Beranek, Albrecht file; Warta won't run

Filings open

until July 18

By KREMENA TODOROVA

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Two incumbents, City Council President Dan Beranek and Third Ward Councilor Joel Albrecht, filed for reelection this week, and another, First Ward Councilor Denny Warta, announced he would not run.

Albrecht, a retired business owner, and Beranek, an investment officer at Alliance Bank, filed for reelection July 5, the first day filings were accepted.

"I have been encouraged by a lot of people to run," Albrecht said. "I would like to continue to serve."

Beranek echoed these comments.

"People have encouraged me, and I am still enjoying the job," he said. "So between those two things, I am prepared to run."

Warta, a retired business owner who declined to run, cited his age, a busy public projects schedule, and a need for change.

"I will be 73 when my term ends," he said. "I have some ideas I've been working on. I will continue to work hard for German Park, the New Ulm Area Foundation and Herman Monument restoration. ...

"But I think it would be wonderful to see some younger people on the council to address the big issues before us."

Under the City Charter, the three offices will be filled at a regular election this November for a four-year term.

Council candidates must be "qualified electors" and, except for the president, who is councilor-at-large, must live in the respective ward.

New Ulm's two remaining wards (second and fifth) elected councilors in 1998 and will not vote again until 2002.

Albrecht and Beranek, largely agreed on issues facing the city.

Both cited the passage of a proposed local sales tax, also scheduled to be voted in November, as a short-term priority on their agendas.

They touted the half percent tax, earmarked for upgrading local recreational facilities, as a "fair" way to share costs with New Ulm's visitors, diffuse pressures on property taxes, and preventively address maintenance issues.

The candidates cited expanding New Ulm's housing stock as a long-term priority for the city.

Both also expressed a strong interest in potentially participating the selection of a new city manager, in case current manager Richard Salvati retires after turning 65 this fall.

Filings for City Council are accepted through July 18 at the city clerk-treasurer's office. A filing fee of $5 is required.

The fee can be waived, if five or more voters file a petition on behalf of a candidate.

The petition must be signed by "which ever is less": 500 eligible voters, or a number equal to 5 percent of the number of people who voted the last time the office was on the ballot.