Meet the candidates for Clear Lake City Council

The Mirror-Reporter invited Clear Lake City Council candidates to share information about themselves and answer questions on a variety of issues

Ward 1 candidates

[caption id="attachment_13733" align="alignleft" width="270"] Mark Ebeling[/caption]

My name is Mark Ebeling. I grew up in Clear Lake and graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1995. I went on to graduate from Buena Vista University with a B.A. in History with emphasis on business and literature. I have worked in the insurance business for 15 years. I am currently an owner/partner at Edwards-Brandt and Associates Inc. in Mason City.

Presently, I serve as the Past President of the Clear Lake Area Chamber

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of Commerce, following my second term as President. During my tenure, I dealt with the impending closure of the All Vets golf course as well as the resignation of the Chamber’s Executive Director.  I served as Co-Chairperson for the Ignite Clear Lake fireworks endowment campaign in which we have raised over $1,000,000 to ensure that the fireworks will go on in perpetuity. I am also a board member and Past President for the Association for the Preservation of Clear Lake. When I was my children’s age, the lake looked entirely different than the one they now enjoy. Our efforts, along with our many partners, have improved the water quality for all that use the lake and those that depend on it to make a living. I am proud to have been a part of this truly important achievement.

My wife Kristin and I have been married for ten and a half years. We have two daughters, Elleanor, 8, and Georgia, 5. Kristin is an elementary special education teacher at Clear Creek.

Why have you decided to seek election? Is there a specific issue which interests you?

I chose to seek election because I want to take an active role in the public process and enhance the quality of life and direction of Clear Lake for all our families. 

As a member of the business community and a business owner, I am particularly interested in maintaining fiscal responsibility, expanding plentiful job opportunities, and nurturing a growing small business base. Attracting a large business like McKesson to Clear Lake was no small feat and clearly demonstrates that Clear Lake is a hospitable community to do business. Small business is and always has been a driving force and cannot be overlooked.

The City has tackled a number of infrastructure projects in recent years. What projects do you see as the next priority for the City?

Though this is not a specific project, I feel that the biggest priority for Clear Lake is the lake itself. The City (as well as the State of Iowa) must maintain the great improvements we have made and needs to remain committed to the Lake’s long-term well being.

Part of our quality of life is the quality of our infrastructure projects, to include the roads, local water supply and sewer systems.  We must maintain and constantly provide the best services that we can.

The City has successfully helped to recruit a major employer which is expected to bring several new families to Clear Lake. Do you feel the city has enough available housing? What can the City do to help families choose to make Clear Lake their home?

There certainly is market demand for homes in Clear Lake. This is evident in the cost of housing which doesn’t seem to go down. This has spurred some new home developments and housing options to fill this need. Keeping property tax rates low is a major priority. To be able to do this the City has to make the smartest possible decisions on how our tax dollars are spent.

Affordable housing is a problem and challenge not only for those who live in Clear Lake, but for the young families that want to return to their hometown to raise their families. Many other communities face similar circumstances, so we will have the benefit of learning how other towns face this challenge and improve on how they tackled the problem.

Safe neighborhoods and schools are a priority for any family and must be for Clear Lake. Support for our police force and our volunteer firefighters are paramount. Encouraging partnerships and fostering relationships with schools and other community entities must be pursued if we are to achieve the desired results.

Equally important, as Clear Lake continues to grow, the sense of community cannot be lost.

Please identify the biggest challenge you see facing the City of Clear Lake in the short term (1-2 years) and long term (10-20 years):

I think both short-term and long-term challenges are housing and issues related to maintaining a healthy lake.  Another significant challenge is how retirement friendly will Clear Lake be and what can we as a community do to attract and keep more young people here or to come (or return) to Clear Lake to work, live and play.  We have way too much to offer to not be considered a great place to retire or raise a family and continue a career track.

Additional comments:

I entered the race for City Council to have the chance to serve the citizens and to work towards the type of community in which my children and grandchildren can thrive and prosper.  I have seen how working together and bringing consensus to key issues can bring ownership to solutions and solve knotty problems. In short, I want to do my part to bring out the very best in Clear Lake in every way that I can.  I ask for your vote and support and would be honored to serve as your Ward 1 City Council representative. Thank you for your consideration of my candidacy.

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[caption id="attachment_13735" align="alignleft" width="270"] Rich Oehlert[/caption]

Rich and Cheri Oehlert, 106 Fairway Dr., Clear Lake.  Children: Jon and Cassie Shear, Hayden, LyLa and Brodie, Clear Lake; Roy and Angie Powell, Teaghan and Tierney, Gig Harbor, Wash.

Education: Ventura High School, Mason City Junior College, Mankato State College, Mankato, Minn.  Retired from Oehlert Bros. Farms, Rookies, Chaparral Truck and Car Sales, Scottsdale, Ariz., Cumming’s Oil Exportation Co., Billings, Mont., Gulf-Tex Oil Co., Houston, Texas.

We have been living in Clear Lake the last 30 years, where Cherie retired from Opportunity Village.

Why have you decided to seek election? Is there a specific issue which interests you?

Our family has been living in Ward One, or Sherwood Hills since 1968.  Our Councilman was moved to another ward.  This is a perfect opportunity to represent our friends and neighbors.  Being in the housing rental business, I receive four to 10 calls a week from people looking for housing in Clear Lake.  With all the new business coming to town, housing will be a priority.

The City has tackled a number of infrastructure projects in recent years. What projects do you see as the next priority for the City?

I’ve only been to a handful of meetings, but the projects they are proposing are well in line with the future of Clear Lake. This will take time and money!  As far as I can see, the city is financially stable.

The City has successfully helped to recruit a major employer which is expected to bring several new families to Clear Lake. Do you feel the city has enough available housing? What can the City do to help families choose to make Clear Lake their home?

All we have to do is have housing available.  Everyone wants to live here.  We are so fortunate to have a Chamber that has events going all four seasons.  What a job they do!  And because of our police department, we are basically crime free.  I have personally worked with the police department; they are a dedicated group of professionals who know how to do their jobs.  The city crews keep our streets and parks clean, water flowing to our homes.  I’ve seen crews in our neighborhood at midnight fixing a broken water main, working through their shifts moving snow during blizzards.  Not to forget our Clear Lake people who keep their lawns and properties in immaculate condition.  Why wouldn’t you want to live in Clear Lake? It is a beautiful city.

Please identify the biggest challenge you see facing the City of Clear Lake in the short term (1-2 years) and long term (10-20 years):

I think Clear Lake is in its infancy.  The biggest challenges short and long term will be housing and having enough people to fill jobs that will be created.  If we all work together we can “keep Clear Lake moving forward.”

Additional comments: None.

At-Large candidate

[caption id="attachment_13734" align="alignleft" width="270"] Mike Callanan[/caption]

I am a retired school teacher who has been employed by the Clear Lake Schools for the past 36 years. I taught American History and Economics and coached football, basketball, track and baseball a combined 120 different seasons. I grew up in Clear Lake and have served the past eight years on the City Council. Cathy, my wife of 46 years, is a retired RN who worked at Opportunity Village for 30 years. We have three children and seven grandchildren.

You have served on the Council for two terms. What have some of the major accomplishments been during your eight years on the Council? What made you decide to seek a third term?

We have definitely moved Clear lake forward while holding the tax rate the same (with the exception of the voter approved fire station bond issue) for the past ten years. A new fire station and city hall, police department remodel (without any borrowing) plus two new million gallon water towers lead the infrastructure improvements. They are followed by a South Shore and North Shore Drive rebuild, the Surf Area enhancement project and the CDGB Sewer project. We have looped the community with 12” water mains and upgraded the water treatment plant. We have lined thousands of feet of old sewers, and resurfaced many blocks of city streets.

We have upgraded public safety with a new ladder pumper and two new ambulances. A new computer system and several new squad cars have kept the police up to date. A retail incentive program has helped attract sever key merchants to the downtown business area. City incentives have helped to bring several new businesses to our community including Titan Pro, McKessen and Kwik Star. We have continued to make improvements to our public areas including the outdoor recreation facility, various parks and the lakefront. Upgraded street lights have enhanced the walking experience. We have an ongoing investment in upgrading the equipment our public works department uses to serve our citizens.

I love this community and have enjoyed serving as a councilman. I hope to continue the forward progress and help implement our sidewalk improvement plan. I am also working with three members of the VFW to find an agreeable location for the Veterans Memorial that will help get it built.

The City has tackled a number of infrastructure projects in recent years. What projects do you see as the next priority for the City?

We hope to rebuild the brick paver sidewalks in the downtown area and replace defective sidewalks throughout the community as identified by our 2014 sidewalk study. We have an ongoing program to resurface needy streets and to address improvements to storm water and sanitary sewer projects as necessary. South Lake View Drive will probably be the next big street project we look at.

The City has successfully helped to recruit a major employer which is expected to bring several new families to Clear Lake. Do you feel the city has enough available housing? What can the City do to help families choose to make Clear Lake their home?

I feel the city  has a shortage of housing in the lower-priced categories as we have become a desirable location for many weekenders and retirees which have helped drive property values up. The city cannot really impact the free market in real estate, but we have tried to do a few things to encourage development. These include partnering with developers on some infrastructure items and a five year property tax abatement in Pine Brook  for first-time new home buyers. Making some upgrades to an area such a Lincoln Village also helps developers build units which might free up existing single-family housing.

The city’s most important function in this area is to continue to make Clear lake an attractive place for people of all ages to live and help attract and retain employers who pay good wages to help our citizens buy affordable housing.

Additional comments: None.

Ward 3 candidates

[caption id="attachment_13736" align="alignleft" width="270"] Jim Boehnke[/caption]

My name is Jim Boehnke and I have lived in Clear Lake my entire life.  I have been married to my wife, Renee, for 26 years, have two grown children and one four-year-old grandson, all living in Clear Lake.  I graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1980 and have an A.A. from NIACC.  I am a real estate agent with the McQuaid Agency here in town.

Why have you decided to seek re-election? Is there a specific issue which interests you?

I am running for re-election for the same reason I ran the first time.  I love this city and just want to see the city continue to prosper and hold onto hometown values.  We are a unique community and I want to help both large and small businesses prosper.

The City has tackled a number of infrastructure projects in recent years. What projects do you see as the next priority for the City?

The city staff is always analyzing the needs of the city.  This is played out in a future plan of potential projects.  It is our job as Councilmen to give them the tools to tackle a needed project.

The City has successfully helped to recruit a major employer which is expected to bring several new families to Clear Lake. Do you feel the city has enough available housing? What can the City do to help families choose to make Clear Lake their home?

I feel the city can sell itself.  We have first class fire, police and ambulance services.  Furthermore, our city staff is excellent and helpful.  Our downtown is beautiful and our Chamber is always having something in the park for families.  All this with our best feature, our lake.

Please identify the biggest challenge you see facing the City of Clear Lake in the short term (1-2 years) and long term (10-20 years):

I see Clear Lake continuing to actively pursue business growth, which could lead to housing issues.  I also think that we need to stay focused on current businesses and offer to support them in any way we can.

You and your opponent in the Ward 3 race are both experienced incumbents. Why should voters choose you?

First, I must say my opponent is a good man.  I feel I’m willing to listen to the people in my ward, do my homework regarding an issue, and if necessary be a stand alone vote to best represent the majority in our ward.  I refuse to rubber stamp a vote.  I am honored to have been the voice in Ward Three and I’m asking for your vote.

Additional comments: None.

[caption id="attachment_13737" align="alignleft" width="270"] Dana Brant[/caption]

I have been married 21 years to Kristin; she is a CPA at Potter and Brant PLC.  We have four kids, all attending Clear Lake Schools.  I went to York College in York, Neb.  I own and manage Iowa Home Solutions LLC, which buys, sells, remodels and rents real estate.  I have been on City Council for the past four years.  With my life experiences I have felt comfortable helping to run and manage what I believe to be a very financially responsible and blessed community where we live.

Why have you decided to seek re-election? Is there a specific issue which interests you?

I have decided to run again because I love people and the challenges that come with dealing with the day to day issues of running a city.  The specific issues I would like to see get finished are the Veterans memorial.  The continued effort to make the City Beach area an attraction for citizens and tourists.  Work with developers to encourage new construction of homes and businesses.  Work to identify areas of our infrastructure that still need to be updated and redone.

The City has tackled a number of infrastructure projects in recent years. What projects do you see as the next priority for the City?

I would say the reconstruction of South Lakeview Drive from the Y all the way to Clear Lake State Park.  Yes, that will be a BIG one, but I see that needing to be done in the next several years.  Also, the improvement of the brick paver sidewalks downtown on Main Avenue.  I would like to continue progress on developing or expanding the City Industrial Park.  I also feel as a city we need to have a priority of doing all we can to aid developers with new home construction.

The City has successfully helped to recruit a major employer which is expected to bring several new families to Clear Lake. Do you feel the city has enough available housing? What can the City do to help families choose to make Clear Lake their home?

As an active real estate investor in Clear Lake, I can say for sure that we do not have enough rentals available for our future needs.  The city is limited in what can be done to curve the real estate issue that we are faced with, but the city can work with developers, entrepreneurs, and businesses through incentives, tax abatements, infrastructure credits.  This, in turn, allows for our community to grow, creates options and continues the enhancements to our beautiful Main Street area and surroundings.  As a landlord in this community, people tell me all the time that Clear Lake is a great place to live.

Please identify the biggest challenge you see facing the City of Clear Lake in the short term (1-2 years) and long term (10-20 years):

Short term I would say making sure the Veterans Memorial gets done.  Build a new and bigger bathroom at City Beach and tear down the old bathroom. Enlarge the Splash Pad to enhance the very popular City Beach area.  Long and short term would be to have a great working relationship with the police, fire and ambulance departments.  At this point if you’re still reading these answers, please take a moment to reflect on your surroundings.  You’re in an amazing and blessed community.

You and your opponent in the Ward 3 race are both experienced incumbents. Why should voters choose you?

Voters should choose Dana Brant because he takes a fair and balanced approach to all matters related to city growth.  There is the letter “i” in city, but as the old saying goes, there is no “i” in “team.”  The city needs a well managed, balanced and fair team to continue the blessed success of Clear Lake.

Additional comments: If you take some time to ponder the big picture in life and agree there is a lot of chaos in the world, I choose not to engage in chaos, but choose to find solutions, balance and lead with integrity.  I ask for your vote in Ward 3 on Nov. 3.