The primary election for Bannock County is on Tuesday, May 21, and three races will be contested, including two commissioner seats and the prosecutor.

For the District 1 Commissioner seat, incumbent Republican Ernie Moser is facing off against Larry Burden in the GOP primary.

In a candidate questionnaire from the Idaho State Journal, each of the District 1 Commissioner candidates explained why they are running for office. Candidate Robert Ballard’s name will still appear on the ballot but he said he has withdrawn from the race.

Larry Burden

“There have been three county commissioners in Bannock County, each representing a certain area of our county. For all the years we have lived in the southern end of this county, there has not been a single commissioner who recognized nor advocated for any part of District 1 past McCammon and for the most part not past Inkom. County Commissioners serve all the citizens of Bannock County. But, the idea of a commissioner’s district is that he or she can focus and champion the concerns of a smaller group of citizens where he or she lives. I intend to live up to that concept.”

Ernie Moser

“For the past five and a half years, I have served as Bannock County Commissioner. During that time, it became evident Bannock County was in need of a vision and mission statement in order to facilitate communication, unity and accountability. With that goal in mind, we adopted the following statements for Bannock County. Vision: Bannock County will be a leader in the state of Idaho through effective, efficient, and transparent governance. Mission: Bannock County is committed to investing in our employees, developing effective policies and support systems while promoting community wellness and economic growth through prudent stewardship of tax dollars. As chairman of the board, I Champion the values of the vision and mission statements. My top two priorities remain taking care of our employees and stewardship of taxpayer dollars. I earnestly appreciate your vote for Ernie Moser Bannock County Commissioner.”

For the Commissioner District 3 race, two Democrats will face off against each other, Dave Archuleta and Tamara Code, and two Republicans will also be battling for the nomination, Ken Bullock and incumbent John Crowder.

David Archuleta

“To serve the community. The biggest issue is the lack of good communication with the electorate. We have become an online, unconnected society. Hate speech is more common today. We need to get back to opening our ears and eyes to the real issues.”

Tamara Code

“I am running because of my personal journey and the values I’ve held dear throughout my life. Five years ago I faced significant personal challenges, including being laid off and diagnosed with lymphoma. Instead of succumbing to despair, I chose to go back to school and earn my Master’s degree, all while undergoing chemotherapy. This experience, shared with my daughters who also pursued their education, taught me the value of hard work, resilience, and making the most out of difficult situations. Growing up in a working-class family and understanding the value of hard work from a young age, I’ve always strived to provide a better life for my family and to support my community. My campaign is rooted in the desire to bring change to the commission, introduce new ideas, and ensure representation for all, especially women and those marginalized by the hyper-partisan climate rampant in our commission.

I’m running because I believe in personal freedoms, listening to constituents, and voting in a way that reflects their needs and desires. It’s time to change the commission’s climate, which has been dominated by one party for too long. I aim to bring balance, representation and a woman’s perspective to the Bannock County Commission, standing on the shoulders of giants who have paved the way for this kind of change, like Carolyn Meline.”

Ken Bullock

“I see a need for my background and my experience to help move the county forward, with years of being a mayor of McCammon and serving in Bannock County. We have unprecedented growth around Bannock County. With that comes a lot of challenges and a lot of decisions that are going to be made in the next few years. I feel like I understand the county and I understand the people who live here. I understand that direction that most people want to go and feel like I can help on the Commission to help those things happen.”

John Crowder

“I am running for a second term in order to continue to work toward providing essential services to the taxpayer in the most efficient manner possible. I want to continue to help keep spending under control in order to provide property tax relief.”

For the seat of Bannock County prosecutor, two GOP candidates, Erin Tognetti and Ian Johnson, will face off against each other before facing Democrat Jennifer M. Call in the November general election.

Erin Tognetti

“I’m running because I am passionate about the duty that the prosecutor’s office has to fight for victims of crime and to support our law enforcement and to do everything we can to make our communities safer. That’s what I’ve worked toward for the time that I have been with the prosecutor’s office, and I have gotten justice or a lot of victims of crimes by going to trial and by arguing for heavy prison sentences. I feel like I could do even more toward these objectives as the county prosecutor.”

Ian Johnson

“I have over 20 years of experience as an attorney in the community and I have 14 years of experience as a prosecutor. I know that I can make the change that needs to be done to better serve the citizens and community by first being tough on crime. Second, creating and maintaining open relationships with law enforcement and supporting them. And third, making sure that the community has an open opportunity to communicate with the prosecutor’s office so they can feel more trusting and more invested in what happens.”

Jennifer M. Call

“I am running for the office of Bannock County prosecutor to ensure our community is safe and just for everyone. Raised in Pocatello and deeply rooted in public service, I have worked in our criminal justice system as a prosecutor, public defender and legal aid attorney. My platform focuses on prioritizing violent crimes, enhancing survivor advocacy and expanding diversion programs for nonviolent offenders. My legal and social work background equips me to bring about the necessary reforms to build trust in our justice system and protect our community.”

Incumbent Republican Bannock County Sheriff Tony Manu is running unopposed in the May 21 primary.

Polls on Tuesday will remain open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. For a list of your voting location, visit bannockcounty.us/elections.