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"I moved to Ammon in 1999 with my wife and 3 children looking for a nice community to raise my family. Ammon was that place. At the time Ammon consisted of approximately 5000 residents and we are currently approaching 20,000 residents. 

I learned the value of hard work growing up in Jerome on a 300 cow dairy farm. I moved away from the farm in 1988 and began a career in the insurance industry  starting out working for AON’s Combined Insurance Company of America. I began as an agent and quickly rows up through the ranks to sales manager, territory manager, and then district manager. In total I spent 11 years working for CICA. From there I moved to local insurance agency to gain experience in commercial insurance and Risk Management for a few years prior to starting my own insurance which I operated for 20 years. In 2020 we merged in with the Archibald - Leavitt insurance group where I continue to work as an account executive providing commercial insurance in Idaho and surrounding states. 

 I have been active in various nonprofit and community activities such as I am currently a member of Idaho Falls Elks club #1087 and served as Trustee for two of those years. Also, member of Idaho Falls exchange club, we put out flags display for Memorial weekend at Freeman Park each year which raises money to help domestic violence center for abused families, military affairs , and other nonprofits in the area. I spent 10 years volunteering as member of Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue serving as commander and Deputy Commander and another 5 years as Bonneville county sheriffs office reserve deputy. I currently serve as boat member on the Bonneville Metropolitan Planning Organization which helps in growth planning for the entire county.

When the position opened up for city Council member in January 2022 I knew it was time to get involved and put my name in for consideration for council member. I was excited when Mayor Coletti chose me the fill the council seat. I saw this as an opportunity to lend my voice and experience to help in the growth of our city, With the influx of people coming into Idaho there will be growth to our city as well. We need to make sure that we grow responsibly and have a reasonable amount of commercial growth in relation to residential and safe parks for our families to live and enjoy. With that said, the infrastructure needs built up by updating our roads and utilities at the same time to handle the growing population. In the next year we will see upgrades to First Street to 5 lanes between Hitt road and Ammon road, Curlew will extend or First Street and John Adam will extend across Hitt Road to connect to Curlew adding a bridge as well as replacing a few bridges that are in need of repairs. 2024 is Going to be a busy year 

I love Ammon and still have desire to stay on as Council member and do my part to growing our community responsibly."

 Community Spirit and Quality of Life: Ammon is known for its strong sense of community and neighborly spirit. The city offers a high quality of life with its safe neighborhoods, excellent schools, and numerous parks and recreational facilities. This close-knit community atmosphere makes it an ideal place for families and individuals who value a supportive and engaging living environment.

Balance of Urban and Natural Amenities: Living in Ammon provides the perfect balance between urban conveniences and natural beauty. The city boasts modern amenities and services, while also being surrounded by Idaho's stunning landscapes. Residents can enjoy easy access to outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and skiing, making it a haven for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.

Growth and Economic Opportunities: Ammon is a city on the rise, with a growing economy and expanding opportunities for employment and business. The city's growth is managed in a way that maintains its small-town charm while embracing new developments and innovations. This makes Ammon an attractive place for professionals, entrepreneurs, and anyone looking for a dynamic yet grounded community to call home.

Economic Insight through Numismatics: While my role at Infinity Coins involves numismatics, my true expertise lies in the economic aspects of coin collecting. This unique perspective allows me to understand and appreciate the broader economic implications and historical significance behind each piece. It's this blend of numismatic knowledge and economic insight that shapes my approach to both business and community development.

Entrepreneurial Spirit: As the founder of 710 Spectrum, I'm at the forefront of the legal hemp-derived cannabis industry. This endeavor demonstrates my entrepreneurial drive and commitment to navigating new, legal markets with a focus on quality, safety, and adherence to regulatory standards. It's a testament to my belief in exploring innovative paths while maintaining ethical business practices.

Devoted Family Man: At the heart of everything I do are my son and daughter. They are a constant source of joy and motivation. Their innocence and wonder remind me daily of the importance of creating a nurturing, safe, and prosperous community in Ammon. As a father, I'm dedicated to shaping a future that offers them, and all children in our community, endless possibilities.

Hi, I’m Kris Oswald & a proud resident of Ammon for 27 years! I have lived in Idaho since I was 2 weeks old. My husband Brad & I met at Ricks College. I applied & was accepted into a 6 month Study Abroad Program at the BYU Jerusalem Center. After marriage and years & years of schooling, Brad finished Dental School @Creighton University, we couldn’t wait to get back to Idaho! By chance, we ended up renting a home in Ammon. We decided we liked Ammon so much we built our 1st home & eventually found & bought our dream home.

Some of my favorite things include: faith, family, friends & football - attending my kids & friends sporting events. I’m an average pickleballer, decent wake surfer, ok cross country skier, excellent thrifter, advocate of spending time outdoors & with my adorable grandkids! 

Over the years I have spent countless hours in Volunteer work, in and out of the classroom at the 5 different schools in Ammon that my children have attended. I have also devoted & loved the time I’ve spent serving the youth of my Church. Guiding and mentoring the next generation is a responsibility I take seriously, as they are the future of this great community. 

I am running for city council because I believe every voice needs to be heard. I want to be the voice that represents You and helps to bring positive change. Through community engagement, we can shape policies that benefit us all. I am deeply committed to ensuring that our city has the necessary infrastructure in place to support education and transportation before we allow further growth. We must prioritize these foundations of our community.

Ammon is not just a place to live; it's a place to thrive. I am dedicated to preserving our city's charm while also advocating for investments in infrastructure, parks, public safety and other initiatives that keep Ammon an exceptional place for families to live.

Please reach out to me on Facebook at Kris Oswald for Ammon City Council. I would love to hear your comments and suggestions for our city. Ammon has been my home for almost three decades, and I am deeply invested in its future. 

The biggest issue facing our community is the excessive growth. As part of the W.I.S.E. 

growth initiative (which stands for Water, Infrastructure, Safety, and Education), myself and other community members began highlighting the pressing need to address these improvements before any future development takes place. I have attended and spoken at numerous Planning & Zoning meetings, along with city council meetings. 

To address these issues, I am fully committed to taking the following actions: I will advocate for increased investment in infrastructure, prioritizing road repairs and expansions. This includes addressing potholes promptly and ensuring our roads are wide enough to accommodate our growing community's needs. I will work to implement a sustainable growth strategy. This involves carefully evaluating the impact of new developments on our water resources, sewer systems, and educational facilities. I will be a strong advocate for ensuring that these essential elements are in place before allowing further growth. I will advocate for responsible and thoughtful development that aligns with the needs and values of our residents. The residents of Ammon deserve better than the excessive growth seen in recent years!

My philosophy is for limited government and lower taxes. The city council sets the vision for the city and adopts principles and goals to reflect that vision and guide decision-making at all levels of city government. The goal should be to always put the people first. We must prioritize the long-term well being of our residents over the short-sighted focus of growing the tax base.

The City of Ammon needs good men and women to bring ideas and solutions to our community. I have decades of experience that qualify me to serve on the city council. My husband & I have raised 5 children here in Ammon over the last 27 years. I've spent that time volunteering for schools, church groups & numerous community events. We now have 5 of our 10 grandchildren living here, making Ammon important to multiple generations of my family. We have lived in three different neighborhoods in Ammon over the years, where we have made wonderful memories and lifelong friendships that we cherish.

My husband and I moved our business from Idaho Falls to Ammon almost 20 years ago. We even named it Ammon Dental. It was the best decision we made! We love living, working and playing here in Ammon. I love this city and the life my family has created here. I want to ‘Pay it Forward’ and give my time to preserving the Ammon quality of life for all families in our community. 

Because this is Ammon… Our Town. Our Future. 

Please reach out to me on Facebook @ Kris Oswald for Ammon City Council

I would love to have your Vote on Nov.7th  

The following was provided by Nolan Wheeler...

EastIdahoNews.com City Election Candidate Questionnaire for Nov 7, 2023.

NAME: Nolan J. Wheeler

RESIDENCE: 3110 E. Sunnyside Rd., Ammon ID 83406

OFFICE SOUGHT:  Ammon City Council seat #5

Please answer the following questions. Limit your answers to 250 words perquestion. EastIdahoNews.com will publish the answers in their entirety, and without any grammatical editing. We reserve the right to shorten the responses if you exceed the 250 word limit. Due date is Friday, September 29, 2023.

1) Tell us about yourself -- include information about your family, career, education, volunteer work and any prior experience in public office.

I was born and raised in Ammon. I enjoyed the time I spent at Hillview and, Ammon Elementary, Sandcreek Middle School, and graduating from Hillcrest High School. After high school I wanted to serve my country. I joined the US Navy where I completed three Aircraft Carrier Deployments, serving during the Operation Iraq Freedom and Enduring Freedom conflict. After 10 years I was honorably discharged. After the military, I decided to earn my bachelor’s degree in criminal justice homeland security through ECPI university in Virginia Beach, VA. After 15 years of living on the east coast my wife, Meagan, and I decided it was time to move back to be closer to our families who live in the Idaho Falls and Ammon areas. 4 years ago, we moved to Ammon with our two boys Preston and Conner. Our youngest son Dillon was born July of this year. I currently am working for BBSI as a Risk and Safety Consultant. At BBSI we not only support businesses but we strive to enrich our community by supporting our schools, chambers of commerce, and non-profits, both financially and through volunteering. Recently BBSI supported the community by allowing me to be involved in volunteer work. In August of this year, I was one of the volunteers on a team that helped build a home with the great people of Habitat for Humanity the other time is I presented safety training to students at the Career Technical Education Center in Idaho Falls. This allowed them to earn their OSHA 10 general industry safety cards. This not only benefits the students but also contributes to creating safer and healthier workplaces in Idaho.

2) What is your proudest accomplishment? 

My proudest accomplishments are marring my wonderful wife and the three boys we have together; the time I spent serving in the US Navy to include seeing the world and learning about the different cultures there are. Earning my bachelor's degree. I am also now enrolled into Columbia Southern University to start working towards my master’s degree in occupational health and safety. I do enjoy being involved with safety it gets me to meet new people and what they do in their professions and ways I can help them to be protected and protect their employees.

3) Why are you seeking political office within your community? Briefly explain your political platform.

I have always considered the city of Ammon to be my home, no matter where my travels have taken me. I have seen a lot of growth and improvements in this great city, but there is always something that is overlooked or even forgotten and with input from the citizens I will bring these concerns to the whole council and the mayor. I currently look around the city of Ammon and want to do more to help the citizens and the City of Ammon because I feel like I need to do more and that is why I feel like being part of City Council is a great way to help. 

4) What are the greatest challenges facing people in your community? What is your plan to meet those challenges? 

While visiting with citizens in Ammon, we agree that there is an ongoing concern for the infrastructure and proper management of our resources. It has also been brought to my attention and even noticed myself the concern for needing traffic lights to help with the flow of traffic on 17thand Midway it is very difficult to turn west if you are on Midway with so much traffic that it on 17th. It doesn’t take very long to see that many streets have been over looked that do need some attention and lots of reapairs. I will continue to have on-going communication with the citizens of Ammon and keep in touch with the surrounding community.

5) How will you best represent the views of your constituents – even those with differing political views? How will you communicate directly with constituants?

I want to have an open dialog and to be available to answer questions and receive input from the citizens. This can be done by using the email that is available through the city once elected. Or the citizens of Ammon can reach me on my Facebook page “Nolan Wheeler – Ammon City Council Seat #5 or my email address nolan4ammonseat5@gmail.com. I am happy to bring these concerns from the citizens of Ammon to the attention of the council and mayor at the city council meetings. If I am elected I will talk with my fellow council members these concerns that have received from the citizens.

6) What areas in your community need immediate improvement? What actions will you take to address those needs?

With Ammon growing so much and so quickly, an immediate improvement that should be with the council members is the ongoing traffic concerns and how to keep up with the growth. Also, the conditions of the roads specifically i have notice the road east of Ammon Elementary (Central Ave) that is in bad shape. I have brought up in a city council meeting the need of Ammons own police force. I also would like to see the Ammon Pool and Splash pad in McCowin Park be updated and have the splash pad back up and running. 

7) What parts of the city budget could use more funding? Where are places in the budget that cuts could be made? 

After reviewing the budget, I would like to have more funding for the roads and the Ammon Pool. In Ammon there are so many streets that have been neglected over the years I was informed by a concerned citizen that Central Ave. was going to be repaired 15 years ago and has not been touched. so I would focus on fixing and or repair roads in Ammon and put a effort to budget for expanding and updating the Ammon City pool to include it to be enclosed. That way the citizens can use it year-round and be available for school swim teams.

Areas for cuts in the budget would have to start with the city council all being on the same page and come together on prioritizing the needs for Ammon and its citizens. 

8)  What is the role of local media in your community? How can city officials work to have a better relationship with the media? 

Ideally local media plays a vital role for the local citizens by providing quick, clear, and reliable communication. I think that the city council can inform media outlets about upcoming events. To better serve the citizens of Ammon. 

I would like to thank East Idaho News for this opportunity to express my views and the views of others who are running for public office.