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LAUREL – Two men will face off to represent the Laurel area on the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District.
Incumbent Jerry Allemann, Wayne, will face off against challenger Steven Rames, also of Wayne, for the seat representing Subdistrict 5 including Belden, Laurel, Dixon, Concord, Wakefield, Carroll, Wayne, Winside and Emerson.
Here’s a look at both candidates: Jerry Allemann
Agriculture is what makes small towns thrive and combining those two encompasses what Alleman represents on the LENRD Board of Directors.
He’s seeking a third term on the board. He’s been involved as director and secretary, and served on the LENRD budget committee during his two-term tenure. He also served as delegate of the Lower Platte Basin Coalition and was appointed by Gov. Pete Ricketts to the Healthy Soils Task Force for 2019-20.
Flood mitigation is a major issue with ongoing studies for Battle Creek,Osmond,Pierce,Clarksonand Nickerson. The board needs to find a viable solution for these communities without costing the taxpayers’ millions, he said.
“Spending the taxpayers’ dollars is a concern and I will take a practical approach to spending taxpayer money, ensuring that we prioritize both drinking water and agricultural water use,” Allemann said. “It’s essential to balance the needs to support our communities while promoting sustainable farming practices.”
Born and raised in Wayne County, Alleman understands constituent concerns and applies his broad knowledge of business and agriculture to come up with common-sense approaches.
He’s a graduate of Winside High School and Southeast Community College, running a family farm operation with his wife, Lynne, and his two sons. The couple also has two daughters and seven grandchildren Allemann said he’s concerned his opponent is running to represent Norfolk’s interest on the board as Rames works as Norfolk’s city engineer.
*** Steven Rames
The best decisions come from working together and finding innovative solutions, and Rames wants to usethatapproachasthenextLENRD director for Subdistrict 5.
“I believe my ability to build strong working relationships with a wide range of people would be key to pushing these efforts forward,” he said, as evidenced by the statewide boards and other professional groups he belongs including a governorappointed seat on the Nebraska Board of Public Roads Classifications and Standards, and a seat on the Nebraska Recycle Council Advisory Board, among others.
He decided to run for the LENRD Board because he’s passionate about making sure natural resources are managed responsibly and fairly. His backgroundasacivilengineerwithan understanding of pollution control, soil conservation, erosion, flood prevention, sanitary drainage and water supply management aligns well with the LENRD responsibilities, he said.
Professionally, Rames spent 19 years working in state and municipal government, followed by 15 years as a consulting engineer, with 11 of those years on rural water systems. For the past seven years, he’s been employed as the public works director and city engineer for the City of Norfolk.
While Rames works for the City of Norfolk, he seeks to represent the citizens of Subdistrict 5 on the LENRD Board.
“WhatIwouldbringtotheLENRD board will diversify and strengthen the Board of Directors as a whole,” he said. “If I’m elected, and I hope I am, it will be by the citizens of Sub District 5 and my priority will be working for their benefit. . . . My sole motivation is to give back to the area I call home.”
Improving water quality in the region is a top concern, he said.
As an elected board member, Rames would help to develop both shortandlong-termplanstomeetthe needs of both agricultural producers and communities.
He’s also committed to working with producerstoenhancecost-share programs and find ways to incentivize innovated soil management and irrigation techniques.
“My goal is to make sure these resources are used responsibly not just for today but for future generations as well,” Rames said.
Along with earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering, Rames is also a registered land surveyor.
He is married to Marysz and they have two grown children.
