Fotiadis to face off against Sullivan for at-large seat

Editor’s note: This is the third in a series on mayor/city council candidates in the November election.

Incumbent Osceola City Councilman Dr. George Fotiadis is running against Jon Ryan Sullivan for the council’s at-large seat.

All candidates were given the same questionnaire from the office of the Osceola Sentinel-Tribune. The election is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

The candidates are listed in alphabetical order.

Dr. George Fotiadis

Q: What made you decide to run in the election?

A: I have lived in Osceola for 29 years and counting. While I was thinking of not returning to office, I was asked to stay by some people I feel respect and trust for. They feel I bring experience to a council that will have a majority of votes and mayor in their first term.

Osceola is on a journey to transform from the last century into the next. The road is long and there have many steps along the way. I can be the bridge and provide some continuity from the last generation to the next.

The plans we make, the ordinances we change, the investments we make are from a long process of growth and change. I can help a new council by reminding them why we went in one direction, why certain plans and goals were made and from whence they came.

I also feel that part of my job on council was to remind them, as I have reminded the current council, of when we may be out or order. This comes from experience. I would also continue to remind the council that our decisions must be in the stewardship of the town, and not personal conflicts or disagreements. That is a role that experience makes easier.

Q: What are the main issues you think the city of Osceola is facing right now? What would be some of the best ways to solve them?

A: Our issues are still largely the same, this term from the last: The basic infrastructure and support structure of the city. This is our job, and then we must set the conditions where individuals can build their success and future.

People make the city good, not the government, but we need to plant the seeds of success. We have allies with our county, our development corp, our chamber/main street, our schools and our important services such as police, fire and street departments.

We need a water supply with the capacity to allow growth of population and industry. We should not abandon pursuit of this in any form it may take. If legislature closes one door, we should seek another.

Continued work on our streets will come. We are paving on a schedule as finances permit. We need to continue with this development and replacement plan. The city square is going to be a major project. We have to work with our residents, businesses, and engineers. The final plan is likely going to have some compromises, but we need to finish underground work, and make the surface inviting to bring people to the square.

I want to see continued residential development. Part of this is knowing that many of our residences are rental properties. Most will do well, but we need a mechanism to ensure that housing is safe, secure, and maybe the rental code, if developed, can be a way for renter and owner to meet on even terms. Most units will be good, but let’s face it, I need a way to have a renter get running water, at least. Last year, there were some complaints of this severity, and no mechanism to solve it.

Police and fire departments need continued equipment replacement and upgrades. We will start the process with fire trucks. These are expensive pieces of equipment and we need a plan to finance them. Police car replacement plans have worked well.

Q: Why would you be the best candidate for the job?

A: Osceola has so much potential. I would like the privilege of helping guide it forward and ask for another term at city council, at-large.

Jon Ryan Sullivan

Q: What made you decide to run in the election?

A: I feel this is a crucial time in our community and feel there is a lack of representation of this city’s constituency at-large. I feel a change in this seat, in addition to Ward 1, is a mandate against “business as usual.”

Q: What are the main issues you think the city of Osceola is facing right now?

A: I feel this city is at a crossroads. Multiple projects (acquiring land for the reservoir, updating the depot, main street modifications) are depleting our city’s funds. I believe basic infrastructure improvement and investing in our children (providing adequate facilities, improving technology in the classrooms and prepping students for post-secondary education) pay much higher dividends than adding office space in a train depot.

I am genuinely upset our city is in unnecessary debt while business is conducted in what I believe to be a less than transparent manner.

Q: What would be some of the best ways to solve these problems?

A: First and foremost, I believe a representative democracy is a likely improbability, if not a near impossibility, when citizens are not granted easy access to the actions of those who govern. I believe we primarily need to have more transparency in our city government.

I feel council meetings should be recorded and uploaded to the city’s web page and linked to the city’s Facebook page for everyone to readily see, in addition to the meeting minutes currently in the local paper.

I envision an online accessible real-time stream of council meetings in progress so everyone can be able to view and participate.

Currently, the start of city council meetings is an opportunity for citizens to address the council directly. If an online portal existed, questions and comments could be presented to the council at large to address.

Our community needs to be forward thinking and make education a top priority. I would like to fund additional technology resources and education that impacts each and every student in Clarke Community School District.

For starters, I want students to have better access to science, math, technology and engineering education from elementary through high school to better prepare themselves for post-secondary education (newer and better equipment, more teachers).

As a software engineer, I can say there are currently far more jobs in my field than available qualified individuals to take them.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, computer-related services and industries account for three of the fastest growing industries while the manufacturing sector accounts for 12 of the most rapidly declining industries in the U.S.

Providing tax breaks for a small tech firm isn’t burdensome, is forward thinking and makes a wonderful accoutrements to supporting other industries in our community. As outsourcing becomes a more tangible reality day by day, positioning our community over the next 10 to 20 years to be able to provide jobs in high demand sectors is critical to our future.

If an increase in sustainable jobs occurs, more young families will migrate to the area while Clarke graduates will be inclined to stay and raise their families. I feel this would be a God-send to our community by providing a larger tax base that would fund some other pieces present in my platform.

And, in due time, we could then make improvements to our main street, build our reservoir and work on historic preservation projects that would be a benefit to Osceola and the surrounding area.

You can find my entire platform at https:/www.facebook.com/Sullivan4Osceola.

Q: What type of experience do you bring to the table? Why would you be the best candidate for the job?

A: I have managerial experience (human resources, budgeting, prioritizing acquisitions) while supervising a department at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Des Moines.

I hold a bachelor’s degree in psychology, studied biochemistry and molecular biology at Iowa State University and am a self-taught software developer (currently work as a medical systems software integration developer).

I crave challenges and feel ready to step up to the plate representing the citizens of this wonderful community while being a good steward of our limited resources. I promise to be diligent, honest and to represent my constituents to the best of my abilities.