Meet the candidates-elect for the Lincoln County Commission
Three Republican candidates running unopposed for the Lincoln County Commission discussed growth, land use and hyperscale data centers. A proposed data center moratorium introduced by Joel Arends previously failed, while candidate Amy Harms supports a one-year moratorium and Joni Ekstrum favors case-by-case review.
Joel Arends, Amy Harms and Joni Ekstrum are set to take the three open seats on the Lincoln County Commission after winning the Republican primary without opposition in the general election. The candidates identified rapid county growth, infrastructure, land use and taxation as major issues facing the commission.
Data centers were a key point of disagreement. Arends said he would oppose a hyperscale data center and other heavy industrial projects, while noting that a moratorium he introduced earlier in the year failed. Harms supports a one-year pause on new large AI data centers to give the county time to establish development rules. Ekstrum said proposals should be evaluated individually based on resource demands and available infrastructure, but she does not currently support a moratorium because she is unaware of a company planning a facility in the county.