City council candidate debate draws an audience of 30 people

Carolyn Corbin is unopposed in the 4th Ward

For the most part, Decorah City Council meetings recently have been without major controversies.

That situation was reflected Tuesday night as the AAUW and League of Women Voters held a candidates forum featuring the five people running for city council positions this fall.

The forum attracted around 30 people and less than a dozen questions.

Julie Fischer and Josh Spilde are running for the Ward 2 seat that became vacant when incumbent Karen Tjossem decided not to seek re-election.  Fischer stressed her commitment to energy efficiency and local food production, while Spilde stressed his youth and his ability to bring new energy to the city council.

Carolyn Corbin is running unopposed in Ward 4, where Steve Matter has decided not to seek re-election,  Corbin stressed her background in economic development and praised Decorah as "a very engaged community" where "the city council and mayor have done great things."

Incumbent Rachel Vagts and challenger Gary Finholt are running for one of the two at-large seats on the city council.  Vagts said she knew little about Decorah when she arrived in town to work at Luther College, but has come to appreciate the town, especially during her four years on the city council.  Finholt is a retired police officer from La Porte City and Independence who grew up in Decorah and has returned home.

The five candidates were asked questions about roundabouts, glass recycling, deer population, sidewalks and leaf pickups, among others.  Only the question about deer elicited much disagreement, with Vagts calling deer "a growing problem" and Finholt advising people to "just live with them."

2nd Ward candidate Julie Fischer

2nd Ward candidate Josh Spilde

Incumbent city council member Rachel Vagts

Challenger Gary Finholt