Five vie for seats on Mason City Council

By CHRISTIE BLECK
cbleck@lsj.com

October 24, 2010
From Ingham County Community News

MASON - Five candidates will be on the Nov. 2 ballot for three seats on the Mason City Council.

Contenting for the four-year terms are incumbent Mayor Pro Tem Robin Naeyaert incumbent councilmembers Neal Johnson and Leslie Bruno, Jr., and newcomers David Barnett and Jon Droscha.

Although Droscha filed to run for a seat, he said in an Oct. 20 e-mail that he is no longer actively seeking office, saying he has neither the time nor money to campaign.

The candidates were asked in a questionnaire to respond to four questions:

• Why are you running for a council seat?
• What are the main challenges facing the city?
• What are the city's primary strengths and weaknesses?
• What do you hope to bring to the city by serving on the council?

The following are their answers.


ROBIN NAEYAERT

• "I believe it is my civic responsibility to continue serving the city of Mason on the council, which I've don for the past 10 years. I'm a lifelong resident of Mason, am proud to be raising my family here, and I've been humbled by the strong support from area residents for my work in local government."
• "Maintaining our level of services with declining state revenues and local tax base."
• "Our strength is in the character, charm and people of our community. We are fiscally sound where many communities of our size are struggling financially. We have the highest caliber small-town police and fire departments. The only weakness that comes to mind is the lack of public involvement in the city, as we often struggle to find people willing to serve on boards and commissions."
• "A blend of experience from local government as well as my 15-plus years of service in state government in the Michigan House of Representatives. It helps me see how what is implemented at the state level affects us at the local level. I will also bring my passion to see the city of Mason maintain its historic character and remain a place my children will want to return someday to raise their families.

LESLIE BRUNO, JR.

• "To serve the residents of Mason and contribute my many years of experience as a retired city of Mason employee."
• "Decreasing property values mean less money coming in to support existing city functions. It is hard now and I can see it getting harder in the coming years."
• "Our big strength is we're a city with the attitude we 'can do' and we pull together to get things done. I'm not sure this is a weakness, but we need to be looking at our city maintenance building. It is old and in need of replacement. Expense!"
• "Many years of experience, both working for the city and living here for 65 years."

NEAL JOHNSON

• "To be of service and give back to the residents of the city of Mason."
• "Funding for operations, parks and streets. With the county turning over operation of Rayner Park to the city, it has further increased the amount of money that we will need to take out of our savings, in order to keep a balanced budget. I agree that it is important for the park to be open, but a stable funding source for its continued operation will have to be established. I have put forth the idea to look at all of our parks as a unit and consider their operation, much like we do our street program, with a dedicated millage. Mason has not raised its levy in over a decade . In face, it was reduced back in early 2000. Sound financial management has kept the city operating in the 'black' until this year, but the addition of another park will certainly impact the budget process for a year."
• "We have a great park system and good sound infrastructure (for example, water/sewer, police and fire). I don't feel we have any 'real' weaknesses in our city as a whole"
• "A sound business and government background to view city operations with 'that' perspective."

DAVID BARNETT

• "As a longtime resident and product of Mason schools, I feel a sense of responsibility to give back and serve my community."
• "The economy and attracting new business."
• "(Strengths are) people, location and a great environment to live and raise a family. I don't really see any great weaknesses. I think we mainly have challenges to overcome like the economy and attracting new business."
• "A different point of view."