Posted: 10/26/04
Two seek votes for mayor
By Jane Palen
Managing Editor
There may be a contest in the City of Caledonia after all.
Two individuals have indicated their interest in being write-in candidates for the position of mayor. Michael Morey and Donald ìMikeî Strabley began write-in campaigns last week.
Mike Strabley
Strabley is originally from Dorchester and moved to Caledonia six years ago from La Crosse. He is currently a full-time student in the culinary management program at WWTC. He previously worked as a job developer for Woodland Industry.
ìI am disappointed that no one is interested (in the job),î said Strabley. He said itís a new experience for him to run for office, although he has served on the boards of several non-profit agencies.
Strabley said he doesnít see any major issues facing the city and that the present council and mayor seem to be doing a good job.
ìCaledonia has been good to us,î said Strabley, referring to his wife, Michelle, and their eight children. ìItís been a good town for our kids.î
ìItís my town, and I need to be a part of it.î
Michael Morey
Michael Morey is a life-long resident of Caledonia and works as a real estate sales agent, broker and appraiser. He and his wife, Kendra, have two sons. Morey is a 1986 graduate of Caledonia High School.
Morey said he decided to become a write-in candidate because he saw that the need was there.
ìWithout anybody running, I felt I needed to step up,î he said.
He said he feels the publicity surrounding the lack of candidates for mayor and city council has been negative for the city.
Morey said people believed that the mayor and council members were doing a good job and assumed they would continue in those offices.
ìI wasnít afraid to step forward,î when it turned out that no one had filed for the positions, he said.
In the council race, three candidates, Gary Klug, Jeff Sheehan and Robert Standish, have announced write-in campaigns for two seats.
Caledoniaís current Mayor is Robert Burns, and the two council terms that expire are those of John Klug and Mark Schiltz. Other council members are Randi Vick and Paul Fisch.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com