Three seek Kalona reelection

KALONA — City Council members Hank Beisheim, Joe Schmidt and Craig Spitzer said they will run for reelection to their positions this November.

Beisheim said he hoped another term would maintain the city’s forward momentum. Though it’s his first time running for the office, after being appointed to fill a vacancy in January 2020, he cited his experience as a police officer.

“(I’m running) to continue the good work that we’ve been doing, just making Kalona a better place for everybody,” he said. “I bring lots of experience in public service and understanding what would be good for the community.”

Schmidt, who is running for the second time after his appointment in 2016, pitched himself as a longtime community member with a fresh perspective.

“I have had the opportunity to be on the council for several years now, I’ve been a community member for about 14 years now,” he said. “I feel as though I have a beneficial mixture of being relatively new to the area but also having been around enough to see some development and progress.”

Schmidt said he was focused on community development, while one of his priorities in the next term would be getting the city’s child care task force off the ground.

“I’m looking forward to being a part of that and hopefully trying to address that critical need in the community.”

Spitzer, who has served on the council since 2011, outlined his three personal priorities: the future of the currently unoccupied Baker building, the development of the Yoder property north of town and sidewalk maintenance.

“Those are the things that I’m thinking we need to move forward with, and that’s why I don’t want to give up my seat,” he said. “I was born and raised in Kalona … my experience plays a role, and I’m not afraid to speak up for the people. There have been issues where the council voted yes and I voted no because we had a room full of people that said, ‘Don’t do this.’”

The filing period for candidates to run for council is open until Sept. 16 this year, with Election Day set for Nov. 2.