ASBURY, Iowa -- A booming population and the city's long-term planning to handle the growth are on the minds of the five candidates for Asbury City Council.
Incumbent Bob Reisch and challengers Curt Kiessling, John Richey, Bridget Stipanovich and Michael Cyze are competing for three council spots in the Nov. 3 municipal election.
Asbury's population estimate was 3,848 residents in 2008, an increase of 56 percent from July 2000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Reisch has spent four years on the Asbury City Council, and he wants to help enable the city to continue growing into the future.
"I just want to keep the momentum going for the city's growth," Reisch said. "I've got some experience, and people tell me I have common sense.
Reisch's top issues are the improvement of The Meadows Golf Course to make it a money producer for the city and keeping taxes low.
With the city's growth, Reisch believes a City Hall renovation also should be considered.
Kiessling would like to see a long-range plan for growth and a better
Bob Reisch (i) Age: 55 Occupation: Director of Program Services, Boys and Girls Club, Dubuque Family: Wife, Shirley, seven children Curt Kiessling Age: 50 Occupation: Contractor Family: Single John Richey Age: 57 Occupation: Manager, John Deere Dubuque Works Family: Wife, Kris, three children Bridget Stipanovich Age: 39 Occupation: Outside Sales, Sisco Family: Husband, David, two children Michael Cyze Age: 31 Occupation: Executive Director of Communication, Clarke College Family: Wife, Amanda |
"Growth for our city is a good thing," Kiessling said. "It increases our tax base and monies to spend on projects, but the citizens definitely need to have input."
Kiessling is not in favor of the city's special assessment policy, which places 25 percent of a municipal project's cost on property owners and has been proposed for a sidewalk project on Seippel Road.
Richey wants the city to make "fair and financially correct" promises to homeowners when proposing infrastructure improvements.
"We need to be able to provide proper services to these subdivisions when we annex them," he said.
Richey decided to run after his neighborhood was annexed into Asbury last year.
"I have a strong desire to serve the community," he said.
Stipanovich doesn't have a particular issue important to her, but touted her leadership skills in her first run at political office.
A believer in conservative principles, Stipanovich wants the city to be careful with its tax dollars.
"I want to make sure taxes are being spent in the best way for the community," Stipanovich said.
(Efforts by the TH to obtain a recent photo of Stipanovich were unsuccessful.)
Cyze believes in "structure-strategic" growth for the city, including the implementation of a long-range plan.
"When looking at growth, we need to make sure it's smart and strategic," Cyze said.
He said the city is experiencing "growing pains," and he wants to listen and contribute to what citizens have in mind.
"I think I can help contribute to the conversation," Cyze said.
