Waverly mayoral candidates Brunkhorst, Ribich, Liddle, and Matthias expresses their stances on various issues at a forum sponsored by Wartburg Student Media. Photo by Amanda Gahler
GRETTA STARK STAFF WRITER
The four Waverly mayoral candidates answered questions concerning the city’s economy and flood mitigation at a forum sponsored by the Wartburg student media on Tuesday.
Bob Brunkhorst, Duane Liddle, Brent Matthias and Fred Ribich were in the Lyceum to answer questions from both students and the community.
Abhay Nadipuram, student body president, and Trevor Carolan, sudent body vice president, moderated the panel.
Candidates focused on the economy before turning to questions regarding their personal campaign and daily lives.
Liddle likened Waverly to running a business, while Matthias was concerned about the visitors to Wartburg and how they affect the local economy. Brunkhorst focused on the community’s link to Wartburg through “The W,” and Ribich said the college also supports the local economy.
When comparing Waverly to a large business, Liddle said he had business experience. He said his experience running a payroll would help him with the city budget. He further said tourism would drive the business of Waverly forward, because it is a growing, vibrant community.
Matthias was also concerned about the local economy. He said the significant amount of visitors that visit Wartburg College are important to the local economy.
“If you look at some of the other cities our same size that don’t have a college as maybe a spoke in their wheel, they have lost population, their businesses during these economic times have closed,” he said.
As former State Senate co-chair of economics, Brunkhorst said working with the hotel industry would improve tourist economics, and he would work with Wartburg.
Ribich said the city is alive and thriving, but also agreed that Wartburg plays a big role in the city’s economy.
“Conservative estimates suggest that it’s close to $100 million a year,” he said.
He said he would like visitors to see a welcoming community with progressiveness, sustainability and energy conservation playing a factor.
As the candidates switched topics and focused on their personal campaigns, Liddle said his recent bankruptcy and arrest records, were because he was tricked by a con man.
“I spent a considerable amount of time and energy travelling the upper United States, doing my own investigaion, coming after the fellow that left me with no money and situtation that made me look like a crook,” Liddle said.
Matthias said communications within the city is important, and his goal is to keep communications between mayor and constituents open.
He also said, although he doesn’t have a lot of political experience, he does have a fresh perspective.
The partnership between the community and Wartburg in “the W” was the main topic for Brunkhorst’s time.
“People say there is a divide between Wartburg and Waverly,” he said. “People are a little upset because not everybody can afford to use it.”
Brunkhorst said $4.8 million of city taxpayers’ money went into it, and the problem is that everyone is not getting their money’s worth.
His solution was to possibly allow local schools and students to use “The W” for free.
The connection with the college was also something Ribich spoke about; saying while the city has not and will not show any favoritism, Wartburg is still a key player.
In his closing statements, Ribich quoted a William A. Ward poem speaking about being able to listen and lead.
The four candidates will be on the ballot Tuesday, Nov. 3, with polling places available at Redeemer Lutheran Church and the Waverly Civic Center at City Hall.