Councilwoman Megan Secor is seeking her first full four-year term as an at-large member of the council. She was elected in a Feb. 7 special election to complete the unexpired term of former Councilman Neven Conrad, who resigned in October 2021 after being named the Humboldt County magistrate. She faces a challenge from Eugene Newsome

Councilman Terry Moehkne is retiring after 10 years representing Ward 1. Jen Crimmins and Scott Davis are running to replace him. Ward 1 is the western part of the city, Pleasant Valley and part of downtown.

In Ward 2, Councilman Cameron Nelson faces a challenge from Shannon Crouse as he seeks his second term. Ward 2 is the southern half of the city.

Councilman Dave Flattery is unopposed for his seventh term representing Ward 3 on the city’s northeast side. He also served as an at-large member of the council from 2008 to 2011.

Councilman Kim Alstott is unopposed for his seventh term representing Ward 4 in the north central part of the city.

The at-large council seats held by Quennel McCaleb and Lydia Schuur are not up for election this year.

At-large members of the council serve four-year terms while those elected to represent the wards serve two-year terms.

The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Ward 1

-Messenger file photo
The Muncipal Building, 819 First Ave. S., is shown. Five council seats are up for election on Tuesday.

Name: Jen Crimmins

Address: 140 Country Club Drive

Occupation: Senior vice president of Citizens Community Credit Union

Education: Bachelor’s degree from Creighton University, Omaha. Nebraska; graduate of Bishop Heelan Catholic School, Sioux City

Why should the voters pick you?

“I truly care about Fort Dodge and continuing the positive progress that has already begun. I want to see the city thrive.

“I also think that my involvement in Leadership Fort Dodge and the city Board of Adjustment helps me understand what the city wants and where it is going.

“I think that thanks to my background with overseeing all back office operations and my degree in accounting and finance, I’ve had all aspects of business and I will bring that to the council.”

What do you think is the No. 1 issue facing Fort Dodge and what would you seek to do about it as a member of the City Council?

“Crime.

“I would make sure that I met with all the city officials to see what we can do to provide the police with all the resources and support that they need.

“I just want to make sure that our residents feel safe.”

What would be your budgeting priorities, especially if property tax reform reduces city revenues?

“I feel like I would want to meet with all city officials, making sure I understand the city’s needs. I need a better understanding of all of that to clearly address the budget and make sure that we’re taking care of all of the priorities first.”

What do you think should be done with the Warden Plaza?

“I’m excited that we got the Warden Plaza back in our hands. I think if we can find a developer to do something with it, that would be ideal.”

Name: Scott Davis

Address: 317 Ave. E

Occupation: Employed at Elanco Animal Health and executive vice president of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1155

Education: Graduate of Fort Dodge Senior High School

Why should the voters pick you?

“I feel like we need a voice in Ward 1. That is the purpose of having ward representatives — to be a voice for your ward.

“Secondly, I believe a union leadership role and a City Council leadership role are very similar. We’re dealing with people all the time. We’re dealing with issues all the time. Some of the issues may be different, but you do work on issues that you’re trying to resolve.

“I want the people of Ward 1 to know that I’ll be there for them. My phone is always on. I’ll help them resolve the issue.

“This goes back to being a union leader. Basically, I’m on call 24/7 to help people and work through issues. That’s the same thing that I want to do for the citizens of Ward 1.”

What do you think is the No. 1 issue facing Fort Dodge and what would you seek to do about it as a member of the City Council?

“One of the No. 1 issues I’ve heard from Ward 1, is a lot of the streets. A lot of them are saying streets, infrastructure.

“I really don’t have a clear, concise idea how to do it, how to address it, yet. I have started looking at the budgets. I don’t know what’s out there for grants that a person could apply for.”

What would be your budgeting priorities, especially if property tax reform reduces city revenues?

“Of course, nobody wants their taxes to go up. I don’t really know how to balance that yet without learning more about the budget. I don’t think there’s a one part or two part answer to that. I think there’s a several part answer to that.”

What do you think should be done with the Warden Plaza?

“It would be great if we can find a buyer and have them renovate it. I would like to have affordable housing, and a strip mall on the first floor. But parking would be a huge issue.”

Ward 2

Name: Shannon Crouse

Address: 1308 Ninth Ave. S.

Occupation: Office manager of an optometry practice

Education: Certificate in medical billing and coding from Iowa Central Community College, graduate of Fort Dodge Senior High School

Why should the voters pick you?

“I’m a south sider for life. I care so much for the south side. I want to make it better for all of us.

“I want to be a voice for the south side. That’s why we have wards — that’s who you represent and that’s who you’re listening to. I think a lot of people have good ideas, good advice, and we should listen. And that’s why the ward members serve two year terms — so you can vote them out if they’re not listening to you.”

What do you think is the No. 1 issue facing Fort Dodge and what would you seek to do about it as a member of the City Council?

“I think the most important issue is the crime. I think that’s No. 1. They call us Dirty Dodge and I hate that, but when you’re in the news every other month for a shooting, how can they not?

“We need to have more of a caring community. An important thing is a lot of these kids don’t have a caring family. I feel like everything we can do to mentor them, to communicate with each other and bring kids and adults together will help.

“We’ve got to show them other, more positive examples to look up to. There are no bad kids, really. They are just kids who have not been given the right direction.”

What would be your budgeting priorities, especially if property tax reform reduces city revenues?

“I think the new police officers should be a higher priority. How is that not our No. 1 priority with all the problems we have been having?

“Roads would probably be second to that because that’s what everybody’s yelping about.”

She said she believes the council needs to do a better job of explaining budget issues to the public.

“We need to communicate more with people on that. I feel like I’m pretty good at breaking things down and talking about things in a way that they will get.”

What do you think should be done with the Warden Plaza?

“I like the way the downtown is going. I would love to see it remade into a hotel. It would be cool to have a hotel downtown.

“I hope we get that grant (EPA grant). That would be great. I think that getting rid of all the asbestos and lead paint would just take it down to the bones.’

Name: Cameron Nelson

Address: 2235 Highland Park Ave.

Occupation: Sales manager for Shimkat Motor Co.

Education: Graduate of St. Edmond High School, took classes at Iowa Central Community College

Why should the voters pick you?

“I think I have put in the time the past two years to represent the citizens to the best of my ability. I have been able to do some things, but I don’t think I am quite done yet.

“I can proudly say without hesitation that I have returned and answered every phone call I’ve gotten.”

The candidate listed his major accomplishments for his first term in office as helping to get a new skateboard park approved, supporting first responders and working on the development of the former Crossroads Mall site into the new Corridor Plaza. He said that project is in “a good spot.”

He said if he is re-elected, he will focus on supporting the Police Department and finishing the Corridor Plaza project.

What do you think is the No. 1 issue facing Fort Dodge and what would you seek to do about it if you are re-elected?

“I think there’s three things especially that are high on the list to be addressed – workforce, daycare and violence in the community. I would add that there is a 3A, which is housing. Housing is getting better because of District 29 and other projects in the community.

Regarding workforce, he said “I think that comes down to doing what we can to help with economic development. We have all these huge employers — Cargill, CJ, the hospital to name a few. What can we do as a council to help them get people? That comes down to a community mindset as well. We as a community need to sell our community. We have a lot of good things happening. We have to get behind that.”

Regarding daycare, he said he supports working with Linking Families and Communities, which he said is “doing a great job trying to get more daycare.”

With regard to violence, he called for hiring more police officers and getting a better facility for law enforcement. He said the community needs more mentoring for young people to “cut if off at the beginning.”

What would be your budgeting priorities, especially if property tax reform reduces city revenues?

“I think I can say in full confidence that everyone at that table was in favor of adding three more officers. But when commercial properties are taxed at the residential rate for the first $100,000 of taxable value there just isn’t enough revenue to do that. We plan on working back toward those goals. We can’t say for certain how we can do that. But I can say that is a goal of mine and we need to come up with innovative ways to make that happen.”

What do you think should be done with the Warden Plaza?

“If we get this EPA grant that will be a great place to start. That would clean all the asbestos and lead paint out of the building. It will be a blank canvas for a developer.

“The plan for mixed use was a good plan. I think multi-use would be a good use of the building.”

Ward 3

Dave Flattery is running unopposed.

Ward 4

Kim Alstott is running unopposed.

At-large

Name: Eugene Newsome

Address: 322 Ave. F

Occupation: Retired

Education: Associate degree from Iowa Central Community College

Why should the voters pick you?

“I want to be able to speak for the whole city and not just one section. I want efforts to benefit all the citizens of the city. I don’t care if they live in wards 1, 2, 3, or 4, they can come to me and I can help them, too.

“If I’m elected, I’m going to start doing the research for a roller rink with all the trimmings. It will have a light system and sound system and snacks here and snacks there. You want to get the kids into a safe palace where they can have fun and socialize We want them to put their phones down.”

What do you think is the No. 1 issue facing Fort Dodge and what would you seek to do about it as a member of the City Council?

“I think the top issue is the homeless people. Go through the process of finding out how much is available to help the people, then find a location to house them. Encourage them, inspire them to get a job somewhere and work their way back into society. Once you get them food, clothing and shelter it’s a whole new game. I believe it can be done.”

What would be your budgeting priorities, especially if property tax reform reduces city revenues?

“I’d have to do a little more research on that answer.”

What do you think should be done with the Warden Plaza?

“I’m leaning towards we’re going to have to accept the loss, tear the building down and come up with something else. You do the math and it ain’t worth it. I don’t know what you can put in there that would attract revenue. You’ve got to cut your losses and get rid of it.”

Name: Megan Secor

Address: 2531 Woodland Drive

Occupation: Co-owner and marketing coordinator for Soldier Creek Winery

Education: Bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University, Ames; graduate of North Butler High School

Why should the voters pick you?

“I care deeply about the future success of Fort Dodge and I feel like I’ve only just gotten started.

“I still want to get the compost program going, but I think it will take more than eight months to do, so I’d like to continue to work on that while also helping Fort Dodge progress.”

What do you think is the No. 1 issue facing Fort Dodge and what would you seek to do about it as a member of the City Council?

“I think we have a lot of things that we can improve, but right now we have a lot of violence.

“The city needs to collaborate with non-profit groups that are working to address violence. The city already collaborates with AFES and we need to collaborate with other groups as well. I don’t think it’s one entity’s responsibility to end violence in Fort Dodge. And the organizations need to partner with the city because often cities have access to funding that they don’t and that funding can be used for anti-violence programs.

“I’m a member of NextGen and NextGen is working on getting a mentoring program established. We recognize that there is a mentoring program in the schools, but the man who runs it is very busy so we’d like to devote our time to it as well. Mentoring could be a good opportunity for kids who need a good adult in their lives.”

What would be your budgeting priorities, especially if property tax reform reduces city revenues?

“Obviously, I would want to take care of the Fire Department, Police Department, road repair, updating the water and sewer systems. Those would be top priority always. Having quality of life isn’t going to work if we don’t have safety, good waters and good roads.”

What do you think should be done with the Warden Plaza?

“For now, I’m willing to sit back and see what happens. I am excited about the potential EPA grant. I do think that’s a step in the right direction. If removing the asbestos and lead paint is going to incentivize a developer to come in, I think that’s great. I love to see things reused. But it’s possible that that has sat for too long.”