ELECTION 2021: Andrews, Severin in the race for Charles City mayor

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

As part of the Press’ coverage of the upcoming city and school board elections, we asked the Charles City candidates to respond to a questionnaire requesting biographical information and asking them to respond to a set of questions focused on each race.

In the election for Charles City mayor, there are two candidates seeking the position, incumbent Dean Anderson and challenger Richard Severin.

Here are the answers from the candidates for Charles City mayor:

Dean Andrews

Dean Andrews, age 69, is married to wife Marcie, and they have two adult daughters and five grandchildren. Andrews retired four years ago from his practice as a dentist and is seeking his second term as mayor, having previously served on the City Council from 1994 to 2012, as well as serving as president and board member of several civic organizations over the past 40 years, he said.

Why are you running for this position?

I was on the City Council for 18 years and have been mayor for 4 years. Through all of these years, my goal has been to help make Charles City a place our current residents are proud of, and a place where potential residents will want to live. I feel that during those years, and especially the last four as mayor, we have taken steps to make Charles City better, and I would like to have the opportunity to continue that process.

What do you consider the top 3 challenges facing the community, and how would you deal with each of them?

I consider our three greatest challenges currently are: 1) create a community high speed broadband utility, 2) provide more housing options, and 3) accessible and affordable day care.

1) Our broadband board has been working on creating a municipal broadband utility for the last couple of years. The largest stumbling block has been securing the financing to build the fiber optic network to every home/business in town. In the last couple of months there has been some progress in this area, so I hope we will soon be able to proceed with this project.

2) The completion of over 30 rental units in The Union House on Main Street, along with the plan for 40 rental units in the former middle school, and over 20 townhomes on the former Jefferson School site is exciting. It is the hope that these 90-plus units will provide more housing options in the next one to two years. These units may appeal to new people moving to town, or current residents looking to downsize and then placing their current homes on the housing market.

3) The proposed move of TLC to the former middle school building should help with childcare accessibility. I know TLC currently has a waiting list of people looking for day care, and the move should increase their capacity substantially.

How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process in our city?

I try to be accessible to citizens’ suggestions and ideas all the time. Whether someone wants to come to my office, visit at Party in the Park, or possibly a local school event, I always like to hear people’s ideas.

I recently presented to three high school classes on the topic of local government, had a program at the local Lion’s Club, and will visit the Senior Center sometime in November. All of these opportunities give me the ability to let people know what is going on at City Hall, but also the chance to hear their comments.

If you received a $1 million grant that you could spend on the city in any way you want, what would you do and why?

I would probably use that $1 million to support the “fiber-to-the-home” project. I feel that dependable, consistent, high speed internet access is extremely important to the future of Charles City. Whether it is to serve our current residents or to provide that asset to people looking to move here, good internet service is vital.

Why should voters pick you?

Four years ago when I ran for mayor, my campaign slogan was that I wanted to work for a “positive, progressive Charles City.” My stance is the same today. I feel that in the four years I have been mayor, we have made strides along these lines, and I want to continue to help Charles City to enhance its image as the place to be.

Richard Severin

Richard Severin, age 58, is the father of four children. He is retired, having worked as a teacher, business owner and religious leader. He has 14 years in the military as a corpsman and medic instructor, 18 years in education, and more than four years as a religious community leader, as well as having served “on a wide variety of committees for education, community safety, and emergency management in those roles,” he said.

Why are you running for this position? 

Because I love this town and I want to see it become a vibrant and exciting place to live, work and shop. That will require a more active leadership style and vision. I believe I have those qualities. I learned them growing up here. It is time to pass them on and show my gratitude.

What do you consider the top 3 challenges facing the community, and how would you deal with each of them? 

First, I understand the office of mayor has little power to make changes, so I am ready to help facilitate those who can make changes communicate, promote, and facilitate them.

1) Housing:

• We need to identify “problem” properties and actively encourage owners to make changes through helping them source funding, or – if needed – encourage the transfer of the property to others who will invest.
• We need to encourage investors and builders to create more affordable housing for younger families and seniors.
• We need to become more active and stringent on making sure all rental properties are registered, and that they meet basic safety and livability standards.

2) Main Street and other businesses:

• Encourage the use of the Main Street Iowa program to help businesses be more attractive to customers.
• Encourage the same program to encourage investment in upper-level living above main street businesses, bringing more life to the downtown area and better utilization and capitalization of spaces for owners.
• Celebrate our business community. These are people who risked a great deal to bring convenience, comfort and fun to our lives. They are the lifeblood of our community, and we need to recognize, promote and encourage their efforts.

3) Business/jobs. We have a community development program, but we as leaders can do more to help that effort:

• Assist our community development by encouraging startups and home-based businesses with incentives and by finding/cataloging loan and grant programs.
• Attract new businesses/startups/manufacturers to fill the empty commercial real estate currently available.
• Find new ways of encouraging our citizens to get active in the workforce, and try to steer the character and expectations of the citizens toward what made Charles City thrive – a willing supply of workers who are ready to trade work for fair wages.

How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process in our city?

In a word, visibility. If elected, you will be able to find me and talk with me. I plan to hold office hours to work as an ombudsman for citizens with concerns and find new ways to communicate with all citizens in ways that are stimulating and accessible. I will also use those opportunities to encourage and assist people who want to make an impact, but maybe don’t know how or need encouragement.

If you received a $1 million grant that you could spend on the city in any way you want, what would you do and why?

The grant would be put into a trust, earmarked for loan and grant programs to help Charles City homeowners living in their own homes – earmarked to help pay for needed updates that will increase the utility and efficiency of the home. This would provide a continuing and growing source of assistance to modernize, increase the longevity of our housing inventory, and make more attractive our existing and more affordable housing inventory.

Why should voters pick you?

I am trained in communicating and educating people. Much of the “drama” we experience as citizens comes from a lack of communication and a misunderstanding of how things work. I will make it my job to be available to learn, investigate, and communicate on all issues that concern the citizens of the city of Charles City.