City’s brightest encouraged

Published 12:00pm Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Comments

With Fergus Falls Mayor Russell Anderson stepping down after his term ends, this year’s mayoral race will be an excellent opportunity for new ideas and new voices.

Anderson has done a commendable job since taking over the position from the late Kelly Ferber in 2002. That said, this year’s mayoral race should bring out some good candidates in the area, and bring attention to issues the city has been, will be, and should be addressing in the coming months and years.

One of the top issues should be the prioritization and financing methods for requested community projects, from a library expansion to a police facility to the Pebble Lake water reduction system to an ice arena. While all of these projects are worthy, the city has limited funds, and determining when and how they will be completed will require some creative thinking.

With the national economy as it is, economic development and job creation also will be a major issue locally, and, as Kelly Ferber did in the 1980s, it is the mayor’s job to lead the charge.

Of course, there are many other issues affecting the city. Let’s hope that some of the city’s best and brightest decide to run, so residents have viable options on election day. Filing for council and mayoral positions begins on Aug. 26 and ends Sept. 9.

Comments

    Editor's Picks