Two candidates have filed for seats on the new Iola City Council, which will be formed from scratch in April.
Jim Kilby, former Iola police chief, and Melinda Luttrell, owner of Brooklyn Park Antiques in downtown Iola, submitted their filing fees on Wednesday.
Kilby is looking to represent Iola’s third ward; Luttrell the second.
They and local insurance agent Ken Rowe are the only announced candidates for the eight-member city council.
The new governing body will have two candidates from each of the city’s newly redrawn voting wards. The second ward covers much of the northeast part of Iola; the third ward covers the southwest.
Kilby was a police officer in Iola for 34 years before retiring in the fall of 2008. He unsuccessfully challenged Bill Shirley for a seat on the existing Iola City Commission, with one of his platforms a desire to see the existing three-member governing body made larger.
Other Iolans agreed, through a series of citywide votes, the most recent in November, which puts in place the new eight-member city council.
Kilby also served on a citizens committee that looked at Iola’s local governance. The group ultimately endorsed a five-member commission, although Kilby had maintained throughout the process that an eight-member council would be a better fit for Iola.
“Running again had always been on my mind,” Kilby said.
Kilby said he had “no agenda” regarding city affairs going into the election, but noted that a newly formed council will have to take several steps to become an efficient, functioning body.
“I’d imagine the first month or so is going to be very hectic,” he said. “We would need to get things straightened out.”
LUTTRELL spoke in generalities regarding city affairs, noting that the new governing body will have to rely heavily on open channels of communication and sharing ideas.
“There are a lot of positive things the city provides, but we can’t count on the city to provide everything,” she said.
An effective council, she offered, would require candidates from various backgrounds, such as business owners or farmers, young and old.
“There are lots of good ideas and points of view out there that I’m sure have never been brought before the city,” she said.
Luttrell said the city spending most likely would be one of the biggest issues facing the new council.
“If we can find ways to cut costs in some areas, we’d have more flexibility elsewhere,” she said.
IOLANS have until noon Jan. 25 to file for any of the city government seats. In addition to the eight council seats, the new governing body will have a mayor and city treasurer, both of which will be elected at large. Individual council candidates will be elected in their respective voting wards.
