Candidate impressions - City Council Races

Here are my impressions on the candidates running for City Council, based on my dealings with them in council and in the community.

Ken Hedberg (3 year seat) - I have had the opportunity to meet with Ken just a couple of times since he took over Cheri's seat. So far it appears like he is trying to get a little more of a fiscally responsible voice on the board. He called for City Staff to make some budget cuts in order to reduce the severity of the increase in the City's tax levy.



Steve Millar (3 year seat) - I first met Steve when he ran three years ago at a "Citizens for Accountable Government" meeting. Steve ran (at the time) on a platform of no tax increases. Since then, Steve and I have worked on an advisory committee together and we have had more than a couple discussions about my various letters to the editor regarding city spending. Steve is great guy, but there are times when we just do not fully see eye to eye on city spending.



Vaughn Lemke (3 year seat) - I had a brief opportunity to meet Vaughn at Monday night's Fall Community Fest. He was talking to Rep. Mike Beard when I walked up and it looked like they had been talking for a while. Mike seemed to be quite impressed with Mr. Lemke.



Jeff Evens - Mr. Evens is the only candidate that I do not know. If anyone out there knows him and can tell me anything about his stands on issues, please forward them to me at



Chad LeMair (2 year seat) - I first met Chad at one of the myriad of City and County functions that were taking place three years ago talking about downtown redevelopment and County Road 21 reconstruction. Since then I worked with him on one of the citizen advisory committees. Chad is fiscally conservative (the memorable quote from this spring was when he asked city Finance Director if we could ever have a year where there was not an assumed increase in City spending - the answer was not one to warm a fiscal conservatives heart...) and easy to talk to about your concerns.



Rick Keeney (2 year seat) - I met Rick at a lot of the same meetings that I mention above. He and his wife Maria have been fairly active in "Citizens for Accountable Government" issues and he has been a fairly regular fixture at City Council meetings as an observer. His biggest concern has been the adverst effect of city spending on the homeowners in the community - a concern many homeowners share.