Mike Allen is a candidate for the Blaine County Commission district #1.
He served as the district’s commissioner for eight years before retiring in 2022. A graduate of Geary High School, Allen said he was born into a legacy of service to the county. His father worked for the county for more than 30 years, and his uncles and brothers – now largely retired – also worked for either Blaine or Canadian county.
He spent eleven years working at the correctional facility in Hinton, and also worked as a locksmith. He married his wife, Cathy, in 1997 and the couple have two children, a ‘bonus daughter’ and several grandchildren.
So why does Allen want to return to the job after only a short hiatus?
“I miss it,” he said. “I miss the people, the staff, the public.” And he believes there is still much to do that his experience can help accomplish.
He said when he sat on the commission previously, progress was made on the roads. “We chip sealed quite a few miles in each district each year. I’d like to see that back in motion, it takes all three commissioners working together to make that work.” He said the chip seal helps take pressure off the paved roadways in the county.
Allen would also like to begin a rehab of the 1907 Blaine County Courthouse, with an eye toward historical preservation. “It needs electrical updates. I’d like to get that in motion. It is a monumental asset to our county.”
Those projects and others are where Allen feels his experience can come into play. The district barn, completed less than two years ago, was consumed by a fire and requires a complete rebuild. He was the commissioner in the district when the build took place, so it is familiar ground.
“That was a catastrophic loss, but the insurance has paid and we have to jump in and build a new one, start right away, if I am elected,” Allen said.
He noted that there is much more to being on the commission than roads and bridges, such as finances and the rules that bind commissions and commissioners. That knowledge is something he is looking forward to sharing.
“My experience counts for a lot. We have a new commissioner in district #3 and I look forward to passing on some of what I know,” he said.
Chad Scheihing is a candidate for Blaine County Commission District #1.
He was born in Blaine County, attended school at Greenfield and graduated from Geary High School, where he was active in the FFA and played football.
He says those experiences helped shape his leadership skills and work ethic. “The blue and gold jacket (FFA jacket) and everything it stands for has given me so many opportunities and life lessons,” he wrote.
Scheihing married his wife, Katie, in 2008 and they farm and run a cowcalf operation. The couple has three children.
Scheihing has served on the Greenfield Fire Department for 28 years, 11 of those years as chief. That role, he said, has allowed him to serve residents and taught him to collaborate with other departments and build relationships.
He has been on the Blaine County Fair Board for about five years.
He said he was moved to run for office because he wants to see improvement in the roads as well as in the interaction between the commission and the public. “I think the county needs change,” he said.
He also noted that if elected, he would be committed to policies that support schools and students as well as providing essential community services like rural fire protection and assisting small towns with road maintenance.
That change can be accomplished through working together with the other commissioners, he said. Scheihing also acknowledged that rebuilding the district shop and restocking it with equipment and supplies on the allotted budget will be a challenge.
“I’m a good chief and leader. I will do well running a county crew. I can manage a fire department budget and a farm budget, I can manage a county budget,” he said.
Scheihing described himself as a hands-on leader and his experience with machinery and mechanics will translate into leading a crew by coaching.
He has set his priorities as common sense leadership, improving the safety and condition of the roads and promises honest work with verifiable results.