By Matt B. Walen
Democrat Councilwoman Emily Mayer Lossing is the lone incumbent in this years election and she is being challenged by Republican Shane Ford for the Ward 4 seat.
Mayer Lossing said she is seeking a second term because she loves Havre and wants to see the town prosper.
I feel that I am doing a good job in representing Ward 4, she said.
Mayer Lossing has served on the ordinance, labor negotiations, water and sewer, park and recreation, finance, and fire and police committees. She also has chaired the ordinance and park and recreation committees.
Mayer Lossing said she wants another term in office to help oversee the improvements being made to the water treatment plant. The council recently received the bids for the improvements, but they came in about $2 million over budget, she said.
Its a terrible situation, Mayer Lossing said. Its a tough issue; people dont want to pay higher water rates, but neither do I. But when I go to the kitchen, I want to be able to get clean water.
Mayer Lossing, who works as a loan processor at a Havre bank also is a tour guide at Havre Beneath the Streets, was born and raised in Havre and never plans to leave.
Other issues Mayer Lossing said she wants to stay up on include the water main replacement on First Street and other mains that are aging, continuing to improve the city streets, and reestablish the citys historic preservation commission.
We have to preserve our past, she said.
Ford, who with his wife, Stephanie, owns and operates a day care center in Havre, said he would love to represent his friends and neighbors on the city council for Ward 4.
His goals if elected include trying to get a youth center open for the Havre kids and to be available for his constituents to voice their opinions on how the city should be run.
I will be visible and available, he said. I will be there for the people before the council meetings. I think all of the elected officials should be very visible.
Ford said he would be willing to work with the other council members on issues of importance to the citys future.
There are going to be people in the ward that dont all agree, but with all of the facts, an issue can be voted on fairly quick, he said.
Ford said he has been receiving comments from people in Ward 4 telling him to just think once he is elected to the council.
About 75 percent of the people have been saying that, he said, of his door-to-door campaigning efforts.
Other issues Ford said he would investigate once in office include the cars parking on the streets too long, snow plowing and questions about the HRDC homes being moved into Highland Park.
I dont know the full details about these issues, but will look at the issues when Im elected, he said. I will look at what is beneficial for Havre, not only looking at my future, but also looking at my 3-month-old sons future. We have to plan for their future as well.
