Hoch Publishing Company, owner of the Marion County Record¸ Hillsboro Star-Journal, and Peabody Gazette-Bulletin, asked all candidates in Marion County to respond to questions regarding the reason they are seeking election or re-election.
Goessel City Council candidates Larry Lindeman and Larry D. Schmidt declined to respond.
Goessel Mayor Peggy Jay
1) Why do you want to be re-elected to office?
Jay: “I have been the mayor for several years and would like to continue on with projects the council has decided to work on.”
2) Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the current administration? Why?
Jay: “I am satisfied with the current administration as we work well together.”
3) What is your background and/or qualifications for office?
Jay: “I have lived in the community for more than 30 years. I feel like I know the community. My qualifications are my experience.”
4) What are your goals for the city? How do you plan to accomplish them?
Jay: “Continue to work on the infrastructure to allow for growth without raising tax dollars.”
5) What is the most important issue facing the city? Why?
Jay: “If the state takes away tax dollars as they are talking about doing, we need to maintain the city and growth with less tax dollars.”
6) Tell us about yourself — career, family, residence, etc.
Jay: “I am married, have three married children, and one grandson. I work at The Citizens State Bank in Goessel.”
Goessel City Council Two Positions Dallas Boese
1) Why do you want to be elected to office?
Boese: “I would like to be elected to the city council for personal reasons. I feel a need to be a part of something bigger, be involved with my community, and become a leader that Goessel would be proud to have. I really like Goessel and would like to see good things happen to it.”
2) Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the current administration? Why?
Boese: “I would say that I am satisfied with our current administration. There have been many attempts to make our town a more attractive place to live, like housing developments, city recreation improvements, and technology upgrades. I think Goessel is moving in the right direction.”
3) What is your background and/or qualifications for office?
Boese: “I have no formal qualifications to assist my campaign, but I feel that I am a worthy candidate. I have a positive outlook, a creative mind, and the understanding that it’s not about what I want, but what our town wants.”
4) What are your goals for the city? How do you plan to accomplish them?
Boese: “To see Goessel grow would be my most fulfilling goal. This could be done by supporting things for our town that would make it more appealing like quality of housing, dining, and opportunity for business.”
5) What is the most important issue facing the city? Why?
Boese: “The most important issue is dealing with the unsatisfied residents of Goessel. Sometimes it is difficult to resolve problems or educate people in a way that everybody feels like they have gained something.”
6) Tell us about yourself — career, family, residence, etc.
Boese: “I was born in Goessel and have spent most of my life in Goessel or nearby. I graduated from Goessel High School in 1997 and have been working at AGCO Corp. of Hesston for nearly 11 years. I am married to Michelle and have three children — Sierah, Brittany, and Rachel.”
Jerry Stika
1) Why do you want to be elected to office?
Stika: “To help keep Goessel a friendly and safe place to live.”
2) Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the current administration? Why?
Stika: “I think the present city does a good job, and I thank them for what they do. But I feel we need to make some changes in current ordinances.”
3) What is your background and/or qualifications for office?
Stika: “I don’t really have any experience in government, but I have been in lower management at AGCO Corp. of Hesston for 15 years, and have had a lot of experience in dealing with all sorts of situations.”
4) What are your goals for the city? How do you plan to accomplish them?
Stika: “To help keep Goessel a friendly and quiet town. By helping to create new ordinances and increase law enforcement presence and to help set-up a way to make it easier for people in Goessel to contact the city officers and maybe spruce-up the town.”
5) What is the most important issue facing the city? Why?
Stika: “The City of Goessel needs to update ordinances and increase law enforcement presence.”
6) Tell us about yourself — career, family, residence, etc.
Stika: “My wife and I have lived in Goessel since 1991. We have one son, Christopher, and a daughter, Chelsea. I have been employed at AGCO Corp. for 20 years.”