Eklund announces candidacy for mayor

Falls Mayor Shawn Mason announced last week that she would not seek reelection to the post.

“With Mayor Mason not seeking reelection, I contemplated and have given careful consideration to the question: Who should lead this great city?” he said in a statement to The Journal. “Only the voters can decide this question but I believe my leadership in the council prepares me for mayor.”

As chairman of the city’s Human Resources Committee, Eklund said he has been in “the forefront of the challenge to maintain our city services, even as the city work force has shrunk through attrition.”

He noted that since he has served on the council, the city’s work force has reduced by 2.5 positions in the police department, 1.5 positions in the administration department and four positions in public works department. “It has been a challenge to maintain services with a shrinking work force, but we have met the challenge head on and will continue to do so,” he stated.

“However, even as we face budget challenges ahead in government, we must be mindful of opportunities to increase employment and build our tax base through strategic investments in economic development,” said Eklund. “The efforts the city has made in this direction need to continue and, indeed, we must recommit to the future of our town by growing our economy. The city needs steady, experienced leadership to move ahead and my candidacy offers the voters the choice to keep such leadership in place.”

Eklund said he will meet with voters in person and via telephone in the weeks ahead to answer questions about city government and the experience and qualifications he would bring to the position of mayor.

International Falls does not conduct a primary election. Election day is scheduled for  Nov. 6.

Candidates may file for city positions starting July 1 until 5 p.m. Aug. 14.