‘Time to take another step’

“It’s time for me to take another step,” said Jim Stalker when asked why he was running for mayor. “There are lots of problems to solve ... There are so many things that I need to find out after I get it, that I will find out. That’ll be my number one job to find out those things.”

Stalker was born in Creston and has lived in Creston and Afton area his entire life. For much of his adult life, he owned a bookstore in Uptown Creston, getting to know the residents and listening to what was important to them.

Experience

Stalker has never held a public office, although he has run for the Union County Board of Supervisors and Creston City Council in the past. He feels that his background of listening to customers in the bookstore will serve him well as mayor of Creston.

He also feels that his extensive ties to the community and his years of business experience will be an asset.

Stalker graduated from East Union High School and spent two years at Creston College, now Southwestern Community College.

He has been involved in several community projects. Stalker was a part of a nine county group promoting tourism in southwest Iowa, which became a 13 county project while he was involved. They sold ads and printed a pamphlet about the events in the area and distributed them to Welcome Centers, hotels, motels, gas stations and restaurants across the state.

Stalker was also involved in lighting up the Creston Restored Depot for Christmas in years past. He said he talked to the Chamber of Commerce who bought the lights and arranged for them to be put up. Stalker maintained the lights for several years until the city decided to cover the wooden windows with metal and, with nothing to staple them to, the lights had to come down.

Stalker often writes letters to the editor of the Creston News Advertiser. One of these letters, in the 1980s, sparked a drive to build a new high school one $5 donation at a time. His idea was to collect small donations - $5 to $10 - from residents and report the donations in the newspaper. Crestland Betterment Foundation would hold the funds.

Stalker said it was slow going, but eventually they raised around $25,000 - enough that the city decided there was public interest in building a new high school and decided to pass a bond.

When asked about a recent incidence where he was campaigning on city property while working at the compost site, Stalker replied he didn’t know it was inappropriate.

“That was pointed out to me and I do not do that anymore,” Stalker said.

Goals

As mayor, Stalker would like to see continued improvements in city roads,

“I don’t know why that takes so long,” Stalker said.

He also wants to improve the communication pathways between the council and the citizens of Creston. He feels that residents don’t get involved like they used to do.

One avenue Stalker feels would be helpful is the newspaper. Similar to his letters to the editor, his column in the Afton Star Enterprise and his “Stalk Talk” ads in the CNA from his bookstore days, he would like to city informed through regular articles.

A third goal for Stalker is to improve the lighting on the Creston Restored Depot. He feels that the current flood lighting still leaves the area dark.

The bond issues

Stalker said he does not have enough information to make a decision on the current bond issues on the November ballot. He said he understands that residents will consider the effect on their taxes when they vote.

The need for a “drawing card” for the community attracts Stalker to the pool and McKinley Lake projects, but he said he is not sure of the need for a larger library due to the availability of information on the internet.