Candidate profile: Liz Terborg Sporrer, At-Large (incumbent)
Liz Terborg Sporrer
Age: 38
Hometown: Pella, Iowa
Current occupation: Senior manager, Talent Brand and Corporate Communications, Vermeer Corporation
College degrees: Communications and Fine Art, Dordt University; Master of Business Administration, Tippie College of Business at the University of Iowa
Community organization involvement: City Council – At Large
Why are you running for election?
I grew up in Pella, left for a few years and moved back. Now, I live, shop, eat, drive, jog, work, sleep, scoot, socialize, worship, host, read, spectate, volunteer (and more) in Pella. The Pella community is home to thousands and a destination for even more. I want to represent my fellow community members who are doing all the activities of life here in Pella, while also securing a strong future for generations to come.
What is the role of the city council, and those who serve on it?
City council plays a critical role in upholding the quality of life for residents through the careful management of city finances to the investment in day-to-day necessities. City council also drives a vision and sets the stage for where a community will be in five, 10 and 15 years. Working together with residents, businesses, schools, community organizations and churches helps build the community we have for a strong tomorrow, but also for decades to come.
Discuss the issues behind your candidacy, and, if elected, how you would solve them if working with council members who may or may not have differing viewpoints.
I have had the honor to serve on city council for the past four years. When I began, there were clear needs expressed by current citizens, new residents, businesses of all sizes and more. These needs included better internet, improved roads and sidewalks, more amenities and more housing options. In the past four years, Pella Fiber was installed in the community (although a lot of this work was thanks to countless hours by previous councils), we’ve continued important road and sidewalk repairs and paving, fantastic amenities have joined the list of options in our community and we’ve worked with developers to outline areas and begin the process of building various homes — driving home diversity. But this work is not done. The need to continue housing, childcare, transportation (including roads, traffic control, sidewalks and airport traffic), amenities, recreational areas and more remains. City council doesn’t have the ability to fix all of these. It requires strong partnerships between businesses, citizens, other communities, other government bodies and more. I believe the success that we have seen recently comes from strong relationships. And on the flip side, when those relationships aren’t in place, the lack of progress is evident.
Besides your own rationale for running for a council seat, what are other issues that are pressing for Pella?
With the two-part role of city council, there are issues that lie in both short-term table stakes as well as long-term vision. A few things in the short-term are addressing the ambulance, investment in our airport and continued maintenance to existing amenities. As we think long-term, continuing the process with improvements to the Pella Community Center and rec center, building a new comprehensive plan and continuing partnerships with developers to drive housing and amenities will help drive future vibrancy of the community we call home.
Candidate profile: Harold Van Stryland, At-Large
Harold Van Stryland, At-Large
Age: Younger than both leading presidential candidates
Hometown: Bemis, South Dakota (between two Indian Reservations in eastern South Dakota)
Current occupation: Mostly retired. I was a high school educator. I still substitute teach.
College degrees: Bachelor’s from Dordt University, master’s from the University of Washington
Why are you running for election at the at large position?
My wife Elsie and I moved to Pella over 40 years ago and planned to stay two years and return to Colorado. Instead we enjoyed this City of Refuge immensely and stayed; this is an opportunity to give back to the community. We raised our family here. Our children and now our grandchildren attend or attended school here. I served on City Council for two previous terms and at that time helped reduce Pella’s debt to an historic low level. At the same time the Hydro Electric Dam project was set in motion, a new Jordan well was dug, the new water treatment plant and reverse osmosis system were completed along with several major street and sewer repairs — the Oskaloosa and Washington Street corridors to name two. We also started the Pella Fiber initiative and the Prairie Ridge Development. Currently, I’m extremely concerned about the city’s future finances and keeping Pella a city where its residents can afford to live. I will listen and take your concerns seriously when you contact me. I will lead our community forward with integrity, honesty and commitment.
What is the role of the city council, and those who serve on it?
The city council plays a role in hiring, manages the city’s finances, supervises infrastructure (streets, sewers, electricity, the water supply in your faucets, garbage and recycling pickup, etc.). Funding for developing and investment and funding for departments and projects are dealt with. I’ve been to 50 counties and have seen cities and countries that have zoning and functions that work and those that don’t. The city council always needs to be open and transparent. Harold Van Stryland will listen and respond when you approach him.
Discuss the issues behind your candidacy, and, if elected, how you would solve them if working with council members who may or may not have differing viewpoints.
My biggest concern right now is the city’s finances in these difficult times. Currently, we have a 40-year high inflation rate, and mortgages have just gone to 8%, a 30-year high. I hear from many of you struggling, those who have taken a second job to survive, those deciding which necessities to wait to purchase including medicine. Not everyone is paid big wages. From the city side, debt has to be paid by utility payments or by property taxes. If you rent, your landlord needs to pay those taxes. As far as resolving differences, when I was in council before, we didn’t always agree on everything, but we always had an amiable relationship with staff and other council members.
Besides your own rationale for running for a council seat, what are other issues that are pressing for Pella?
We need to fund our day-to-day services and infrastructure effectively. Our city has to be attractive and appealing to our residents and to our tourists. We need to have a qualified staff; I believe we do. We have to take care of our electric staff. They keep our lights on. The ring bus system added some years back has elevated the city’s electric capability. Our water supply is healthy and tasty. We need to support our volunteer fire fighters, our EMTs, our police force, and our ambulance force adequately. We need to complete the update to the Pella Community Center. A special thanks to Friends of the Pella Community Center who have worked diligently in planning and raising funds for it. We need to keep working on our streets, and we cannot neglect our sewers — some of which are 100 years old. We have many things to be thankful for. Pella does a good job with zoning. I have been to countries where a pollution-producing factory is right next to an elaborate home. We need to make sure that Pella is a community where people can afford to live. Contact me with your questions or concerns.
Candidate profile: John A. Butler, Ward 2
John A. Butler, Ward 2
Age: 75
Hometown: Pella, Iowa
Current occupation: CPA
College degrees: B.S. in Agriculture Economics, Iowa State University; 1970 CPA Accounting Certificate, University of Illinois, 1992
Community organization involvement: City council attendee on a regular basis.
Why are you running for election?
To bring fiscally conservative values to the city budget, repairing and maintaining current infrastructure, actively communicating with constituents and bringing their ideas to the table.
What is the role of the city council, and those who serve on it?
To manage the city’s resources wisely, taking care of current infrastructure and providing a business friendly environment for its citizens.
Discuss the issues behind your candidacy, and, if elected, how you would solve them if working with council members who may or may not have differing viewpoints.
Concerned with the current condition of many streets, especially the business district and the well traveled corridors — East 3rd and West 3rd. Need to take better care of what we have in place. Pella attracts tourists because of its Dutch heritage and the friendly, small town atmosphere.
Besides your own rationale for running for a council seat, what are other issues that are pressing for Pella?
Other issues include the proposed new recreational center and the city council oversight of the Pella Public Library.
Candidate profile: Calvin Bandstra, Ward 2 (incumbent)
Calvin Bandstra, Ward 2 (incumbent)
Age: 60
Hometown: New Sharon, Iowa
Current occupation: Vice president at Bank Iowa Oskaloosa/Pella
College degrees: Accounting/agri-business bachelor’s degree, Dordt College; MBA, Drake University
Community organization involvement: Oskaloosa Chamber; councilmember of Ward 2 in Pella; Leighton 4th of July Committee; Leighton Newsletter Committee; Oskaloosa Historical Building Marker Committee; Marion County EMS Advisory Ad-Hoc Committee; Mahaska County Ag and Rural Development Chair; and Mahaska County Revolving Loan Fund Committee
Why are you running for election?
After being the Leighton City Clerk for 19 years, I developed an appreciation for what local government can accomplish when folks committed to community betterment work together. Because of that, I threw my name into the hat for the Ward 2 seat in the 2019 Pella City Election. There were three other contenders for that seat, including the incumbent Harold Van Stryland, and I was honored to receive the most votes. After being in office for four years now with several great projects started but unfinished, I believed it was important to run for another four years to accomplish the completion of these projects.
What is the role of the city council, and those who serve on it?
The role of a city council is to develop relationships with all the stakeholders in the community, which in includes the citizens, businesses both large and small, economic development groups, and nonprofit organizations. Once those relationships are established, we work together to accomplish needs and fill gaps.
Discuss the issues behind your candidacy, and, if elected, how you would solve them if working with council members who may or may not have differing viewpoints.
With six people on a city council, it is certainly unrealistic to believe that all six will agree on all issues all the time. Work sessions are a great way to iron out differences, and come to a consensus on what we need to do to bring an issue to a vote. This does not necessarily mean that the vote will be unanimous, but it DOES mean that all points of view were taken into account and thoroughly discussed.
One of the broad issues behind my candidacy is maintaining Pella’s history of strong finances while at the same time investing in the needs that benefit not only the present residents of Pella, but also future generations.
Besides your own rationale for running for a council seat, what are other issues that are pressing for Pella?
Several issues in the works come to mind — building an indoor recreation complex, extending University Street to the Mahaska County line to springboard development on the City’s east side, long-delayed renovations to the Pella Community Center, working towards a positive county-wide referendum to support EMS, and finding a solution for the soccer complex that is in much need for renovation or relocation.
