News : Vermedahl, Buch say they will not run for re-election in 2012

Supervisors Dave Vermedahl and Ron Buch (second & third from left) say they won't seek re-election.

Dave Vermedahl and Ron Buch had never met before they decided to run for county office in 2000. Now after serving more than a decade together, they have decided that they will leave office at the same time.

The two senior Benton County supervisors were elected in 2000 and re-elected in 2004 and 2008; both said on Tuesday that they will not run in 2012.

“It’s time to let someone else have a chance,” said Buch.

The two have seen a variety of challenges in their decade of service. They were sworn in at the beginning of 2001. Only a few months into their term, they had to deal with the security issues raised by 9/11. They oversaw the renovation of the courthouse, and helped celebrate its centennial. For the past three years, they have been working with local, state and federal officials to rebuild the Benton County Law Enforcement Center following the Flood of 2008.

The have been side-by-side for many of those moments, including election night, 2008 when Buch won a very close election. He was actually trailing until the results from the very last precinct in the county arrived at the courthouse.

Vermedahl and Buch did not officially announce their decision; Vermedahl made a reference to it Tuesday during their discussion of the county employee pay structure system.

Vermedahl had previously served on the Vinton City Council member and was Mayor of Vinton until resigning to begin his first term as county supervisor. His wife, Lisa, a retired teacher, now serves on the Vinton City Council; Buch farms near Luzerne in southeast Benton County.

The seats held by the two Republicans will be up for election in November of 2012; the new supervisors will take the oath of office at the beginning of 2013. The third supervisor is Jason Sanders of Urbana, who was first elected in 2002.