Hiawatha Mayor: Tom Theis

My name is Tom Theis. I live at 1500 Lyndhurst Drive. I am 72 years old, married, my wife is Virginia, we have three grown children and are retired. We have lived in Hiawatha for 46 years. I have served on the planning and zoning commission for four years, two years as chairman. I am a former volunteer firefighter, 30 years, retired. I am a former city council member and two-term mayor.

I want to be mayor to encourage systematic growth of expansion of the city for future development and promote economic development. The role of the mayor is to support city staff, work closely with the city council, encourage economic development, listen to our residents. I think that I have done all of the above. I currently conduct regular daily business hours at city hall, spend time visiting the business community and attend neighborhood meetings when invited and all of that will continue if I am re-elected.

Three positive things happening in the city are renewed residential growth with three new subdivisions, infrastructure improvements promoting sustainability while holding property tax rates and continued commercial development.

Three challenges forcing the city are congestion on Boyson Road, construction of an interchange at Tower Terrace Road and Interstate 380 and the state commercial rollback and the effect on city government.

I would hope people would vote for me because I have experience with budgeting constraints, supervising city staff, working with Hiawatha business leaders and have promoted residential and commercial development.

l More information: (319) 393-1652