Contested council race headlines Spencer ballot

Randy Plagman and incumbent David A. Scott both met the filing deadline to appear on the Nov. 3 municipal ballot.

Both candidates supplied information about their backgrounds and filled out a questionnaire. The responses were left as intact as possible to help voters make an informed choice in the upcoming election.

Randy Plagman

RANDY PLAGMAN

Randy Plagman was born in Cherokee, attended Spencer schools and served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1973 to 1976.

He is the owner of Complete Recovery, LLC., a recycling business, and is an employee of Cycle Country. He also has 25 years experience as a video photographer, has served as a Little League coach and director and has been a high school cross country coach.

He lives at 820 East 7th Street with his wife, Vicky, of 34 years. The Plagmans have two children: 21-year-old Zach and 8-year-old Gracie.

What made you decide to seek a position in city government this year?

I believe in term limits. This gives more citizens a chance to serve their community. I can't ask others to serve if I am not willing.

What do you see as the city's biggest challenge in the next four years?

Jobs! We have a responsibility to the current businesses and residents of the community.

How would you go about addressing those concerns?

Get to know every business owner and manager in town to get familiar with what they do and what they need to exist and grow. Communicate with the citizens about what's going on in the local government and broadcast committee meetings.

Make your closing argument. Why should the residents of your city vote for you?

They should vote for me only if they feel I can do the job, if they feel I am honest, hard working and if they feel I will keep them informed. Dave Scott has served 28 years. It's past time for a new face and ideas. Barring a write-in, I am the only other choice. That's why they should vote for me or write in a choice.

David Scott

DAVID SCOTT

David Scott was born in Mitchell, S.D., and grew up on a farm 25 miles north of the city. He graduated from the University of South Dakota in 1969, majoring in government; and from the College of Law at the University of Iowa in 1972.

He is a partner at the Cornwall, Avery, Bjornstad & Scott law firm at 407 Grand Avenue. Scott has served on the Spencer City Council for 28 years and has worked with four mayors and three city managers. He has been a member of the Spencer Little League Association Board of Directors and is an active member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church Choir.

What made you decide to seek a position in city government this year?

I am running for re-election because I take pride in the accomplishments of the city, especially many of the capital improvements that the city has seen since 1997, and I want to have a hand in the continuation of that progress. I have listed many of those improvements in the Progress Timeline of my campaign flyer. Also, I enjoy working with city staff and my colleagues on the city council.

What do you see as the city's biggest challenge in the next four years?

We faced the "farm crisis" of the 1980s immediately after I was elected to the city council in 1981. It lingered for six or seven years. We worked through those difficult years and grew Spencer's economic base by diversifying in business and industry. Now, many of those businesses and industries are being hit the hardest by the global recession. Our challenge is to remain stable and strong in spite of widespread economic conditions that affect us locally.

How would you go about addressing those concerns?

The city should increase its commitment to the Spencer Industries Foundation, the Spencer Area Jobs Trust and the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation. These groups have achieved positive results in bringing jobs to Spencer, but more needs to be done. They should, for example, have a full-time recruiter who searches nationwide for new employers who could take advantage of Spencer's favorable business climate to open new businesses or branches here.

Make your closing argument. Why should the residents of your city vote for you?

I have the experience and perspective to get things done, and am still enthusiastic about making Spencer a better place to live.

THE UNCONTESTED CANDIDATES

Write-in campaigns have occasionally supplied an election-night surprise, but for the moment, the mayor and three council members appear to be unopposed as they seek to retain their seats in city office.

Two seats on the Spencer Hospital Board of Trustees also are available and the incumbents, Neal Conover and Gary Van Hofwegen have filed to run again:

Reynold Peterson

REYNOLD PETERSON

Incumbent Mayor Reynold Peterson has lived in Spencer since 1983. He was first elected to the Ward 3 seat on Spencer City Council in 1994. He was elected mayor in 2004 and is completing his third, two-year term.

Peterson said he wants Spencer to maintain its role as a progressive community. He acknowledges a difficult year for many Spencer residents amid plant reductions and closures. A better quality of life and continued economic development are among his goals.

George Kruger

GEORGE KRUGER

George Kruger moved to Spencer 32 years ago and served as an elementary school principal and director of special education programs for the Spencer School District. He is now retired.

He is seeking his second term on the Spencer City Council, following a successful write-in campaign four years ago in Ward 1. He looks back at his role as chairman of the Safe Routes to School program as one of his primary accomplishments.

He also serves on the Iowa Workforce Investment Board and the Northwest Iowa Planning and Development Board. He's a member of the Spencer Alliance for a Creative Economy Board.

Steve Bomgaars

STEVE BOMGAARS

Steve Bomgaars is a product of the Spencer School District and returned to Spencer in 1980 to raise his family here.

He is in his 30th year of teaching government, history and advanced placement government classes at Spencer High School.

Bomgaars is running for his second full term serving Ward 3 on the Spencer City Council. He was elected to fill the unfinished portion of Reynold Peterson's council term in 2004 following Peterson's successful mayoral campaign. Bomgaars won a full, four-year term in 2005.

Bomgaars said the city has done an excellent job in laying the foundation for economic development, even though it may not be as apparent in the current climate nationally.

He will continue to encourage communication and gender equity on city boards and commissions.

Ron Hanson

RON HANSON

Ron Hanson has been a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service for the past 20 years and is completing his first term serving Ward 5 on the Spencer City Council.

Hanson succeeded the late Jim Roling, an eight-term council member with 32 years of service representing Ward 5.

Hanson sought elected office as a way to give back to the community and has enjoyed his time serving with other council members. He's also worked for the Spencer School District and has owned and managed a small business in the past.