Osburn City Council candidate: Jack Rupp

Jack Rupp is running for one of two open Osburn City Council positions and, if re-elected, he would like to see the day to day operations of the council continue as smoothly as it has run in the past.

“I have always been impressed with how well city council has run,” he says. “I have been proud to serve with our current council and have no agenda.”

Rupp is running as a write-in against Randy Cloos, John Specht, and Spike Angle — who are also running as write-in candidates (no candidates officially filed to run).

Rupp has been married to Carolyn Rupp (Curl) for 46 years and they have three daughters — Dione Bailey, who owns the Osburn Club, Mona Rupp, who is manager of Best Shots, and Melissa Connors (deceased).

A 30-year resident of Osburn, Rupp’s education includes graduating from high school and completing a four-year apprenticeship as a welder and pipe fitter.

His work experience include owning and operating “a few different businesses here in the valley, including Fonks Dime store and a concrete business.”

He has also “served on numerous committees with the business communities.”

His work with the East Shoshone County Hospital District board was where he says he had his proudest accomplishment.

“(I was) elected to the board after the hospital was closed and was made treasurer of a bankrupt hospital district, a challenge I looked forward to tackling,” he explains.

“We were taking in approx. $120,000.00 a year and our interest payments were the same amount. We had a never ending debt that was never going to be paid back. Working with the entire board, we were the first taxing district to float a bond for a bankruptcy, and pay off the bond in 12 years, eight years ahead of schedule and once again, did not raise taxes.”

He adds, “these are the kind of achievements that do not come with a piece of paper to hang on the wall. My satisfaction was working with a great group of people and getting the job done.”

Rupp believes that “the biggest issue facing Osburn for the last few years has been the ongoing rebuilding of our infrastructure, I feel the work has gone according to schedule and would like to see the smoothness of the operation continue.”

Though he contributes much of the progress on this project to the mayor, he says that “having a council working together and supporting our endeavors as a group is of utmost importance.”

Rupp tips his hat to the mayor because he does not wish to “take credit for a project” that he was not “one of the lead players in,” but he stresses that “a group supporting each other keeps things running smooth.”

“I am proud of my time on the Osburn City Council and our accomplishments and would like to continue. Please write in Jack Rupp.”