By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

A third candidate has entered the race for District 4 county commissioner.

Aulne resident Amy Soyez, independent, filed for the position last week.

Soyez is no newcomer to the campaign trail. In 2016, she challenged Randy Dallke for the District 3 seat. It was the voters’ decision to expand to five districts that inspired her to enter the ring again.

Soyez has lived in Marion County 20 years. She and her husband, Jeff, are raising a 2-year-old daughter. They have a small herd of cattle.

She said she wants to bring fresh ideas and fresh people to the commission and help people see different sides of issues.

Her job also brings her into contact with many people across the state.

“I work for Merck Animal Health, selling pharmaceuticals to veterinarians,” Soyez said. “I have a very large sales territory.”

Her territory stretches from Dodge City to southeast Kansas.

She has a degree in integrated marketing communications.

The commission could learn from experiences of other counties and cities by finding out what has worked for them, what has not worked, and why, she said.

“We can learn from others,” she said. “I’m not afraid to ask questions and ask for help.”

Marion County’s high tax rate per household is one thing that she’d like to address.

“To get people and their families to stay in Marion County, something has to change,” she said.

Having a family farm helps her know about county road conditions and the issues rural residents face, Soyez said.

“Living in the county and having ranching and an alfalfa plot, I drive county roads to check fields with my husband,” she said. “What better way to have a person to advocate for them?”

Another issue near to her heart is economic development.

“I have a 2-year-old little girl and I don’t want her to grow up in a dying town,” Soyez said. “Economic development is huge.”

Soyez said she’d like to see people have ideas that would benefit the county. She also wants to explore grants that might help the county.

“We need a person with a great business sense, owns cattle, drives our county roads, and lives in county to represent the people of district 4,” she said. “I ask people to stop and talk to me, offer suggestions on best practices in the county, and ideas on how we can help our county grow.”

The other two candidates for District 4 are Trayce Warner for the Democratic Party and Dave Crofoot for the Republican Party.