BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- KGET sent each of the candidates running for the Kern County Board of Supervisors District 2 seat a questionnaire hoping to get answers to some basic questions — an introduction to voters in the district. We asked each candidate several questions: Name Age Hometown; City you reside in Tell us about your family. Give us a brief educational history Party registration; How long have you been registered with that party? Give us a brief career history Why are you running for this office? How long have you lived in the district? Describe your political philosophy Below are responses from the candidates running for the vacant District 2 seat. WATCH: Kern County Board of Supervisors District 2 debate Dale Cisneros Age: 55 Hometown, place of residence: Tehachapi, Alpine Forest Family: Lori Cisneros, wife; one son, one daughter Educational history: B.S. Business Management, graduate with distinguished honors Career history: Twenty years business management holding senior and mid-level management positions which include CEO, vice president, controller, operations, human resources, construction, and finance. History of elected service: None Party registration: "Republican for 37 years and voting Republican." Length of residence in the district: "Seven years. Born and raised in central Bakersfield." Why are you running for this office?: "My motivation for running is deeply personal and rooted in my faith. I am a man of prayer with strong convictions. I have felt called to serve and have answered, 'Here I am, send me.' Meet the 2024 candidates for District 2 supervisor: Dale Cisneros Over the last several weeks, I have spent time talking with concerned citizens and local leadership in District 2 communities, and there is significant frustration and a feeling of abandonment by the former supervisor. We believe we have NOT been heard nor honored with consideration. Moving forward, my commitment is to regularly meet with each community, listen to their concerns, and build a bridge between my constituents and the other supervisors to establish trust and effective solutions. I want my constituents to feel and believe they are heard and responded to. I'm tired of the red tape, rubber-stamping politicians; I AM NOT a politician." Political philosophy: "In the past years, I was politically uninvolved. I believe that it is rare for politicians to serve with a truly selfless and altruistic agenda. I believe in listening to the voice of the people; all people need to be heard. Now, I have an opportunity to get involved and accomplish something real for the people. I am not part of the system nor the status quo. I am willing to do my part to create significant changes for good. I am a member of the Greater Tehachapi Republican Assembly and a member of Kern Citizens for Freedom." Additional comments: "I've had my share of challenges in life that taught me how to get back up and fight: Valley fever, cancer, losses of many kinds. I'm not only a survivor, I'm an overcomer. I know who I am and I know whose I am, and I am determined to finish this race well in life. I'm not the guy with all the answers. I am someone who is willing to step up and work together with my community to create effective solutions. It will take ALL of us working together!" Ben Dewell Age: Did not provide Hometown, place of residence: Stallion Springs Family: "Widower, native Californian, 11th generation American." Educational history: M.S., Atmospheric Science, University of California, Davis; B.A., Biology, California State University, Fresno Career history: Director, Stallion Springs Community Service District, 2018 – 2026; Hearing Board Director, Eastern Kern Air Pollution Control District, 2021 – 2027; Co-Owner, Artistic Director, Coldsprings Gallery in Los Angeles; Fine art photographer/printer, Range of Light Photography, Valencia; Chief programmer, Sferics Development in Clovis; Chief Meteorologist, WEATHERx – Clovis; Researcher, University of California, Davis – Dept. of Atmospheric Sciences Meet the 2024 candidates for District 2 supervisor: Ben Dewell History of elected service: Director, Stallion Springs Community Service District. Elected to two terms: 2018 – 2022, 2022 – 2026; Director, Variance Hearing Board Director, Eastern Kern County Air Pollution Control District. Appointed to two terms: 2021 – 2024, 2024 – 2026. Party registration: "NPP (No Party Preference) = Independent" Length of residence in the district: Seven years Why are you running for this office?: "Kern County needs dispassionate, rational, non-partisan representation to solve seemingly intractable problems brought both from within and without Kern County and a proven leader sensitive to both environmental and business interests, social responsibilities and equitable resolutions. I have multiple years as an independent, non-partisan voice in District 2 as a proven, experienced leader as an elected Director responsible for infrastructure policy decisions including law enforcement, water and sewer, solid waste, roads, and parks within the Stallion Springs Community Service District. Additionally, I have adjudicated variance hearings, balancing the needs of commercial interests with the public interest involving entities as widely varying as US Borax, Cal Portland Cement, and Edwards Air Force Base, during my two term service within the Eastern Kern Air Pollution Control District." Political philosophy: "Government by the governed is sacrosanct within the Constitution of the United States upon which I have personally sworn support over ten times within the last six years. Rational, balanced government is necessary in any society bounded together for the common good in determining equitable resource allocation accomplishing what cannot be achieved by the individual alone, but must be accomplished by social contract. Politically, I am pledged to work from within the middle of any partisan factions to move necessary regulation and county services forward, providing equitable solutions for all. Politics, the art of the possible, is the triumph of pragmatism over idealism." Additional comments: "As a true independent, unfettered by partisan politics and disarray, I serve only the best interests of, and I am ultimately responsible only to, District 2’s constituents and my own personal sense of integrity. As a scientist, I am committed to resolutions based on the best data available, not political pressure or whim. I am the only candidate who hits the proverbial road running and is able to fill the extemporaneous District 2 Kern County Board of Supervisor seat already entirely experienced in the policy making of supervisory government." Bernita Jenkins Age: 66 Hometown, place of residence: Bakersfield, Stonecreek Family: "Widowed, after 35 years of marriage. Four children and seven grandchildren." Educational history: CSUB graduated with BA in Political Science; LaVerne University - Teacher Credentialing Career history: "Worked 10 years for Sears, Roebuck & Company, 26 years Kern High School District, 4 1/2 years SEIU 521 and 11 years California Nurses Association (CNA)" History of elected service: Greenfield Union School District, elected 2000-2004 Meet the 2024 candidates for District 2 supervisor: Bernita Jenkins Party registration: "Democrat since 1976." Length of residence in the district: 52 years Why are you running for this office?: "It is time for the working people of Kern County to have a voice on the Board of Supervisors. Too often decisions are made or nothing is done because the establishments are holding up progress. The working people in this county need a voice to speak for them. I decided years ago the Board of Supervisors needed to a voice of change and once again I running to be that change for the people of the 2nd District. The people need someone who will answer their calls and provide them with answers. The people need to know those who have been elected are working for them. It is time to change the narrative for the 2nd District residents." Political philosophy: "This is a nonpartisan seat but it requires bipartisan individuals to represent all of Kern County and that is where the Board of Supervisors is missing the mark. Decisions should not be made for a small percentage of residents and have an affect on the entire population of Kern County. I know government is supposed to be for the people and by the people but that concept has been lost. We, the people, are at an impasse and those of us in the middle of this fight have not realized there are more of us than them and we must come together to bring an end to the upheaval of our government with an intelligent and concise strategy of civility." Additional comments: "I believe there are a great many people living in the 2nd District who want a change from the old way of doing things to a new fresher way. There are a lot of people living in our county who have great ideas; especially, in the 2nd District. People want to live where they can raise their families while working to provide for them. Our county must do better at keeping jobs open and hire more. We must provide opportunities for advancement in new businesses and affordable housing. 2nd District deserves better and as their representative we will strive together to build a stronger community." Chris Parlier Age: 61 Hometown, place of residence: Bakersfield since 1985, residing within the Stonecreek neighborhood. Family: Married with two children and three grandchildren Educational history: Three years of college Career history: Special agent at California Department of Justice (retired) History of elected office: Eight years on the Bakersfield City Council Military service: "Honorably served in the U.S. Air Force with the rank of Senior Airman." Party registration: Republican Meet the 2024 candidates for District 2 supervisor: Chris Parlier Length of residence in the district: 32 years Why are you running for this office?: "My life has been about service. Whether it was service to our county in the United States Air Force, our state with the California Department of Justice as a Special Agent, or our community as a Bakersfield City Councilman and Vice Mayor. In all areas I have served honorably and now I want to continue that service as your Kern County District 2 Supervisor." Political philosophy: "I’ve always been a worker bee that wants to help others. Which means I’m about people and their needs. I was a very successful Bakersfield City Council member, because I put my constituents first, over politics or party. Now I want to work for the residents of District 2, and the great people of Kern County." Kelly Carden Jr. 17 News reached out to Carden multiple times for responses to this questionnaire, but he nor his campaign have responded. Pete Graff 17 News reached out to Graff multiple times for responses to this questionnaire, but he nor his campaign have responded.