Editor’s note: Between now and June 3, the Courier will profile candidates in contested area county and statewide races.

BLOOMFIELD — All six candidates competing for the one open seat on the Davis County Board of Supervisors said they believe the county can move forward — but they also agreed that no one is going to get very far if the county roads aren’t repaired.

From there, though, the two Democrats — Jesse Bonner Sr. and incumbent Dale Taylor — and the four Republicans — David Simmons, Dr. J.L. Stogdill, John Tharp and David Thordarson — had different ideas on how the county can succeed.

Most candidates said the way to keep taxes from getting out of hand is to share expenses among more people who move to Davis County.

“They’re not going to [just] come here; you have to go and get them,” said Simmons.

The county has some amenities, he said, like good schools and a good hospital. But more can be done, including creating opportunities locally.

“We need to create some new business and jobs to keep young people here,” said Tharp, “and we need to all work together to do that, laying politics aside.”

“I want to see more economic development,” said Stogdill. “I have a son who moved away from the area due to economics. I would like to improve the area to get him and his family to move back.”

Bonner said the county can maintain its character even when bringing in more business.

“I don’t want to make Davis County bigger, I just want to make it better,” he said.

Thordarson said he’s experienced keeping taxes low.

“I’m just running because I think I can do a good job, and because I think I can save the taxpayers some money, like I’ve done for the people in my ward as a [Bloomfield] city councilman,” he said.

Helping improve the county is a rewarding job, said Taylor, but not an easy one.

“This is a job with so many issues and things to do, you just can’t get on top of them overnight. I’ve got over three years experience already and I genuinely like working for the people. It’s a wonderful job. [But] for a part-time job, this is a pretty full-time job. [That is], the more time you spend at it the better things turn out. When I became supervisor, I had to close my farm shop because I didn’t have time to run it.”

Bonner said he is prepared to spend the necessary time. He vowed to give the best service he could by being available without a wait.