The election for Cole County presiding commissioner may be next year, but one person has already announced his intention to run.
Current Presiding Commissioner Sam Bushman, owner of Samuel's Tuxedo and Gifts, said he plans to seek a third term in the office.
"I have had so many people asking me to run that I made the decision to run for one more term," Bushman said in his campaign announcement Saturday.
Bushman said he has created an advisory committee with Lyle Rosburg as treasurer.
Bushman was first elected in 2014. He was elected to another four-year term in 2018. In both races, he ran unopposed.
"I feel that I have been a good steward of County funds and improved the quality of life in the County," Bushman said. "Hopefully, by 2022, we'll have COVID behind us and we can get back to focus on some of the county's needs like additional space for offices. (The county is) very frugal, so we are sitting on a surplus of money, because we didn't spend anything last year. All we spent was the money we got from the federal government for COVID relief and none of that could go for capital improvements."
Along with being proud of how the county has responded to the COVID pandemic thanks to the work of the county health department, area health facilities and schools, Bushman said citizens can also be proud of the work the county's public works, EMS and sheriff's department's are doing for them.
"Our road system is wonderful, and being able to help our smaller municipalities get more funds for improvements has been a big plus," Bushman said. "We need to continue to look at things that will benefit the citizens of the county.
"We have survived floods, tornadoes and now COVID, and we are tough in Cole County," Bushman concluded. "I would be honored to serve for four more years."
Candidates who want to run for county offices can begin to file next February.