Oct. 29--WELTON -- Three newcomers are on the ballot for Welton offices in next Tuesday's balloting. They are Casey Hootman and Jon Marlowe, running for mayor, and Leann Larsen, seeking a seat on the city council.

Here are their election statements:

Casey Hootman: "I have lived in Welton a bit over four years now. I have been employed as a computer tech/network administrator for more than six years.

"I'd like to be mayor of Welton because I am of the mind that serving and representing the community is an honor. I don't think Welton needs any major changes. In those regards I think I'm the best candidate.

"The main issue I'd like to address if elected is restoring strained relationships between various organizations, businesses and individuals that deal with the city or help keep the town running. I'd also like to focus on keeping infrastructure up and refilling our reserve funds, while working to keep costs and taxes down.

"The only way I can think of accomplishing that is by watching expenditures, but all that is up to the council. The weather and economy have been interesting lately, and I don't think that city finances need to be.

"The past two years have been unnecessarily drama-filled in my opinion, but we made it. A school was demolished, but across the street a fire station was built. We had some tense moments during the water project, and a rather unexpected city audit. But now we have a great water system that took years of work by a lot of people finally came to a close.

"Is Welton better than it used to be? I don't know the answer to that, but I'm sure as shootin' that my water pressure is.

"I am a member of the Welton Volunteer Fire Department."

Janet Huffman: "I have been mayor for one two-year term. I have lived in Welton for more than 33 years. I am a retired teacher for the Central Community School District.

"I would like to continue providing open communications to the community and continue with projects that need to be done, such as updating the sewer lagoon, which is mandated by the DNR.

"I was instrumental in getting a $25,000 gaming grant for the water project and a $1,000 grant to upgrade the park. I would attempt to find funds to update the sewer lagoon without increasing the sewer rate and I would seek more grant money to renovate the old school art building into a community center."

Jon Marlowe: "I have lived in Welton for 10 years. I live with my 7-year-old son, Carter. I work in Welton at Midwest Machine for Julian Stahl. I run a water jet cutter.