Jacob Presuhn

1. You described your career in hospital maintenance as formative — that it taught you to care for people and to do the work others avoid. Walk readers through what that career involved, including how long you were in the field and what your responsibilities included.

My six years at Stillwater Medical Center definitely molded me into the man I am today. Early in my career, I realized how important it was to the patients and their families that my task was completed with care and compassion. Most of the tasks I had may not seem like a big deal to most people. The daughter that wanted to see that glimmer in her mother's eye for the last time thought the light bulb was pretty important. Every call I took or work order I picked up was handled with the utmost importance. That is just one example — the list goes on, but I will spare my readers. The bulk of my tasks were not life or death but helped make the stay in our facility bearable. From changing light bulbs to clearing clogged drains, and from working on chillers and boilers to changing ceiling tiles, there was nothing that I wouldn't grab ahold of (with gloves, of course). When I was promoted to lead technician for our off-site locations, I carried that same work ethic and core values to a new set of customers. I began leadership training that prepared me for my future — training that taught me how to handle and work with all types of people and how to have conversations that addressed the good and the bad without the ugly. I am forever grateful for that season of my life and the leadership I was able to study under.

2. You have proposed implementing performance-based road reviews and a predictive maintenance program for county equipment. What would those look like in practice for Payne County, and what would it cost or save?

Any and all answers to road review and predictive maintenance begin with data — how much time and materials it takes to keep a road in satisfactory condition. We can break schedules down as granularly as we want to, but the most beneficial review periods are monthly, quarterly, and annually. If elected, I will begin to dig through existing data, as well as collect my own, to get us on the right track. As we accumulate enough data, we will be able to predict when a road or piece of equipment is going to need attention and schedule accordingly. That is the biggest benefit of predictive versus reactive maintenance. We have all heard "time is money," so if we can better use our time, we save money. Breakdowns almost never happen when you can afford to have the equipment down — so we overnight parts, stay late, and get it going. We will not be able to catch everything before it breaks, but we can minimize the effects of breakdowns through predictive maintenance. Roads can operate on a similar schedule with similar types of data. I will look to implement quarterly road inspections, performed and documented by me, using a straightforward checklist: Is there enough gravel? Can water get off the road? What is the ditch condition? Is the road properly shaped? What is the hard surface condition? This checklist will be tailored to fit our needs as we move forward. I also plan to implement technology that documents conditions and generates service orders, but will rely on paper records until that system is in place.

3. You have never held elected office. What is your plan for learning the administrative and budgetary responsibilities of the commissioner role, and who would you lean on for guidance in the early months?

Elected office is new to me, but I have never been known to pass up a challenge. I have a business mind and enjoy working with numbers. I will lean heavily on my secretary and past and present commissioners throughout the state. I will be active with neighboring county commissioners so I can provide the best possible outcome for our county. I am a fast learner and am not afraid of learning new things.

4. Oklahoma lawmakers and voters are debating proposals to limit property taxes. What is your position on property tax reform, and how would any changes affect road and bridge funding in District 1?

I will agree that property tax reform is needed, but we have to be careful about how we move forward. Reducing or removing property taxes would put the services we have grown to expect in a delicate balance. Property taxes fund a multitude of things: schools, county sheriffs' offices, county roads, and county administration. What amount might each household need to pay to keep those departments running? Would we have to pay tuition for public school? Would we have to share the cost of road maintenance directly? Would we put an undue burden on local law enforcement? Truthfully, we do not know what that looks like. We have to find a solution that keeps all of these programs going without decimating our local economy. Property taxes probably would not be in question if people felt they were getting their money's worth. I generally look for change when I feel like I am not getting what I paid for. What we need is to be more aware of people's needs. I know I may not be able to impact what you pay in, but I will treat it like it came from my own pocket.

5. Of all the issues facing District 1, which two do you believe matter most to your constituents, and what specifically would you do to address them?

The two topics I have heard most consistently are data centers and property owners' rights. To me, they go hand in hand. I have a firm stance in favor of property owners' rights and against any corporation, in or out of state, that negatively impacts life — people, plants, or animals. I will work to advocate for property owners and their rights, provide people with education and relevant contacts, and use my time with state lawmakers wisely to do my part in keeping this a great place to raise our children. I am a firm believer in being a good steward of all that is entrusted to me.

Responses have been lightly edited for grammar, spelling, and AP style. Substance and positions have not been altered.

Jacob is the hardest working and dedicated person I know. He is committed to serve his Lord, family, friends, community, and tax payers of Payne county. He is currently employed at District 3 working everyday repairing and building our roads. He is a part-time farmer. Previously he was employed at Stillwater Medical Center in a supervisory position for off site locations. This gave him experience with managing other employees. He also kept books for small local company.

Jacob is younger than the other candidates running but this is beneficial to give our county office a fresh and new perspective in accomplishing much needed success on getting the roads improved and decreasing wasted resources. Payne County District 1 needs a change for the better. Give your vote to the candidate with a long term plan to make real changes. – Jamie Barrett

(The author is the candidate's mother-in-law.)

I've known Jake for over 10 years. He has always impressed me as an intelligent, hardworking young man. His integrity and honesty are above reproach. I worked with Jake at Stillwater Medical Center for a number of years. He was quickly promoted to team leader after demonstrating to upper management his dedication, his ability to organize, and his maturity and commitment to the hospital mission. He then led his team in a challenging, high-pressure environment. This involved multiple tasks assigned to the different members of his team, and the assistance and supervision of each team member in accomplishing those tasks — exactly the skill set that will serve him well as county commissioner.

He has worked as a road technician for District 3 for some time now and understands, through hands-on experience, the operation of equipment and the management of resources to get the job done. This practical experience operating different types of equipment on the job site will be a great asset in his ability to prioritize road maintenance tasks and allocate resources to get those tasks done. It is my humble opinion he will perform his duties as county commissioner with the same solid leadership and resource management skills he has already proven himself to have. I strongly encourage the voters of District 1 to elect Jacob Presuhn as your county commissioner. – Thomas Chapman