 40 years ago. Wesley is a retired Wright County Deputy and we have 5 kids Eric, Connie, Drew, Brent & Bryan who are all married and we have 15 grandkids and 3 more on the way. I graduated from St. Michael/Albertville H.S. and then went on to Anoka Technical College where I got my Nursing degree. I have worked 35 years primarily as a self-employed home care nurse.

2. Describe your qualifications for the position you seek and how you can serve the people. You should include any leadership experiences and past accomplishments in the area of public service.

I am a lifelong member of the St. Michael Catholic church, where I have served as Sunday school, confirmation teacher and other volunteer positions.

I served from 1991-2005 as Cub scout pack committee chair and advanced to the District and Council level as District Commissioner.

I was elected to the St. Michael /Albertville school board in 2000 and served 14 years until 2014.  I was appointed by that  board to serve as our representative on the Wright Technical Center Cooperative board. This was an eight school cooperative school in Buffalo that provides Technical education for juniors and seniors pursuing careers in the Technical fields. I served 5 years as chair of this board. I enjoyed serving my community in these roles.

3. Explain why you have chosen to run for this office.

With the new District boundaries, I felt the new District 3 looked like a nice demographic I’d like to represent. It consists of the Cities of Albertville and Otsego. The average age is 34 for both cities per the census of 2020. So a lot of young families. But I also understand there are life long residents of my district and Wright County that want to make sure we keep our small county feel. I have always been a proud resident of Wright County.

4. What do you consider to be the two most important issues facing your district now? Describe that issue and tell how you would propose solving it.

Working to retain a good sheriff’s department is key to keep all our county safe. I especially want to push for body cameras for all our deputies like our neighboring counties. This will protect our Deputies and the county from lawsuits. I also see the explosive growth of my district and I want to work with the cities to make sure our roadways keep up with the traffic load that it brings.

5. What do you consider to be the three most important issues facing the state now? Describe each issue and tell how you would propose solving it.

Inflation is number one issue our residents in the State feel. I want to make sure the tax burden for the county doesn’t increase because of the strain on our residents.

Crime is at an all time high. Because of the defund police movement we are seeing many law enforcement officers leaving the profession and the law enforcement schools are seeing a big decline in graduating officers. I want to make sure our deputies feel valued so they stick around; we need them now more than ever.

Michael Potter

Name:  Michael Potter

Position you are seeking: County Commissioner District 3

1. Tell us about yourself. You could include your age, family, part of the where you live, how long you have lived there, education, occupation, or any other information you choose.

I’m 64 years old, married for 39 years to Heidi. We raised three daughters and have two grandchildren. We have lived in Albertville for 38 years. I’ve attended North Hennepin Community College. I’m self-employed in sales.

2. Describe your qualifications for the position you seek and how you can serve the people. You should include any leadership experiences and past accomplishments in the area of public service.

My experience as a Councilmember, Mayor (Albertville), and District 4 County Commissioner give me insight into resident’s concerns in the areas of growth, safety, transportation, parks and quality of life.

3. Explain why you have chosen to run for this office.

We need leaders who think about big picture issues facing our county, all the while being mindful of keeping taxes down and preserving our quality of life.

4. What do you consider to be the two most important issues facing your district now? Describe that issue and tell how you would propose solving it.

Otsego is the fastest growing city and largest in the County. With growth comes issues i.e. planning transportation and economic challenges. As a team member on the I-94 coalition, we secured funding for the expansion and focused on the fast-growing corridors.

5. What do you consider to be the three most important issues facing the state now? Describe each issue and tell how you would propose solving it.

Unfunded mandates, taxes and changing demographics. By being involved in Federal and State laws, and how it affects Wright County. And by making sure our voice and concerns are heard.

District 4:

Nadine Schoen

Name:  Nadine Schoen

Position you are seeking: County Commissioner District 4

1. Tell us about yourself. You could include your age, family, part of the where you live, how long you have lived there, education, occupation, or any other information you choose.

I am Nadine Schoen and I have been married to my husband Pat for 29 years. We have raised 3 wonderful children in this great community and are anxiously waiting to become grandparents in January.

2. Describe your qualifications for the position you seek and how you can serve the people. You should include any leadership experiences and past accomplishments in the area of public service.

I have owned and operated a local business for over 30 years and I have been a city council member in St. Michael for the past 12 years. During my 12 years as an elected official, I have also assisted and contributed to more than 10 advisory boards. I was also a leader on Trailblazer, I-94 coalition, I-94 chamber, Planning and Zoning, and Economic Development Authorities. These have allowed me a unique and broad perspective on the opportunities and challenges that have been in front of the county.

Through the highway expansion project and other city endeavors, I have developed and established relationships with many county, state, and federal legislators. This has provided the opportunity to keep St. Michael’s goals and priorities.

I want to maintain the county’s focus on residents and valued business owners’ goals. I am an experienced leader that will make a positive impact in Wright County.

3. Explain why you have chosen to run for this office.

I chose to run for office because self-government is the greatest gift of this country. One of the biggest reasons I am running is because I want to make a difference in our community and make it the best it can be.

4. What do you consider to be the two most important issues facing your district now? Describe that issue and tell how you would propose solving it.

I consider public safety and taxes to be the most important issues facing our district currently. Public safety is an important issue because it is a necessity for people to feel and be safe in their homes and workplace. As I have gone door to door throughout the district, people have been voicing their concerns on safety being their number one concern. Taxes is another important issue because people are struggling with high inflation, high cost of fuel, high cost of food, and high cost of necessities. These are the reasons I will fight to hold the line on taxes in Wright county.

5. What do you consider to be the three most important issues facing the state now? Describe each issue and tell how you would propose solving it.

The most important issues facing the state currently are very similar to those facing our district. Public safety should be the number one priority of the government. More and more people are moving away from areas of Minnesota that they no longer feel safe in. This a major issue because people need to be able to feel safe with their families in their communities. Taxes are also an issue because people are struggling with inflation and high cost of living. With that being said, Minnesota needs to hold the line taxes. Another important issue is government accountability. Minnesota needs to make sure every tax dollar is spent properly. To make sure it is spent properly, the state needs to crack down on waste, fraud, and abuse.

Mary Wetter

Name:  Mary Wetter

Position you are seeking: County Commissioner District 4

1. Tell us about yourself. You could include your age, family, part of the where you live, how long you have lived there, education, occupation, or any other information you choose.

Wright County resident, 49 years, Rockford Township;  married to Leander, 47 years;  three adult married children, John, Paul, and Anne;  three young grandchildren;  B.S. in Medical Technology, University of MN.;  University of MN. Leadership Institute graduate; dairy and crop farming over 30 years;  present District 4 County Commissioner with less than two years of a four year term.

2. Describe your qualifications for the position you seek and how you can serve the people. You should include any leadership experiences and past accomplishments in the area of public service.

Present District 4 County Commissioner of less than 2 years; Wright Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor (SWCD), 18 years, elected;  Legislative and Finance Committees; past Metro Area Director to the MN. Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (MASWCD), 6 years, representing 11 counties;  past manager of the Buffalo Hospital laboratory;  past dairy and crop operation, 30 plus years;  Wright County Extension Committee;  4-H leader and volunteer, over 25 years;  Wright County Historical Society member and volunteer;  MN. Steam Engine Association (MSEA) member;  licensed historical boiler engineer;  Congressional 6 Board representative;  political convention delegate and campaign volunteer;  election judge. 

Through all of these experiences, I have demonstrated my leadership skills, listening skills, integrity, team work, decision making, accessibility, common sense, and accountability. 

3. Explain why you have chosen to run for this office.

Because of redistricting in the northeast part of the County, I have only been a Commissioner for less than 2 years of my 4 year term.  My District voted for me then with the expectation that I would listen to them and change what was happening, the out of control spending of the County.  The bonding debt load was out of hand.  I want to keep our County strong without wasteful spending.  That is what I vowed to do when I took office and will continue to do.

4. What do you consider to be the two most important issues facing your district now? Describe that issue and tell how you would propose solving it.

1.) The increasing population and how to cover the costs of services needed

2.) Providing roads and bridges

Costs continue to rise and continuing to seek grants and work with our legislators on the importance of our county’s needs is essential.  Working with our partners for a greater voice is one way to achieve success.

5. What do you consider to be the three most important issues facing the state now? Describe each issue and tell how you would propose solving it.

1.) Over spending

2.) Party fights

3.) Rising crime

Saying no is something the legislators must learn.  Compromise is necessary to stop the bickering between the parties.  Putting the criminals behind bars would be achieved with better leadership with new leaders.