Special supervisor election is Tuesday

Voters in O'Brien County will have a quick experience in the voting booth when they hit the polls Dec. 7.

Republican Tim Overmire, of Hartley, will be the lone choice on the ballot aside from the write-in slot. If all goes according to plan, he will succeed former District 1 Supervisor Sherri Bootsma, who resigned in October due to an impending move.

Polls are open Tuesday from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Voting locations include: Crossroads Pavilion in Sheldon, Sanborn Community Building, Hartley Community Center, O'Brien County Courthouse Assembly Room, Paullina City Hall, and the RL Johannsen Center in Sutherland.

Pre-registered voters are required to provide an approved form of identification at the polling place before receiving and casting a regular ballot. Voters who are not pre-registered, such as voters registering to vote on Election Day and voters changing precincts, must also provide proof of residence.

Overmire earned the GOP's nod in District 1 during a nominating convention Nov. 6, defeating Justin McCarty by a delegate count of 22-8. He and his wife, Laurena, have four children: Annika, Ruby, George and Caleb. They farm south of Hartley, and he also serves as a district sales manager for Stine Seeds.

Overmire, 38, is a 2002 graduate of Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School. In a previous interview with the Sentinel-News, he described his political beliefs as "for limited government, but positive government." He's held roles on various church boards in the past, but never public office.

"There was nothing real specific that made me want to run," he said. "I've lived in O'Brien County my whole life. The thing I'd like to see is more interaction between citizens and government."

O'Brien County Supervisor District 1 includes the City of Hartley and the townships of Lincoln, Hartley, Center, Omega, Grant and Highland. Six sections of Franklin Township are also included in its boundaries. If he wins, Overmire's term would run through 2024.