Although he'd recently mulled over the idea of running for county board, former Crow Wing County Sheriff Frank Ball said it was an early Friday morning bike ride on the Dewing Highway that clinched the decision for him.
"This is paradise," he thought as he biked along the country road.
Later Friday Ball filed for the District 1 seat on the Crow Wing County Board being vacated by Commissioner Dewey Tautges. He cited his family connections to the county and his desire to bring his governmental experience to the board.
Frank Ball has filed for the District 1 seat on the Crow Wing County Board.
He will face three other candidates in a September primary - Denny Schmidt, Al Gmeinder and Philip "PJ" Trusty.
Ball served as sheriff from 1986-1990. From 1991 to 2000 he was Brainerd police chief. From 2000 to 2005 Ball was director of the alcohol and gambling division of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.
His next job was a departure from the typical law enforcement career track. Working with DynCorp, under a contract with the U.S. State Department, Ball was the contingent commander for all U.S. police forces in Afghanistan.
Currently working for Barrett Agriculture Service, Ball describes himself as semi-retired. He works in human resources and product development. His job entails both field work and work in the manufacturing of animal food.
After his return from Afghanistan he built a house in St. Mathias Township.
He said two of his three grown children, eight grandchildren, his mother, one brother and two sisters, all live in Crow Wing County.
Ball, 59, said wise administrative decisions would have to be made by the county board in order to run government more efficiently.
Issues he expressed interest in included public safety, human rights, community corrections, health, child abuse, emergency medical services, agriculture and tourism
Ball earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Bemidji State University and a master's degree in administration from Metropolitan State University in the Twin Cities.
He said his experience in county government and working with the Legislature in state government would help him if elected. His experiences training police officers in Afghanistan made him grateful for the life he has here in Crow Wing County.
"You have to be thankful for the freedom we have," he said.
While working in Afghanistan he said he ran an organization with a $340 million budget.
Ball successfully ran for sheriff in 1986 but was defeated four years later by Dick Ross.
Ball acknowledged that his two county-wide sheriff campaigns might help him with name recognition. He said he received some criticism during his years of public service and he had developed a thick skin.
"They think I'm cocky and arrogant but I'm also enthusiastic and friendly," he said.
The other commissioner's post that is up for election is that of District 5 Commissioner Doug Houge, who won a special election in 2007 after Commissioner John "Jinx" Ferrari died.
Houge is the only candidate to file for that post.
Also filing Friday was Gary L. Axtell of Outing, who is running for the District 3 seat on the Cass County Board. His filing ensured a race for that position.
He will face incumbent Commissioner Jeff Peterson of Hackensack.
Filings for legislative, judicial, county and school district posts close Tuesday.
MIKE O'ROURKE may be reached at mike.orourke@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5860.
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