The former county administrator who has helped organize opposition to the county’s courthouse plans will challenge County Board Chairman Dave Mullenbach in this fall’s elections, he said Thursday.

Truman Thrond, who was county planning and zoning administrator for 14 years and served as county administrator from 1980 to 1989, became the first person to publicly announce a run for county board this year.

&uot;I am announcing my candidacy for fourth district county commissioner because of my deep commitment to the people of Freeborn County and my concerns, which are: The apparent indifference displayed by some county commissioners to the public,&uot; Thrond said in a news release. &uot;It also appears we are being committed to excessive spending without sufficient foresight, which will lead to budget shortfalls and higher taxation.&uot;

It will be Thrond’s first bid for elective office.

Mullenbach is just finishing his first term as the fourth district commissioner. He has been the county board chairman for two years.

Thrond said he’s concerned that the county’s plans for a new judicial center &045; including the possible demolition of the 1954 courthouse annex &045; raise red flags.

&uot;The courthouse issue certainly has been a learning experience for us,&uot; Thrond said. &uot;And I guess we don’t like what we’re learning. We got to asking a bunch of questions and they really don’t seem to have many good answers.&uot;

Thrond has founded the &uot;Save the ’54 Building&uot; committee, which opposes plans to demolish the building and replace it with new space in the county’s planned judicial center. They claim the building is spacious and structurally sound, and dismiss claims that it’s outdated and requires high maintenance costs. The county has not yet decided on the fate of the building.

&uot;I am confident that my experience of years of service to the people of the county will bring a valuable perspective to the Board of County Commissioners,&uot; Thrond said. &uot;We need to be progressive and emphasize economic development to revive the community.&uot;

Two of the five county board members &045; Mullenbach and second-district commissioner Dan Belshan &045; are up for reelection this year.