Challenger Callahan Faces Incumbents in Monday Election

WAITSBURG - With elections just around the corner, the "Truth and Trust" slate of incumbents and council challenger Deb Callahan will face the city's decision when ballots are counted Monday.

The five city council can- didate incumbents Martin Dunn, Kevin House, K.C. Kuykendall, Karl Newell and Scott Nettles face chal- lenger Callahan in Monday's election. The top five vote-receiving candidates will earn seats on the city council for the coming year.

The incumbents range in experience and are all members of the Truth and Trust slate.

Mayor Walt Gobel said the slate's name represents the council.

"(It means) there is nothing the council has to hide from taxpayers," Gobel said.

Gobel, who is running unopposed, said he has no problem with new people running for council positions.

"We've always been able to work together and if we have someone new I'm sure that will be the case as well," Gobel said.

Challenger Callahan said she is looking forward to elections and excited to see how things turn out.

Callahan and her husband, fire chief Jim Calla- han, have lived in Waitsburg for nearly 32 years, which she said has allowed her to see the ebb and flow of the town.

If elected, Callahan said she would be the first wom- an on city council since Markeeta Little Wolf was mayor. And that female representation is important, Callahan said.

"I would like to see our city move into the 21st cen- tury and see what's new," Callahan said.

Moving forward is im- portant to Callahan, she said, especially for the city council.

Callahan also said she is a big fan of the mantra, "reduce, reuse, recycle," and that she would like to implement that mindset into strengthening the community.

Callahan said she wants to encourage the city council to apply for more grants and work with city administra- tor Randy Hinchcliffe and city clerk Kelly Steinhoff to look for more opportunities to gather financial support for Waitsburg. Callahan said she wants to look for sup- port like renewable energy grants.

"We need to be pro-ac- tive, instead of reactive," Callahan said.

Callahan said the council should also build a fire of enthusiasm and pride in the community.

Ballots have already been mailed out to Waitsburg residents and the annual city elections will take place on Monday, April 1.

"We have some decent weather to get out and deposit ballots at city hall," Gobel said.

Gobel said voting is a right and a privilege for Waitsburgers, so he encour- ages everyone to take advan- tage of it.