Frankfort City Councilman Lewis Wheeler officially became the first person to announce his candidacy for the 2019 mayoral race in the City of Frankfort Friday evening. Approximately 20 to 25 individuals showed up to hear Wheeler’s announcement on the steps of Old Stoney.
The mayoral position is officially open following the announcement by current two-term mayor Chris McBarnes, who said he would not seek a third term as mayor at his State of the City address.
“There’s several decisions that prompted me to decide this was the right time to run for this office,” said Wheeler. “A lot of it had to do with discussions with my family, had to do with talking with friends and some concerns with how much we owe as a city and what we’re going to be handing off to my children.”
Wheeler is a District 3 Councilman who serves on the street and alleys committee, building services code enforcement committee, the Board of Zoning Appeals, City Plan Commission and Clinton County Community Corrections Advisory Board. His council term expires in 2019.
Wheeler says one of his strengths is he just likes people and is a unique individual.
Wheeler said there are three things he wants to focus on — public safety, debt reduction and developing city resources, especially for the Parks Department. He was asked specifically about the debt reduction.
“Some of the projects we’re doing… they may help in the long run, but in the short term, I’ve not always felt like it was necessary at the time to do those projects,” said Wheeler. “My thought (on handling the debt) is you would do it the same as you would do your own personal budget. We need to stop taking out big bonds if its not absolutely necessary and we begin to tackle the smaller debt issues and knock them out.”
Wheeler was also asked the best way for the city to move forward.
“Community involvement is going to be the key,” he said. “I also feel a good relationship between the mayor’s office and the city council is needed especially when the city council is brought in on the projects and has discussions on the funding plans and other options especially prior to the projects being announced.”
In the recent county election, Wheeler had announced his intentions to run for county auditor before withdrawing from that position.
Wheeler also announced that Tammy Danner, wife of former Frankfort Police Chief Jeff Danner, would be his campaign chairman.