If Jon Wells were a betting man, he’d be all in on Iola.
“We’re right on the cusp. There’s a lot going on in town, and a lot that could happen for Iola. But it could go either way.” The possibilities light up his face. They’re also what motivate him to run for city council — again.
Wells, who served on Iola City Council from 2013 until 2021, is a candidate for Iola City Council’s Ward 1, which covers the northwest part of town, those living north of Breckenridge and west of Cottonwood streets. The election is Tuesday, Nov. 7; early voting begins Oct. 18.
Local merchant Paul Porter is also on the ballot for Ward 1 but is doing everything he can to support Wells. “I registered literally just a few minutes before he did, and I thought it’d be to fill an empty seat,” Porter told the Register. “Jon and I are on the same page. We’ve talked a couple of times, and I think we would really vote similarly. I am proud to support him.”
A NATIVE of Tulsa, Wells came to Iola in 2008 as a history and political science instructor at Allen Community College. He didn’t imagine he’d stick around long. “It was supposed to be a three-year stint,” Wells said. “Funny how things work out.” Sixteen years later, Wells has finished his doctorate, is chair of Allen’s social and behavioral sciences division and finds himself very comfortable in Iola.
“Iola is home. I’m not going anywhere,” said Wells. “Now if the University of Hawaii calls me, that sounds great. But I’m not looking to leave.
“I like the sense of community. I love the friendliness. I walk every day, and when I first moved to town, I wondered why people were always waving at me. But now I appreciate that.”
Wells, 40, first ran for council hoping to get young people involved. He went on to serve four years as a council member and four more as mayor. After his second two-year stint as mayor during “the fun COVID years,” as he mordantly describes them, Wells felt it was time for a break.
“You burn out a bit,” he reflected. “I knew I wasn’t running after that. You have to take some time off, step back, and come back to it when you’re passionate about it again.”
RECHARGED after a two-year hiatus, Wells sees lots of possibilities for Iola. He ticks off the new state park, the prospective PrairieLand location north of town, improvements to Allen County Regional Airport, and progress on the Cedarbrook Third Addition.
“We have some good starts. The big issue in Iola is housing. It’s everyone’s big issue. If everything goes right with these projects, we can have up to 100 units available,” said Wells.
Wells looks to Iola’s square as another way the town can better serve small businesses. “We’re too protective of the square sometimes,” he opined. “Sure, we have to keep it nice and pretty, but if businesses on the square need something, we should try it. The parking debate is a good example. That took months, and it was silly.” (In 2019, after much discussion the Iola City Council approved changes to overnight parking regulations on Iola’s square. Wells championed the compromise.)
“And I didn’t follow the entire debate on the issue, but I thought Paul Porter’s idea to allow charging stations on the square was a good one. I would have been in favor of it.”
Wells also foresees the council having to address some big ticket items in the near future.
“No one likes it, but the rebuild of Highway 54 has to happen,” he said. “We can keep patching it, but what should last seven to 10 years now lasts two. We’re wasting money until we do it.”
