3 run for Medora council

• Election

Election

Talk about it

Three Medora residents are running for two positions on the Medora City Council. Ben Brannum is up against incumbents Denis Joyce and John Tczap for the primary election June 12.

A Guymon, Okla., native, Brannum, 47, has been working in Medora for 14 years and has resided there for seven. He manages Red Trail

Campgrounds.

“It’s getting to be where some people are allowed to do some things and other people are not allowed to do them,” Brannum said. “Not everyone is playing in the same park and I’d like to see a more even field across the board.”

Joyce, 69, was born in Gilman, Wis., has lived in Medora for 40 years and is a retired maintenance director for the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation. He was on the council for four years in the 1990s, and returned to the council two years ago.

“I just think the things we’re working on we have a pretty good handle on and we just have to keep moving forward,” Joyce said. “I’m not sure that everybody feels we should be moving forward, but I think we have to.”

Tczap, 54, grew up in the Minot area, has resided in Medora for about 29 years and is a Billings County Sheriff’s deputy. He has served on the council since 2000.

“I just feel that we’re right in the middle of just a bunch of major issues and development that’s going to be coming up and I’d just like to see it through,” he said. “I’m also really excited about the growth in town and seeing more businesses that are trying to do big changes so their buildings can stay open year-round.”

Brannum said he understands why some residents don’t want Medora to grow but others do.

“Everybody seems to want to keep the historical integrity and the tourism going,” he said. “I think we could grow and keep the historical integrity and still be able to satisfy both — basically meet in the middle.”

Joyce wants to address housing and infrastructure.

“I don’t think the city should be in the housing business, but it’s necessary,” he said. “We have infrastructure to be concerned about — the water mains are 50 years old.”

Tczap said issues he wants to continue addressing are the lagoon system, fire hall and housing developments. He wants to “do it smart” and wants to plan for the future so Medora can accommodate change.

“I think in the past it was just put together in a hurry and now we’re paying for some of those,” Tczap said.

Tags: city council, ben brannum, denis joyce, john tczap, news, election, medora