Darren Driscoll,

Webster County Attorney

New Year’s resolution for yourself: To listen more and speak less, to be fair to everyone I encounter, and to always try my best to do what I believe to be right and just.

For Fort Dodge or Webster County: To promote transparency in government and be deserving of the public’s trust in our institutions, officials, and employees.

Lisa Shimkat

Lisa Shimkat,

State Director of

America’s Small Business Development Centers &

Fort Dodge School Board

New Year’s resolution for yourself: To focus on more self-care and to create more memories with family and friends. 

Elizabeth Stanek

For Fort Dodge or Webster County: My resolution for our community is to find more ways to engage people and businesses to do more for each other in positive ways. We have worked hard to help our local businesses from the SBDC and many local partners, but there is so much more to do for them and for the community. It will take all of us working together, to move Fort Dodge forward. I challenge everyone reading this to find time to volunteer for a local non-profit, or to bake a batch of cookies and surprise a neighbor with them or even just offer to read to a local school classroom. Everyone has been going non-stop for two years now and it is our time to write the next chapter and redefine the success in our community.

Elizabeth Stanek,

executive director of

Linking Families & Communities

New Year’s resolution for yourself: To exercise in the morning before work at least 4 times per week and make my bed daily. 

Lindsay Laufersweiler

For Fort Dodge or Webster County: To develop and expand quality early care and education (a.k.a. child care) opportunities for young families in order to provide children the best early education possible and enable their parents to go work with the peace of mind needed to be productive.  This will benefit existing and new residents, assist local industries with recruitment and retention of staff and is a necessary piece to growing our area/economy.

Lindsay Laufersweiler,

Webster County Recorder

New Year’s resolution for yourself: To continue to improve my work/life balance, focus on both my physical and mental health, and being present for my family.

For Fort Dodge or Webster County: To continue to serve the county through transparency, advocacy, and multiple lines of communication.

Lydia Schuur

Lydia Schurr,

Fort Dodge City Councilwoman

New Year’s resolution for yourself: My personal goal for 2023 is to maintain and improve the work/life balance I started cultivating in 2022.

For Fort Dodge or Webster County: My resolution for Fort Dodge and Webster County is to continue exploring ways to make positive impacts in areas that need it, whether that’s through things like housing, workforce, retail, or working through social issues. The Fort Dodge region has a lot to offer, but I think it’s always important to acknowledge the room for improvement.

When we make forward movement, I think we also need to get better at celebrating our community’s ‘wins’.

Terry Cook

Terry Cook,

Webster County Crime Stoppers president

New Year’s resolution for yourself: For a better year for all that have had health problems this past year.

For Fort Dodge or Webster County: That everyone get along and help people if they need a helping hand.

Randy Kuhlman,

CEO of Fort Dodge

Community Foundation

and United Way

New Year’s resolution for yourself: Try every day to model this quote from the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Somewhere along the way, we must learn that there is nothing greater than to do something for others.” To this end, strive to live each day with an optimistic, “glass is half-full attitude,” and to catch up with technology while keeping up with our fast-changing world. 

For Fort Dodge or Webster County: To help our fine community continue to grow and prosper by enhancing our quality of life and striving to be an even friendlier, safer, more caring and welcoming community.  

Randy Kuhlman