Basin man announces run for commissioner

Rod Hopkin of Basin will be on the ballot August 18 for one of the two open seats on the Big Horn County Commission. Commissioner Dave Neves has stated he will not run for re-election. The other seat is held by Commission Chair Deb Craft, who has not announced at this point if she will be running. 

Hopkin said he feels “that if there is an open spot, it needs to be filled. I also feel that anyone in the Big Horn Basin can make a difference if they just stand up and do it.”

He continued there needs to be checks and balances.

“The big deal for me is get in there, listen to what is going on, see if I can better it in some way,” he said. “If I can, I will -- listen to the people and see what they want.” He noted he has no hidden agenda and was asked to run.    

Hopkin believes that the library needs support, as does the county Road/Bridge department.

“I want to support the library as well as everything else that we have,” he said. “I think our library is critical for people to have something. It might not be books. It might be companionship. It is a safe place for children to go.”

Hopkin is concerned about how the community has grown apart. There used to be baseball and softball, basketball, kids and families in the parks and an active fair attendance, he said.  He would like to see those things come back. 

As far of any big ideas he might bring to the table, Hopkin said he had none. He just wants to be in on the issues at hand, help make decisions on which way is the right way and which way is the wrong way.

Hopkin encourages people that have an interest in an elected position to “step up and go for it.” He added there is a shortage of people wanting to be involved. 

“I was an EMT growing up. I spent about four years riding the ambulance here. Got to know a lot of people in the community. When I was growing up, I had kind of a rough time,” Hopkin said.

His father passed away when he was 15, and his parents were reportedly drinkers. Much of what he saw made him who he is, Hopkin said. He described himself as someone that will listen, that will do the best he can for the people and will try to keep the honesty going for Big Horn County.

He plans to start going to commission meetings, including budget meetings.

“Someone needs to go and chase the money. When we get a new governor, we need to get down there and see what is available and try to expand our community,” Hopkin said. He will not be running a big campaign. 

Hopkin grew up in Basin and graduated as a Bobcat from Basin High. He is retired after a career in mechanical plumbing. He resides in Basin with his wife Kay. His daughter Sandra works at the library in Basin. His granddaughter Mo is a senior at Riverside High School.