Fort Madison, IA – Fort Madison voters do not have a lot of decisions to make when they go to the polls next week. There are only two contested races and a special airport commission referendum on the Nov. 3 ballot.
One of those races is for the top office in Fort Madison where a political newcomer is challenging the veteran incumbent.
Fort Madison's mayor serves in a part-time capacity. They work directly with the city council and the city manager.
Incumbent Steve Ireland and challenger Spencer Fraise are vying for that job.
Steve Ireland has served as Fort Madison's mayor for the last four years. He served 10 years on the city council prior to being elected mayor.
Ireland says this is an exciting time in Fort Madison. He wants to continue to be part of the progress that is underway.
"We have a highway bypass that is going to open up in2011," says Ireland, "we have a new water plant that is going to open up. I have been working on the depot renovations. We have a lot of exciting things going on including a Main Street program that just started. I see a lot of good things happening that I have been a part of and I just want to continue be part of that."
Ireland says he has brought a sense of fiscal responsibility to Fort Madison city government. He points to a string of balanced budgets and steady property tax rates as proof.
Spencer Fraise brings a small business background and a younger perspective to the race. He says he is running for mayor because he feels Fort Madison is struggling.
We have lost a lot of jobs and factories," says Fraise, "a lot of people I have grown up with are now unemployed or underemployed. They are struggling to find a place to work and talking about having to move out of the community. So instead of complaining about it, I thought, let's do something about it."
Fraise says one of the first things he would do to encourage economic growth is work on the electric rates in Southeast Iowa. He says he would push for the rates to be equalized so residents, businesses, and industries in Lee County are not paying more than their counterparts in neighboring counties.
"(I would) try to make a little noise about it to the state utility board," says Fraise, "and say, hey, we are economically depressed in this county and higher rates just don't make sense right now.' We have the highest unemployment rate in Lee County."
Steve Ireland says many cities, across the country and around the world, are in the same boat as Fort Madison when it comes to recruiting businesses and industries. He says that is why the city must be ready when economic development opportunities present themselves.
"We have to know exactly what we are able to give and know the exact amount to give away to a company," says Ireland, "there is something, though, to giving away too much. You have to be careful in this day and age not to give too much but to be a specialized city that is ready to go."
Ireland points to his efforts to bring Siemens Wind Generation to Fort Madison and keep Independent Can Company in the city as examples of his experience in coming up with the right incentive package. He says as Fort Madison looks to the future, the land between the northern city limits and the Highway 61 Bypass is crucial.
"The city has to plan on our growth from our current city limits to the bypass," says Ireland, "whether it means some annexation or some zoning growth. We have to be prepared to know which direction we are going to go. We don't need to wait for the ribbon cutting to say, Oh, it is now time to do something.'"
Spencer Fraise says he supports annexation around the northern city limits to take advantage of the potential of the Highway 61 Bypass. He says another key to future economic growth is a quality fire department.
Fraise says exploring the idea of a volunteer force is okay. But he says Fort Madison would be hurting itself without a full-time force.
"I don't think this is a very good time to even attempt to mess with it," says Fraise, "a full-time fire department means lower insurance premiums for businesses. If we did not have a good full-time department, it would be another negative for trying to bring in businesses."
Fraise says he would also like to see the minimum standard raised to four firefighters.
Steve Ireland says the status of the fire department, in terms of volunteer versus full-time, has been resolved through a shift in tax revenue. He says the future can only be determined by the city's budget, with so much money designated for salaries and benefits.
Both candidates feel Fort Madison should explore city ambulance service and should look into some long-range infrastructure planning. They also feel they are qualified and ready to lead the city.
It is up to voters to decide if they want Steve Ireland, the two-term incumbent, or Spencer Fraise, the political challenger, to represent them for the next two years.