Ahmann’s tour of duty as an elected official arrives to an finish

In the 1980s, after he moved to Willmar and started his career in the making trade, Ahmann located that way to serve. It commenced when he was appointed to the variance board by the mayor of Willmar at the time, Ole Reynolds.

“I was going for walks downtown just one working day and Ole rolled down his window and he mentioned you are going to be on the variance board,” Ahmann recalled.

By 1985, Ahmann decided he wished to take a action up in local company and he ran for the Willmar City Council in Ward 3.

“I assumed probably I could do this,” Ahmann mentioned.

He was elected and finished up serving two conditions on the council, until 1994, when he stepped down for personalized explanations. In 2008, Ahmann ran again and served for another eight several years in Ward 3.

“I was inspired by fellow council people today to arrive again,” Ahmann said. “They inspired me. I wasn’t confident I needed to I had finished my tour of duty.”

When his fourth expression on the council was coming to an close in 2015, Ahmann felt all set for a more substantial obstacle and made a decision to operate for the Kandiyohi County Board of Commissioners.

“At a selected issue of time, you just have to say there is a different adventure out there,” Ahmann reported. “I felt very comfortable taking on more accountability.”

He was elected to the County Board and is at the stop of his 1st phrase. He ran for re-election, but Ahmann was defeated by challenger Steve Gardner. The margin of victory was only 18 votes.

All totaled, Ahmann served Willmar for much more than 20 yrs, both on city boards, as a council member and as a county commissioner.

“Elected business office is in all probability just one of the most gratifying points I have finished with my existence,” Ahmann mentioned.

Ahmann appears to be back on his time on the City Council and County Board with a feeling of accomplishment. He is proud of the guidelines and issues he aided deal with that had a major effect on the group as a total.

People accomplishments consist of the rental residence inspection plan in Willmar, advancements to the street evaluation plan in Willmar, the city’s initial area choice sales tax which resulted in the development of the Willmar Community Library, the Grass Lake stormwater advancement project and the new Kandiyohi County solitary-kind recycling method.

“You are operating for the betterment of the neighborhood as a total and that encompasses all individuals,” Ahmann reported

There have been worries. Ahmann stated he was hardly ever a rubber stamper and was usually ready to acquire on controversial difficulties and forged unpopular votes if he felt it the right matter to do. That has led to some not comfortable cellphone phone calls.

“I sometimes experienced to keep my cellular phone at arm’s duration,” Ahmann explained.

He has also had operate-ins with people who really don’t concur with his politics or religious beliefs. He was served with a temporary restraining buy next an incident in between Ahmann and Ben Larson at a Willmar Town Council meeting in December 2019.

Larson alleged Ahmann harassed and frightened him following Larson experienced spoken against Ahmann’s spouse serving on the Willmar Human Rights Fee because of to a spiritual group of which Ahmanns are section. A judge later threw the restraining order out.

Individuals also spoke out publicly against Ahmann signing on to a doc from the Real truth in Appreciate Ministries in opposition to interfaith dialogues in between Muslims and Christians. Truth of the matter in Like thinks there is a Christian duty to convert non-believers to Christianity and that interfaith dialogue goes towards that responsibility.

Ahmann reported those attacks on his spouse went about the line, as did people from his faith.

“All people has sure legal rights in this state. You can have an view as extended as you really don’t power that opinion or force men and women to imagine the identical issue you feel,” Ahmann reported. “Liberty of believed, liberty of speech is the most critical detail. Freedom of religion is vital also.”

Ahmann extra, “They really don’t recognize what they have performed, what was performed, was an attack on my civil liberties and my liberty of faith.”

Ahmann said he has seen intolerance improve in the course of his time as an elected formal, on both sides of the political spectrum. He would like people to be much more open to speaking and conference with persons who have diverse beliefs and suggestions, as an alternative of just attacking them without definitely having to know them.

“It is time for individuals to wake up and get concerned,” Ahmann reported.

Whilst his campaign for re-election did not go as prepared, Ahmann is now seeking ahead to the subsequent chapter in his lifetime. He ideas to vacation extensively and expend much more time with spouse and children. Ahmann also would like to find a new way to assistance his local community, probably by utilizing his competencies as a builder.

“I am acquiring cozy with the thought of getting thoroughly retired,” Ahmann said.

Ahmann reported he has been honored by the belief voters place in him in the course of his time in elected office and is humbled by it.

“It has been an honor and a blessing to represent all people today of this group through all the a long time. Their have faith in in me to be a excellent steward for the taxpayers’ bucks, I thank them for their vote of assurance and encouragement. It is really humbling,” Ahmann mentioned. “At the stop of every single working day, we are not outlined by our human titles, but by our God and creator.”