Bill Dobkins, Republican, has put his hat into the ring in the race for presiding commissioner. He is unopposed in Tuesday’s primary election.

At age 65, the retiree wants to make a difference in the community and to bring tax breaks to farmers, small businesses, and the elderly. His platform is what he calls “Common Sense Politics” and involves keeping costs down and strengthening the community by creating jobs and opportunities.

Dobkins worked as assistant superintendent at Scullin Steel, where he attended business management school. He then started his own pallet factory selling new and refurnished pallets to businesses. Dobkins has also worked as a private investigator, trying to help kids and is part of Grandparents For Children’s Rights. Following his retirement, he decided to try his hand at presiding commissioner of Phelps County, something that he has wanted to do for a long time and now feels that the time is right.

“I have a soft spot in my heart. I want to help the people in Phelps County because I am one of them,” Dobkins explained. “I am tired of the way the county has been run. I’m a conservative, pro-life Republican. I want to make a better place for my kids and my grandkids.”

Dobkins also feels strongly about helping senior citizens by offering tax breaks.

“Senior citizens of this county need help. They need some breaks. Also farmers and small businesses. We’ve got to start helping people in this county. I want to make it easier on them.”

He believes that he can play a crucial part in creating a county with lower taxes.

“It makes sense. Whenever you overspend, you have to raise taxes and it’s got to stop.” He added that he plans to do everything in his power to make Phelps County a better place to work and raise a family.

Dobkins is pro-gun rights, wants to improve infrastructure, and to put people first. “I believe in our constitution. I believe in our flag. There is more to being commissioner than taking care of roads. I’d like to see every one of our roads chip and sealed. I want to see some tax breaks for these businesses coming to town and to help small businesses and farmers and I want to stop wasteful spending.”

Dobkins said that he wants to conduct a road study to determine which roads receive the most traffic and to create a plan that would have those roads properly maintained. He believes that, with proper management, Phelps County could have better roads without wasteful spending and that he would like the opportunity to make that happen.

With a wife, two sons, and six grandchildren, Dobkins has an investment in Phelps County and hopes that the election will give him the opportunity to give back. He believes that change in the county is necessary if citizens want to improve the conditions that they have grown accustomed to and hopes that this will be his opportunity to make that change.