Candidates in area contested Primary races express views prior to June 5 Primary

Tuesday, June 5 will be the Primary Election to determine which candidates will be representing their respective political parties in the 2012 General Election in November of this year. A sample ballot of the respective races in both the Republican and Democratic parties was published in the May 23 issue of this newspaper, listing races at the federal, state and county levels for voters to make their selections in.
A listing of polling sites for all 11 of the county's precincts was also published in that May 23 issue. Election polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 9 p.m.

INFORMED CHOICES
In an effort to help inform voters prior to their venture to the polls June 5, The Standard issued a questionnaire to each of the candidates in the local races being contested on this year’s Primary ballot. The series of questions asked and each candidate’s responses to those questions are included in this week’s issue.
The questionnaires were sent to candidates who are vying for a position that had more party candidates running for the position than the ballot instructions indicate to vote for. For example, there are three Republican candidates for Allamakee County Auditor but the ballot instructs voters to vote for no more than one.
In Allamakee County, those contested races all fall within the Republican party, as there is no more than one candidate listed for any Primary race on this year's Democratic Party ballot. The contested offices and their Republican candidates who were issued questionnaires include Dan Bechtel and Dennis Koenig for Board of Supervisors, Pam Benjegerdes, Denise Beyer and Lana Deeney Snitker for Auditor, John Grampovnik and Clark Mellick for Sheriff, and Rod Blum and Ben Lange for U.S. Representative District 1.
Neither U.S. Representative District 1 Republican candidate, Blum nor Lange, returned their candidate questionnaire within the printing deadline for inclusion in this week's publication. Blum's responses came a day after the deadline and no questionnaire was ever received from Lange, despite communication with members of their support staff.
Republican candidates in uncontested races on this year's area Primary ballot include Bob Hager for State Representative District 56 and Michael Breitbach for State Senator District 28.
Likewise, Democratic candidates listed on this year's ballot - all in uncontested races - include Janice Thorson for Auditor, Lennie Burke for Board of Supervisors, Patti Ruff for State Representative District 56, John Beard for State Senator District 28, and Bruce Braley for U.S. Representative District 1.

ABSENTEE VOTING
Voters not able to go to the polls on Election Day may vote absentee in person  at the Allamakee County Auditor’s Office through 4 p.m. Monday, June 4. Saturday, June 2 the Auditor’s Office in the Allamakee County Courthouse in Waukon will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for absentee voting. A request for an absentee ballot by mail must be made by Friday, June 1 on an Official Absentee Ballot Request Form available at the Auditor’s Office or off of the Secretary of State’s Website: www.sos.iowa.gov.
For the Primary Election, voters must declare either a Republican or Democratic party ballot in order to vote. The application may be submitted to the Allamakee County Commissioner of Elections, 110 Allamakee St., Waukon, Iowa 52172.