Ordean Erickson of rural Williston believes a government should always be working for its citizens.

“I think the people should have more power than the government,” Erickson said.

Erickson, 48, is running for a seat on the Williams County Commission in the Nov. 4 election, as he is challenging chair Dan Kalil.

Erickson has yet to hold a public office and was inspired to get involved in politics in 2005 when the city of Williston wanted to annex the eastern portion of Williston Township to increase its tax base.

Erickson was approached by a few people who asked him to begin a petition opposing the action. He did, and more than 200 people out of the 256 people who would have been effected by the annexation signed it, he said. The annexation would have had a negative impact on those Williston Township residents because a lot of them couldn’t afford the easements, and it would have been a headache for them as they’d have to be in compliance with city laws.

“It (the annexation) would have hurt the people in the area, definitely,” Erickson said.

Then in 2006, what Erickson describes as “pork-barrel” legislation enacted the Home Rule charter. After this happened, Erickson was approached once again and was asked to run for office. Thus Erickson tossed his hat into the ring for the county commission race.

Erickson went to school in Williston and earned his G.E.D. at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. He studied criminal justice for over two years at the University of Texas in El Paso before coming back to Williston, where he now works as a ranch hand.

As a county commissioner, Erickson promises to be open to the public.

“I’m honest, I’m trustworthy, I’m hardworking; I’m not gonna hide things,” he said.