Keokuk, IA –
Downtown
Keokuk has seen its share of downtown businesses close in recent years.
At the same time, a handful of buildings have been lost to either demolition or collapse.
Theresia Harmon says it is important for the city to work with Main Street Keokuk to promote the active downtown businesses.
She says Keokuk must also hold absentee owners accountable for their properties and possibly set aside money to help those who are trying to maintain their buildings.
"Give them a low-interest, long-term loan to help them with that," says Harmon, "so that they can continue to have a loan there."
John Helenthal agrees with the idea of creating a fund to help improve downtown buildings.
He says it is also important to make sure people know what is available downtown.
"Because a lot of times they forget what we have on Main Street," says Helenthal, "they are so used to jumping in their car or running to this store or that store that sometimes they forget."
Both candidates say the city should also work to buy local as much as possible.
Open Government
Both Helenthal and Harmon say they are running to open up city government.
Helenthal says his number one priority is making sure people feel like they belong in Keokuk.
"I don't care if you make $1 or $1-million," says Helenthal, "everybody has a place in this town and everyone has something they could bring to the table: an idea, a lending hand, a warm heart."
Helenthal says if elected, he would gather public input before making decisions, especially on controversial topics.
Theresia Harmon says she entered the race to be a voice for all residents.
She says many people feel they no longer have a voice in city government.
"The city council, or anybody, can't know what people want unless they have voices," says Harmon, "I would like to see more people actually get involved in city government, every aspect of it."
Harmon believes if more people get involved, things will turn around and Keokuk will become a more enticing place to live.