Meet the candidates for the 2009 Regular City Elections

 Monson, Pump and Wicker compete for At-Large City Council seat Name:  Jon MonsonAddress:  400 S. 3rd St.Family/Personal:   I have lived in Clear Lake my entire life.  I am 32 years old, married to my wife, Danielle.  We have two children.  My son, Trinity, is six years old and my daughter, Tenely is three years old.  Both attend Clear Creek School.Education: I graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1995 and then attended NIACC for two years.     Job experience or qualifications you feel relate to your candidacy:    I am employed at Glen’s Tire Service.  I have been employed there for 15 years (part time until I finished school and then full time.)  Working with customers to resolve their automotive problems and using both current knowledge and “thinking outside the box” to obtain a resolution to the problem.    Are there specific issues which have inspired you to seek office?  If so, which ones? Why?     I feel as a candidate over the past four or five years, the City of Clear Lake has been slowly losing focus of what a city government needs to accomplish as a governing body.  We should refocus our efforts into bringing new people and jobs into our community.  Starting with combining efforts with the City Chamber and/or revitalizing the downtown area.    Please identify the biggest challenge you see facing the city in the short term (1-2 years) and the long term (10-20 years):    I feel the biggest challenge facing Clear Lake would be bringing new job opportunities to Clear Lake.  We should incorporate both City Council and the Chamber of Commerce to try to achieve this goal.    Something I feel we should foresee in the next 10-20 years is trying to keep our young adults coming back to Clear Lake.  Both to be employed here and to become active in our community.    An 18-hole golf course has been talked about for a number of years in Clear Lake.  In fact, a few years ago it was named as the top priority by the Clear Lake Economic Development Corporation.  What are your feelings about an 18-hole golf course and what role, if any, do you think the city should take to get one here?      I enjoy golf, however, I feel the City should take a back seat role in this matter.  They need to focus their efforts on bigger issues.  One may be on how to keep our taxes down; help bring well paying jobs to the area; and hopefully keeping people coming to our town.    What are your specific ideas/proposal to increase retail business in the City of Clear Lake?      We should expand activities like our Thursday Nights on Main.  Maybe move Thursday night to Friday night, that way families could enjoy entertainment in our downtown area without spending large amounts of money.    If you were to make a prioritized list of projects for the City of Clear Lake, what would be your top three priorities?    1.  Boost Clear Lake’s role in the Economic Development Corp.    2.  Help revitalize Clear Lake’s downtown area, drawing more tourists/people into our town to boost the economy.    3.  Bring fiscal responsibility back to the City Council. Name:  Rod PumpAddress: 110 S. 9th St., Clear LakeFamily/Personal:   I have lived in Clear Lake for the past 31 years.  I have one son, Barry. Education:   I attended LaJames College from 1977-78.  Job experience or qualifications you feel relate to your candidacy:       I co-own Design Studio with my business partner, Dana Toppin.  We have been in our current location for over 25 years.  We have been a 25-year member of the Chamber of Commerce.  I presently serve two boards: Una Vocis, a mixed voice choir and Iowa Guardianship Inc.  IGI oversees the care of special needs adult clients.  I am the vice president of each of those boards.  I volunteer for the Festival of Trees, July Fourth, and Harvest Festival events.  I help with the summer flower basket program.  I’ve helped with student mentoring in the school (receiving the 2007 Friend of Education award).  I am a member of the local Shibboleth Toastmasters Club.  I hold a certificate from the League of Cities leadership program.     I was elected to the Council in 1998 to fill the vacancy after the untimely passing of Dick Hughes. I served until 2006.  I deal with people on a daily basis in my business and know I have the ability to understand their problems.  I am an empathetic and good listener.  I am a proven/tested leader.  While on the Council, I played an instrumental role helping to initiate the restoration of the lake in 1998, renovating the Library, building a swimming pool, improving the infrastructure of the downtown business district, renovating North Lakeview Drive, building the Lakeview Room addition, constructing a new Public Works building, and creating an ambulance service.  I cooperatively worked to improve the downtown by relocating the VFW to its current site, build apartments and townhomes.   I helped oversee the construction of South Shore Drive (12th Ave. So. to 27th Ave. So.) and Outlet Park street improvement projects, adding bike lanes for safety.    Are there specific issues which have inspired you to seek office?  If so, which ones? Why?     I feel that we need to expand and maintain our green space areas.  It makes good sense for the future.  As our neighborhoods turn over from generation to generation, we need to preserve these areas for the children and families that will benefit from them.     Please identify the biggest challenge you see facing the city in the short term (1-2 years) and the long term (10-20 years):    With the economic climate as it is currently, finding funding for projects will be an issue.  Holding the line on taxes will be the challenge.  Not cutting programs and maintaining services will be intriguing.  I am an optimist about the economy and I believe that it won’t always be this way.  What goes down, must go up.    Lake restoration will continue to be a long term issue.  I was told in 1998 that it would take up to 30 years to return the lake to a positive state.  To undo the misuse.  We are definitely on the right path with the dredging of the small lake, but we still have far to go to achieve clearer water.  We are now faced with a Zebra Mussel infestation that could potentially affect tourism.  I will support the DNR in their efforts to educate the public of these concerns.    An 18-hole golf course has been talked about for a number of years in Clear Lake.  In fact, a few years ago it was named as the top priority by the Clear Lake Economic Development Corporation.  What are your feelings about an 18-hole golf course and what role, if any, do you think the city should take to get one here?      Economically, there is much potential for an 18 hole course.  It would be great to have such an amenity.   Now if the land were donated, and it was created as a regional draw, I think the Council could support the efforts to create a beautiful entity.  Even though interest rates are low, money is limited, this project might not be considered a top priority.    What are your specific ideas/proposal to increase retail business in the City of Clear Lake?      Increasing retail business is primarily a Chamber effort.  I would support those initiatives by promoting plans such as the ‘Shop Clear Lake First’ program.  At Harvest Fest, I did talk to a gentleman that was interested in expanding his business to Clear Lake.  I gave him names and telephone numbers of people I thought he should talk to.  I continue to do this at every opportunity.    If you were to make a prioritized list of projects for the City of Clear Lake, what would be your top three priorities?     a. I would encourage communication between the School Board and Council about the Sunset School property.  We could use the building as a business incubator and preserve the green space for the neighborhood.    b.  I look forward to being part of the construction of the new Fire/Ambulance building.    c.  Move the Park and Recs department into a new facility and recreation area.    d.  Expanding the police department and giving them a modern facility to work in.  The current office space is outdated and has been inadequate for over 20 years.  It is time to update this area.    e.  I think we need to make Clear Lake a more health centered community by creating educational and exercise programs to encourage all citizens to do what they can to lead healthier lives.  Name:  Ned Wicker  Address:  1120 10th Ave. S. Family/Personal:  My late wife, Vera and I moved to Clear Lake to raise our family more than 36 years ago.  We were blessed with four children, all of whom were raised and educated in Clear Lake.  I am also the proud grandparent of four grandchildren.  I am an active member of my church and have had the pleasure of being affiliated with many local not-for-profit organizations.    Job experience or qualifications you feel relate to your candidacy:    I previously have had the honor of serving the Citizens of Clear Lake as a member of the Clear Lake City Council (2nd Ward) for multiple terms.  I also served on the City’s Parks and Recreation Board.  I am currently a member of the City’s Planning and Zoning Commission.    Most of my professional working career was spent in management, which allowed me to develop effective communication skills, which is the most important trait for a Council member.    Are there specific issues which have inspired you to seek office?  If so, which ones? Why?Clear Lake has been my HOMETOWN for nearly the past four decades and I feel a calling to serve my community in this way.  I was very humbled by the many business owners and civic leaders who approached me and asked that I consider seeking a return to the City Council.  I LOVE this community and want to see it continue to prosper; I wouldn’t be seeking a seat on the City Council if I didn’t feel that way.    I entered the city council race for three “primary” reasons, not in any particular order of importance:  1.  To ensure City Hall remains fiscally responsible with YOUR tax dollars; 2.  To promote the development and retention of businesses and quality jobs; and 3.  To preserve Clear Lake’s small town charm.  The City Council has an important role in each of these areas.    Clear Lake is a special community.  However, it’s also a community that is changing.  The decisions that are made at City Hall affect every Clear Lake taxpayer.  We need leadership on the City Council that will act in the best interests of the citizens of Clear Lake to keep the tax rate in check; develop a diversified tax base; and maintain those qualities about Clear Lake that we all enjoy.  As a Clear Lake resident for more than 36 years and as a former City Council member, I know what needs to be done to accomplish these objectives.    Please identify the biggest challenge you see facing the city in the short term (1-2 years) and the long term (10-20 years):    Short term:  Jobs, quality of life, and keeping the city safe and attractive.  For the short-term, I expect that we’re going to face our share of fiscal challenges, as we continue to get through the difficult economic challenges confronting us on a State and National level.  Certainly the economy has slowed down, which will require that the City continue to be prudent in spending and have adequate revenues in reserve.    Long term:  Maintaining essential city services with less resources.  Higher prices for fuel and energy will necessitate sustainability policies and practices that will be in the City’s long-term best interest.  Increasing costs for other commodities and services will force similar conversations.  The Council will be required to evaluate existing services and decide what can be done differently and what, if anything, may be discontinued in order to save money and maintain the most essential of community services.  I know from experience that this will not be an easy process, but it is a necessary one.    An 18-hole golf course has been talked about for a number of years in Clear Lake.  In fact, a few years ago it was named as the top priority by the Clear Lake Economic Development Corporation.  What are your feelings about an 18-hole golf course and what role, if any, do you think the city should take to get one here?    I’m not certain that a “stand alone” 18-hole golf course was ever a top priority, as much as it was part of a broader overall economic development project designed to grow the tax base and provide quality of life and employment opportunities.  Often times, the task of the City is simply to “set the table” for the private sector and then get out of the way.  This was the case with the Park Centre (across from City Park) redevelopment project; Lake Plaza Senior Living Project, and so on.  If the Economic Development Commission can recruit a developer  for the community that is interested in a “multi-faceted” economic development project that would include an 18-hole golf course as a component, I may be supportive of the City being involved in some capacity, but certainly not as “owner” of the course.  Clear Lake is blessed to have three well-maintained, privately owned and operated nine-hole courses and 18-hole courses in the area.  This is not what I would describe as a “critical” need for the community, however, at this point in time.    What are your specific ideas/proposal to increase retail business in the City of Clear Lake?    Clearly the Retail Recruitment Incentive Program developed by the current City Council has been effective in filling up Main Avenue’s store fronts.  As I have walked Main Avenue and the surrounding streets, there are few vacant properties available.  The Council’s leadership in this regard was critical, as it was only two years ago that a number of storefronts on Main Avenue were vacant.  In the past year, the City has helped bring a number of new businesses to the Community that might not otherwise be here.    I would propose to continue with the current Retail Recruitment Incentive Program.  Close attention also should be given to the Highway 18 Corridor.  I would like to see the City work with the businesses along the Highway to provide for better landscaping and improved aesthetics.  There are roughly 13,000 vehicles a day traveling through Clear Lake on U.S. Highway 18, more than even I-35.  A positive impression is important.    If you were to make a prioritized list of projects for the City of Clear Lake, what would be your top three priorities?    1.  Ensure the completion of the proposed new fire station building project.    2.  Remodeling and renovation of the current police department facility.    3.  Development of the 12th Ave. S. Outdoor Recreation Complex.