Jim Vannet
Four people have signed up to contest the Cook County District 1 Commissioner vacancy left by Frank Moe, who resigned due to health reasons with two years left on his term. With the primary election in April, two candidates will move on following that vote and compete in the general election, which will be held June 6, 2017.
The candidates running for the District 1 seat are James (Jim) Vannet, Robert (Bobby) Deshampe, Ryan Bottger, and David Keller. This week the Cook County News-Herald will feature Jim Vannet.
Jim Vannet was born and raised on a small farm in the Red River Valley in western Minnesota. He attended Moorhead State College and North Dakota State University.
After college, he took the position of Construction Superintendent for A.O. Smith Harvestore for five years before changing to the Agriculture Seeds industry. In the seed industry, he held positions as the Regional Sales Manager; he managed a product line with multi-million-dollar budgets and sales goals. As a Product Manager, he managed a product line with multi-million-dollar budgets and sales goals. In 1997, he and a partner started a marketing company of which he retained 50 percent ownership and held the position of Managing Partner.
Jim Vannet
Why do you want to be a Cook County commissioner?
Over the 14 years of operation prior to selling my interest to my partner, we never went over budget and never missed sales targets. Now, I am semi-retired doing some work as a business consultant and management trainer. I feel the position of county commissioner is a full-time job and will need someone willing and able to make the time, effort and sacrifices necessary to be a productive commissioner.
What do you see as the biggest topics the commissioners face?
My platform is quite simple. First and most important, we must stop the emotionally driven waste of money designated for non-tax revenue generating projects. Next, we have to focus on fair taxation for all Cook County residents and businesses. We must increase the annual tax revenue without raising property taxes.
This would mean that Cook County must be a more welcome place for new businesses. We can’t increase new businesses at this time because our young people leave the county due to the high living costs and property taxes.
I want to make all efforts to include the Grand Portage Reservation in discussions and decisions since they are the largest employer in Cook County. I want to be a good sounding board for all District 1 residents and make sure the board hears the residents’ concerns.
I also feel that I would be responsible for making sure that District 1 gets its fair share of county funding.
Finally, I feel I have the time, experience and talents needed to help make all of Cook County a better place where our next generations can afford to live, have good jobs, have realistic tax rates and more time to enjoy this beautiful county.”
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