Travis Rohla

Incumbent Travis Rohla is facing two challengers in the Tuesday Republican primary election for his Major County District 3 commissioner seat.

He will square off against Don Voth and John Robison. If no candidate gains a majority of the vote, a runoff is set for Aug. 24. The winner of the Republican primary will win the seat, since no Democrat or independent candidates filed for office.

Rohla, 32, of Chester, has spent the last 11⁄2 years as county commissioner. Before he was commissioner, he spent about 12 years working for the county, including plowing ditches, trimming trees and operating equipment.

“I started out really at the bottom, and worked myself all the way up to the top,” Rohla said.

During his short tenure as county commissioner, Rohla said he’s applied for some grants to help out the county, but he’s had no luck yet.

He’s hoping that will change if he is re-elected to the position. He also wants to improve roads and bridges in the county.

“I want to keep on doing what I’ve been doing,” Rohla said, “addressing the problems and fixing them.

“I’d kind of like to carry on the rich tradition that Major County has.”

John Robison

John Robison, a 56-year old Fairview resident, is challenging incumbent Travis Rohla in the Major County District 3 commissioner race in the Tuesday Republican primary election.

Don Voth, of Fairview, also is challenging for the seat held by Rohla. If no candidate gains a majority of Tuesday’s vote, a runoff is set for Aug. 24. The winner of the Republican primary will win the seat, since no Democrat or independent candidates filed for office.

Robison was a barber with his father, Leon, in Fairview until 1979, when he took a job with Suits Drilling Co. He later was promoted to supply manager at Suits Rig Corp.

Robison also worked for Ringwood Gas Plant for 10 years and XTO Energy for the past 16 years.

Additionally, Robison runs a cattle farm in the Orion area, west of Fairview.

Robison believes his experience in the farming and oil industries makes him a good candidate for county commissioner.

“I will bring good business and money management skills and apply my knowledge from both oil field and farming experiences to work with and maintain county equipment in the most functional and effective ways possible,” Robison said. “I want to be a good steward of county funds, ensuring efficient management and distinguishing between necessities and excessiveness.”

If he is elected, Robison said he would make sure money paid by taxpayers goes to maintaining roads and bridges and emergency services in the county.

“My goal and greatest accomplishment as county commissioner for District 3 would be to do these things well and to the approval of those who live in District 3,” Robison said.

Don Voth

Don Voth, a 50-year-old Republican from Fairview, is running for Major County commissioner in District 3.

He will square off against incumbent Travis Rohla and John Robison. If no candidate gains a majority of the vote, a runoff is set for Aug. 24. The winner of the Republican primary will win the seat, since no Democrat or independent candidates filed for office.

Voth said part of the reason he is running is because he is tired of seeing projects started in the county but not completed because of a lack of funding.

“I think (the county) needs to build up money and finish projects as they go,” Voth said.

Voth said he would concentrate on making sure projects are fully funded before taking them on.

He also wants to see that roads are maintained and built correctly.

“I want to bring the county better road structure, to work with roads, bridges and drainages and get them in better shape,” Voth said.

Voth also wants to work closely with rural fire departments because he’s an ex-volunteer fireman, and wants to make sure they can do their job correctly.

“I want to work with the other commissioners to keep our county strong and make it a nice place for everybody to work in,” he said.

Voth has more than 30 years experience working with heavy equipment. He also has worked in the mining industry west of Fairview and operated heavy equipment in the oil field.