Lisbon City Council
Rick Scott
My name is Rick Scott and I’m running for my second term for the Lisbon Council. I have been a resident of Lisbon for 28 years. My wife Brooke and I have three sons (Ryley, Tyson and Tyler) who all attended and graduated from Lisbon Schol. I have been in law enforcement for 35 years. I’m also an honorably discharged U.S. Navy veteran. My hobbies are hunting, fishing and playing billiards.
I believe the city as a whole is in good shape. The new sports complex is a plus for the city. We have three new businesses in town, and the town seems to be growing. The city employees are what keeps the City going in a positive direction. We do a lot of in-house repairs and new construction on things that would cost several times more if we had to hire it out. I would also like to see more police present in the city before and after school and daytime hours.
In running for council to see the things we started get finished, such as the sports complex. I’m also running to make sure we spend our tax money wisely for things that we need. I would also like to make sure our emergency services such as the fire department and ambulance have the things they need to do their jobs to make sure the city of Lisbon is safe.
Nathan Smith
A questionnaire was sent to Lisbon City Council member Nathan Smith, but not returned at deadline to be included in this section.
Smith is an incumbent on the Lisbon City Council and one of the two running for two seats.
Mount Vernon City Council
Paul Tuerler
Biography (where did you go to school, hobbies, job/profession, experience, family):
I moved to the Mount Vernon area with my young family in 1988. We have resided at the same home in Mount Vernon since 1994. I have a Bachelor’s of Liberal Arts degree from the University of Iowa. My wife Debbie and I raised two sons, Jordan (MV Class 2006) and Marshall (MV Class 2013) here and enjoy living in Mount Vernon. I’m retired and worked 25 years at Rockwell Collins in Quality Compliance.
I have been involved in Public Service in Mount Vernon since 1994 in a variety of roles. I served on the Parks and Recreation Board for 6 years, a portion of which I was the Chair. I was first elected to the City Council in 2000, served ½ terms and then was elected Mayor. After 3 terms as Mayor, I took a break and return to the City Council in 2019. I enjoy serving the residents of Mount Vernon.
Give us your assessment of the city. What is going well; what would you like to see changed?
I believe the City of Mount Vernon continues to be mindful of our past, looking to the future, and continuing the maintain our present as effectively as we can. The decisions that the Mayor and Council make are very important for strategic planning, governance of our community, policy, and how our tax dollars are spent. I would offer that the key to day-to-day operations and effective execution of the will of Council is carried out by the dedicate staff, including the administration at City Hall, the Public Works and Sewer and Water Departments, the Parks and Recreation staff and our dedicated safety services staff are the real engine that makes Mount Vernon what it is.
Why are you running? Is there a specific issue you plan to champion?
I am running to help drive our community forward, through residential and commercial growth. We are able to provide amenities because of our continued development.
If you are elected, what would you like to see happen during your term of office?
The continued growth mentioned above. I would also like to see our state government do a better job of providing all Iowa entities with the funding mechanisms needed to maintain and grow our communities. Recent legislatures have been trying to modify the formula for funding cities and counties, but they can’t seem to come to an answer on how to do that. This is detrimental in that we can’t always effectively plan our annual budgets, and often costs us as the state government places unfunded mandates on us. Another frustration is that they claim they are providing tax breaks when this often results in simply pushing the financial burden to the cities and reduces our ability to maintain and grow our infrastructure and amenities.
Where would you like to see more or less money in the city budget spent?
I believe that the city budget is about as balanced as you can get, based upon the current taxing authority and other financial mechanisms we have available (i.e. TIF Funding). We continue to maintain an appropriate number of reserves and manage our funds well providing lower costs when borrowing through bond issues is required. No matter how effectively we work our annual budget and longer-term strategic plan, we will have the unexpected issue or opportunity arise, and we want to continue to manage those as effectively as possible.
Anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Thank you for the opportunity to have served the City of Mount Vernon for many years.
C. Sherene Hansen Player
Biography (where did you go to school, hobbies, job/profession, experience, family):
I grew up all over the country (Ohio, Iowa, Idaho, Utah). I graduated from Highland High School in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1987 and then received my bachelor of arts degree in English with a minor in theatre arts from Brigham Young University in 1994.
I married my husband, Roch, in 1994 and we settled in Polk City. I had been taking classes at UNI for my teaching credential and did my student teaching in Johnston and Urbandale. I taught Seventh Grade Language Arts at Johnston Middle School for three years.
During our marriage we have lived in Polk City, Alaska, Washington, Texas, and 12 years ago we moved to Mount Vernon. We have four daughters and they have all graduated from Mount Vernon High School.
In Mount Vernon I served for 10 years as the chair for the Chocolate Stroll Festival and was named Volunteer of the Year in 2019. I have worked with Magical Night for eight years coordinating hot cocoa at the First Street Community Center. My family and I participate each year in the Clean Up Mount Vernon Day in April. I coordinate the Tuesday Morning Book Club at Cole Library. This past summer a group of friends and I put on our first Summer Reading Camp at Cole Library to help elementary aged children with their reading skills.
Starting in 2020 I worked Early Voting for Linn County each year and I also worked for the Decennial Census. I started working full time as a field representative for the Census Bureau where I gather statistical information throughout Linn County and other areas of Iowa.
Give us your assessment of the city. What is going well; what would you like to see changed?
We are so lucky to live in this great town. It’s really an oasis of peace where people can get to know their neighbors and kids can run around outside and play with their friends.
I would like to see more communication between the City and the citizens. There have been several times since we’ve lived here when road projects have happened and we were not informed ahead of time. There can’t just be an assumption that people will hear about things from someone in City Hall or just because our house isn’t on a particular street that we use all the time, we shouldn’t be informed that it’s going to be ripped up.
Why are you running? Is there a specific issue you plan to champion?
I have always been taught to serve others and to help when there is a need. When Stephanie West told me she wasn’t going to seek another term, it felt like the right time to step up to serve Mount Vernon. I believe in our town and want to continue to see it be a welcoming place for all who come here.
One issue that I would like to champion is affordable housing. We all know how hard it is to find a place to live in Mount Vernon, but if a reason that people can’t move to this great town isn’t the scarcity of housing but because the cost has become so exorbitant, then we end up losing out.
If you are elected, what would you like to see happen during your term of office?
It would be an honor to serve the people of Mount Vernon. I would work to see what we can do about affordable housing options. I would also like to see what kind of partnership we could form with Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Transits to help more of our residents who work in these cities get there on public transportation.
Where would you like to see more or less money in the city budget spent?
I am all for keeping spending to a minimum. I would like to look into better signs to welcome people into Mount Vernon. The current ones are worn out and one is missing letters.
The new lights uptown came in pretty quickly without much input from citizens and now there are additional costs to get a breaker added in the box to each pole so that it can be turned on and off all by itself. I believe that slowing things down and talking with communities that have done similar things will help to avoid additional expenses like this.
Anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I am a person with integrity and I will listen to both sides before making a decision.
Mount Vernon Mayor
Keith Huebner
Biography (where did you go to school, hobbies, job/profession, experience, family):
I have 30 years experience as a Global Water Treatment Engineer. Focus is clean water system design, problem resolution, Commissioning and Training.
During the last 16 years, I founded two local Companies- Global Water Services, LLC/ A Lisbon based company employing six people full time plus several part time employees. I implemented railroad service to the Team track in Lisbon adjacent to our property there, and together with another local business are expecting to receive 45-50 rail cars of freight to our Combined cities. This reduces truck traffic to town, and helps reduce fuel and transportation costs.
-I also founded Endurance Truck and Equipment, employing two full time mechanics to service our growing fleet, and to provide local residents with an additional option for vehicle, truck, trailer, and equipment maintenance and repair.
I’ve lived in Mount Vernon for 18 years, am married to Janet, have a daughter that’s married living in Oregon, three sons, two that are attending MV High school, and one that graduated and lives in Cedar Rapids.
My hobbies are Airplanes, Helicopters, and Automobiles. I am President of the local chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association, and an Annual Volunteer at Airventure, the World’s largest Aviation event in Oshkosh, Wis., where I am Co-chair of the Air Tours Helicopter group of 85 volunteers.
Give us your assessment of the city. What is going well; what would you like to see changed?
Our City is doing well under the management of our City Administrator.
I would like to see our elected officials provide focused leadership and direction and rely less on paid consultants, utilizing our knowledgeable staff more effectively. This should result in lower costs and a lower tax burden.
Why are you running? Is there a specific issue you plan to champion?
Lower tax burden, utilize talented staff, reduce our dependence on consultants, and improve unity in the Community.
If you are elected, what would you like to see happen during your term of office?
Continue road improvements. Increase the maintenance of existing infrastructure.
Where would you like to see more or less money in the city budget spent?
Spend less across the board. Our tax revenue continues to grow with additional properties, increased valuations, and more businesses in town. Yet our tax bill continues to go higher. I would like to see us maintain or reduce the current tax burden on our taxpayers.
Anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
It’s time for a change at City Hall. Vote Keith Huebner for efficient government.
Tom Wieseler
Biography
My wife, Vicky and I have been married for 49 years. We have 3 children who graduated from MV Schools. We are enjoying our 10 grandchildren. I am a 1975 graduate of Creighton University and spent 43 years as a General Manager, and eventually District Manager, mostly in college dining. I then spent 5 years working at the Mt. Vernon Bank. I enjoy Mustang sports, reading, taking LBC classes, travel, running, and personal fitness. And spending time with family, of course.
My experience in governance includes 27+ years on the Mt. Vernon School Board. For six of those years, I was a District Director for the Iowa Association of School Boards. For over 20 years I was a member and officer of the Booster Club. For the LBC I was involved from inception through fund raising to completion. I was on the Parks & Recreation Commission for 6 years. I’m been a member of the Mt. Vernon School Foundation, the Community Foundation, and in my early years I was a coach for traveling teams in basketball and baseball and currently volunteer as a coach for middle school football. I volunteer in several capacities at my church including co-chairing two major capital campaigns.
I served 6 years as a City Council member. I’ve been mayor for 4 years. I really enjoy this job and its unique challenges and I think I’m bringing some value to the community by the quality of my leadership.
Give us your assessment of the city. What is going well; what would you like to see changed?
I’m a little biased but I feel that things are going well in Mt. Vernon. We have Cornell College in our community and all the activity that brings to us. Having a thriving main street that has storefronts staying full with some businesses incubated from the First Street Building is an asset. And the school district continues to excel in all areas.
The importance of being a public servant is important, and I believe in the intrinsic value of hard work. I feel we have a great City staff in all departments with strong leadership. The Council works well together and with City staff. Meetings with leadership of the School District and Cornell are very productive and much good information is shared. I have enjoyed maintaining a good relationship with the nine citizen boards.
What I would like to see changed is to be quicker to get from idea to concept design to project completion. With civic governance we need to be sure there is adequate public vetting with multiple readings and consultant input. Transparency in governance is vital.
Why are you running? Is there a specific issue you plan to champion?
I’m running because we are a welcoming community. Relationships are the basis of good governance. I consider myself a strong relationship person and nothing of note happens without strong collaboration. I can do nothing without staff and Council endorsement. I feel I have the right demeanor to serve. I’m reminded, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”.
It is hard to specify one issue to champion but know this: I will continue to be a champion for Mount Vernon.
If you are elected, what would you like to see happen during your term of office?
Future projects to complete include finishing the sidewalk project, completing street work on highway 1, city street improvements, and continuing the uptown streetscape project, plus finding more childcare alternatives and entry level housing choices.
Where would you like to see more or less money in the city budget spent?
The next big project is the nutrient reduction work at the sewer plant, mandated by the state DNR. That will determine future budgets.
Anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I still have a decent work ethic with high energy and interest in all the components of City governance. I want to continue to engage with a variety of City departments and boards but still recognize my proper role with staff. Hopefully, citizens will look at my full body of work. I want to be a cheerleader for Mt. Vernon by being articulate but not verbose, have firm opinions but not be petrified, to be visionary but not impractical, and prudent but not timid.
I ask for your vote for mayor of Mount Vernon on Nov. 4. Please vote. Thank you for allowing me to be of continued service to this great community. It’s good to be us.
