Meet the Story County supervisor candidates competing in the primary

The upcoming June 2 primary election for the Story County Board of Supervisors has brought the topic of data center development to the forefront, with candidates outlining their positions on the ongoing moratorium. The current Board of Supervisors has extended a moratorium on data center development for an additional year to thoroughly analyze the potential costs and impacts on the community, focusing on electrical and water consumption, as well as land use. This pause aims to determine effective mitigation strategies for these impacts. Several Republican and Democratic candidates vying for District 1, 2, and 3 seats shared their perspectives. Ross Eveland, a Democratic candidate for District 2, supports the current board's cautious approach, emphasizing the need to analyze resource consumption and land use. Gannon Hendrick, another Republican candidate, stated he would not support moving forward with any data center proposal unless it "fully pays its way, protects county resources, and makes long-term sense," requiring detailed information on job creation and fiscal return. Ricardo Martinez II, a Republican candidate for District 2, expressed general opposition to data centers, citing high resource needs, limited job creation, and minimal tax benefits to the community, though he remains open to changing his mind with more facts. Fellow Republican candidate Marty Chitty believes it is "too early to determine a position" without specific details on the project's size, scope, and location. Jeff Staton, a Republican for District 1, supports private-sector economic growth but remains "extremely skeptical" about data centers without a detailed explanation of economic viability, community opportunity, and mitigation efforts for potential negative impacts. Lastly, Kirk Nesset, a Republican for District 3, is "against data centers," citing concerns from other communities where negatives outweigh positives, suggesting other industries could bring similar benefits with less burden. The differing views highlight the complexity of balancing economic development with environmental and resource concerns within Story County. Voters will consider these stances as they select candidates for the November election, influencing future policy on data center development in the region.