PEOSTA, Iowa -- For more than 30 years, Jim Weydert has been the leader of the city of Peosta.
Asked why he's running for another term as mayor, Weydert gave a quick response.
"Peosta is in my blood," Weydert said.
Weydert will have two challengers -- Dick Avenarius and Dennis McDonald -- for his long-held mayoral seat in Peosta.
Five candidates -- Cheri Biermann, Gerald Hess, Karen T. Lyons, Brian Recker and Ray Stephan -- are vying for three spots on the Peosta City Council.
Weydert wants another chance to lead a growing community.
"We've done a lot of things for the city," Weydert said. "I want to see some of this growth through."
Avenarius believes it's "time for a change" in the city of Peosta and wants more residents to get involved in the decision-making process.
"The mayor has been there for quite a few years," Avenarius said. "I want to get people to take more charge in the community."
Avenarius, who has been on the Peosta City Council for eight
Peosta mayor Age: 70 Occupation: Retired Family: Wife, Donna; three daughters Dick Avenarius Age: 67 Occupation: Retired Family: Wife, Mary Kay; three children Dennis McDonald (Did not provide candidate information to the TH) Peosta City Council (elect 3) Cheri Biermann Age: 31 Occupation: Financial adviser, Edward Jones, Dubuque Family: Husband, Jamie Karen T. Lyons Age: 56 Occupation: Self-employed courier Family: Husband, Frank; three children Brian Recker (i) Age: 34 Occupation: CNC machinist, East Iowa Machine Company, Farley Family: Wife, Abby; two daughters and one son Ray Stephan (i) Age: 64 Occupation: Retired Family: Wife, Roseann; two children Gerald Hess (Did not provide candidate information to the TH) |
"We need more oversight on the local level," Avenarius said.
McDonald declined to comment for this story.
As for the council race, Recker, an incumbent, has the intention of making the community his long-term residence.
"I intend to grow old here," Recker said. "I want to help make decisions now that I will be happy with when I'm 70 years old."
Stephan, an incumbent, is concerned with traffic near Northeast Iowa Community College and interchanges along U.S. 20 near Peosta. "We have to work out here to get some our traffic problems solved," Stephan said.
Lyons believes the city can do its part to get through what she called an "era of financial uncertainty."
"A lot of the answers can come from the local level as much as the federal level, and I would like to be a part of that," Lyons said.
Biermann wants to promote Peosta as a business-owner friendly community.
"I just want to help make Peosta a great community to live in," Biermann said.
Hess did not return messages from the TH for candidate information.
