The Stutsman County Commission unanimously appointed Benjamin Tompkins of rural Pingree to fill its vacant seat on Tuesday. Tompkins, a farmer who works land from Buchanan to northeast Stutsman County, was selected from a field of 11 applicants and immediately took the oath of office. “I’m very excited. I think that I can bring a lot of perspective that not everybody gets to see,” Tompkins said after his appointment. The commission used multiple rounds of voting to narrow the field, with Sheriff Chad Kaiser called in to break ties. Tompkins will serve at least until the next general election in 2026, filling the position left vacant by Commissioner Jerry Bergquist’s death on April 24. The new commissioner spoke on his rural background, concern for county road safety, and problem-solving abilities, stating, “If there’s any problems, I feel like I’m good at finding solutions for them.”
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