WRITE-IN: NEWELL SEEKS POST IN SCOTT CITY

SCOTT CITY -- Another Ward 1 resident has announced his intentions to run for the open council seat as a write-in candidate in the April 6 election.

Randy Newell, a resident of the city for 10 years, has decided to run for the Ward 1 seat against incumbent Brenda Moyers, also a write-in candidate.

"I want to take part in the growth of the city," Newell said. "I would put every effort forth to serve the residents of the ward and the city as a whole."

Newell works for Lone Star Industries. He coaches Little League baseball and is very active with church-related activities in his spare time.

He said he first became interested in city government when he recently served on the council's address changing committee, preparing for the change to 911 service in the fall.

"I learned a lot during that effort," Newell said. "So I talked the idea of my running for city council over with my family and then decided to give it a go."

If elected, Newell said he would like to establish some form of "City Beautiful" project.

"We could get people to maintain their yards and other areas of the city that need to be cleaned up," he said. "We could have the town looking a lot better than it does now."

Newell agrees with Moyers on the issue of opening a second road leading in and out of the city.

"For traffic and emergency reasons I believe a second road is crucial," Newell said. "If there was some sort of major car accident or a train mishap, the only road in and out of the town could be completely closed for hours."

Newell also believes that Scott City should do everything in its power to invite big businesses to set up factories or distribution points in or around the city.

"We have the most positive area possible for such growth and development," Newell said. "The growth potential in the Nash Road area is enormous."

With the help of a friend, Newell has kicked off a phone campaign and intends to distribute leaflets to the residents of his ward.

Ward 1 residents will have to write the name of the candidate whom they wish to elect on the ballot. The candidate with the most write-in votes will win the election.