Six candidates vie for West Chester City Council seats

    Residents of West Chester are eager to select a mayor and five members of the city council, which they will do Tuesday at the Heritage Building.  

    Brenda Carey is completing her first term as West Chester?s mayor and is excited to serve a second term. Carey said she is still enthusiastic about helping the residents of West Chester achieve their goals.

    ?When I ran the first time, I wanted to contribute something to the town, and I still want to contribute,? said Carey. ?I?m happy to be involved in the community.?

    Carey said she is pleased the town has made progress in addressing its drainage issues.

    ?We have a few ground water issues left to work on,? said Carey. ?We?re working to forestall any major emergencies if we can. Since we consulted professionals last spring, we have seen significant improvements in the town?s ability to drain water.?

    Judy Raye Augustine is seeking her third two-year term on the West Chester City Council. She said her biggest concern is the standing water in the city.

    ?We have a big ground water problem in West Chester,? said Augustine. ?We?re working with the Iowa DOT [Department of Transportation] to reroute standing water. We?ve been working on it for the past two years but the problem has been with us for years.?

    ?We also have a problem with kids staying out past their curfew, but all towns have that problem,? added Augustine.

    Augustine said that her degree in business administration has allowed her to help write two grants for the city. She helped to write a grant for the tornado siren and another one for the generator at the pump-house.

    ?I think West Chester is a really good town,? she said. ?I like to work with people to make it a better and a happier town.?

    Deb Booth is running for the council for the first time. She said she would like to be a part of improving the quality of life for West Chester?s inhabitants.

fo rthe full story,see the Oct. 30 edition of The Washington Evening Journal