Creighton Schmidt, Mark Ebeling, Beth Ann Schumacher and Chris Hogg have all announced their candidacy for positions on the Clear Lake City Council. Schmidt and Hogg will both be seeking an at-large position in the upcoming Nov. 7 election. Ebeling is seeking re-election to his First Ward position. Schumacher will be running for the Third Ward position. At-large councilman Mike Callanan and Third Ward Councilman Gary Hugi have announced they will not be seeking re-election.
Jim Boehnke had announced his candidacy in August for the at-large position, but has decided not to pursue the election at this time. “I’m facing an upcoming surgery and at this time, I feel I need to put my health first. I’m not ruling out a future run, however. I wish good luck to all the candidates.”
The candidates responded to a series of questions provided to them by the Mirror-Reporter.
BETH ANN
SCHUMACHER
1. I am now retired after teaching high school social studies for 38 years, 35 of those at Clear Lake High School. I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and political science from the University of Northern Iowa, a Master of Arts degree in history from the University of Northern Iowa and additional graduate hours in Civil War studies from Virginia Tech. Since retirement in 2015, I have served as the volunteer director, archivist and education coordinator for the Clear Lake Historical Society.
2. I have never served in city government before, but as a high school social studies instructor, I taught classes in American government, which allowed me to guide students through the federal, state, county and local government operations.
3. My parents instilled in me the importance of public service and I would like to continue my passion for community involvement by serving Clear Lake as a member of our city council.
4. My spiritual gifts are administration and leadership. I have served as the secretary of the Zion Lutheran Church Congregational Council for over 20 years. I also was the State Chairperson for the Iowa High School Model United Nations for 25 years. Besides serving on various committees in the Clear Lake Community School District for 35 years, I was also the Social Studies Department Chair for 30 years. I believe that I possess the skills and experience to provide a positive contribution to Clear Lake as a City Council person.
5. As a historian, I firmly believe in the importance of keeping an eye on our past as we forge ahead. I was excited to be a part of the restoration project of Clear Lake’s Seawall and its placement on the National Register of Historic Places and now to be included in the historical research phases of the Surf District project. The lake has drawn people for centuries and should be protected, enhanced and cherished. Our community’s history, culture and heritage are a major part of what makes Clear Lake a destination and must be safeguarded. Clear Lake needs to continue to strive to provide affordable housing options for the many people who are moving to the community. The efforts of the city to work collaboratively with multiple agencies and individuals must continue to not only keep Clear Lake a destination but also provide for the needs of its citizens.
6. My parents moved to Clear Lake from Des Moines when I was six months old and I grew up in Clear Lake, graduating from Clear Lake High School in 1972. I have lived in the Third Ward since 1995. My husband of 42 years, Mark, passed away in October of 2022 and we have two grown daughters who live and work in Mason City.
CREIGHTON SCHMIDT
1. Director, Finance Business Partner, Global Technology – Marriott International
2. I served as the Director of Finance and Administrative services for the City of Clear Lake from 2020 – 2023.
3. When making the difficult choice to leave my role with the City of Clear Lake and accept a job with Marriott (my past employer), I knew I wanted to stay involved with the City. The people and projects I had the privilege to work with had become very important to me. It was an extremely difficult decision. During this time, Mike Callanan (At-Large City Council Person) approached me with the idea of serving on the Council. This was a very exciting idea to me, as it was an opportunity to stay very involved in the community. After receiving much support from family, friends, and colleagues I decided to run for City Council.
4. My experience as the Director of Finance and Administrative services for the City makes me uniquely qualified to serve on City Council. In my role, I was involved at a high level in most aspects of the City. I have an understanding of how our City operates, the projects the City is currently working on, and the stakeholders in our community. I value the relationships I have built within the community and would love to create many more. Listening to others has always been important to me. To serve others well, it is important to make the effort to hear those you serve and those you serve alongside. Given the opportunity to serve in this capacity, I will make listening to our community a priority. Putting people first will allow us to serve the community well.
5. There are many important priorities for any community and everyone in the community plays a vital role in their success. The City of Clear Lake has so many amazing partnerships within the City that strengthen our community. The citizens in Clear Lake are what make Clear Lake special. I am going to highlight a few priorities the City can have an impact on in the next few years.
•Housing – Many factors have made quality housing less attainable over the last few years across the country and especially in Clear Lake. It is important the City takes a proactive approach in developing quality attainable housing opportunities. The City has already made this a focus and should continue to do so.
•Economic development – There are a few macro-economic forces threatening to impede economic growth. Inflation in our economy has made growth more difficult. The current rising interest rates also makes growth more difficult. It is important the City utilizes its strong partnerships to continue to promote growth opportunities.
•People first – I learned while working for Marriott it is crucial to take care of employees. J. Willard Marriott: “If you take care of the associates, they’ll take good care of the customers, and the customers will keep coming back.” I am thankful for the excellent employees the City of Clear Lake has. It was a privilege to serve alongside them. They do an outstanding job providing many different services to our community. It will always be a priority to me to take care of those serving the community.
•Health and Safety – I am thankful for everyone in our community that help make health and safety a priority. Thank you to everyone who serves in this capacity. The City has an excellent Police Department and Fire Department and the City should continue to invest in these departments. The new Athletics & Wellness Center has done an excellent job promoting health and wellness in our community. The City should continue to work alongside our partners to make health and wellness a priority.
6. I am so glad my family chose Clear Lake to call home. Clear Lake is an amazing community. I am thankful for the opportunity I had to serve as the Finance Director and would love the opportunity to serve on the City Council. Thank you for taking the time to become more informed on the candidates. I would appreciate your vote on November 7th!
MARK EBELING
1. I am an agency principal and benefits advisor at Edwards-Brandt Insurance in Mason City.
2. I am currently fulfilling my second term on the City Council representing the First Ward.
3. I am proud to have served on the City Council for the past eight years. During that time, I have been a part of many exciting and beneficial projects and initiatives for our community. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time on the council thus far representing the First Ward, as well as, working with fellow council members and city staff and I am looking forward to continuing our work for the next four years.
4. Experience is my greatest strength. It does take some time to “learn on the job.” My experience as a Council member has provided me with valuable insights into city government and allowed me to demonstrate my passion for the community, as well as, build my skills as an effective collaborator and leader by working with city officials and fellow council members as well as serving on various boards and committees. As a business owner, as well as Council member, my experience working with people provides me the opportunity to build relationships. I make an effort with each client or constituent to ask questions and really listen to their needs and concerns which allows me to build a strong rapport.
5. I see the top priorities for Clear Lake being affordable housing and keeping our property tax rates in check with the increasing assessed values of property. As a local government we need to continue to create more opportunities and access to housing by working with developers, businesses, and other stakeholders to ensure progress is made. We must also maintain the fiscal responsibility we have worked toward to continue to bring new businesses and growth to Clear Lake.
6. It has truly been an honor to have served the First Ward for the past two terms. I would like to assure my constituents that I will continue to represent our ward and community to the best of my abilities as there is still more work to be done.
CHRIS HOGG
1. I have worked in the utility industry for 14 years and currently work as a Principal Operations Consultant at Xcel Energy, where I conceptualize, develop, permit, construct, and sustain utility-scale power plants. Once in operation, I manage the day-to-day operations and maintenance of the facilities. This includes overseeing the employees and the financial aspects of the department and facilities.
2. In 2018, Mayor Crabb and the City Council appointed me to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board where I have continued serving as a board member ever since. As a lifelong Clear Lake resident, I’ve enjoyed providing input on projects ranging from new playground equipment to larger-scale projects like the addition of the Clear Lake Athletics and Wellness Center. Getting to utilize my project-based experience, I have found this to be a very rewarding experience and to continue to build needed amenities around the town. While discussing projects like these, it gives me a unique insight into how the city government works, as well as how to listen and be responsive to members of the Community.
3. It would be hard-pressed to find anyone as excited about Clear Lake as I am – I love this town and living in Clear Lake for over 40 years I have seen so much growth. I want Clear Lake to continue being a safe and desirable place to live, but also want to see our city continue to live up to its potential – and with so many great people and businesses to work with for that growth. This is something I haven’t taken lightly and as a lifelong resident of our city, I am committed to serving the citizens of the Community if I am elected. I have thought about seeking this opportunity for some time and when Council Member Callanan decided not to seek re-election, I thought it was the right moment for me to seek the opportunity to serve.
4. In my tenure working for a large utility company, I have gained a great deal of experience managing large teams and significant capital projects. My job has helped me see how my decisions affect, not only the financial outcome of my company but also how they impact the people that contribute their valuable time and talents daily. I would be able to understand how one project can impact, positively or negatively, the goals of the bigger picture, which, at times, I know takes a lot of responsibility and effort.
Also, I have been a taxpayer in Clear Lake since buying my first home in 2004 and know how important it is to make fiscally responsible decisions for the city but most importantly on behalf of its Residents. I understand that money is personal; you work hard and sacrifice a lot for what you have. You should be confident your tax dollars are in the hands of people who understand and carry that in our hearts and decisions. I do and will take great care in deciding how it is allocated to ensure the biggest impact is made.
5. It all comes down to maintenance and growth. We need to invest in what we have currently by maintaining our roads, sidewalks, parks, and facilities, and by allocating the necessary resources to our public safety departments to ensure they can adequately protect our residents and keep them safe.
We need to grow by providing continued investment in “affordable” housing, adding new amenities and attractions for residents and tourists, and promoting economic development projects that bring new businesses, and high-quality jobs to Clear Lake while maintaining that feeling that makes the town so special. We cannot lose who the community is just for the sake of one area of growth. It must be visualized at a complex level.
Also, these continue to be challenging economic times for many, and we need to make sure that we are continuing to invest tax dollars in a responsible way; provide for an attractive and safe community, ensure that our future generations will enjoy a quality of life that will make them want to stay in Clear Lake, or perhaps return at some point; and is welcoming.
6. I was born here, went to school here, and got my first job at Natural Plus Nursery, a family-owned business in Clear Lake. I’m also proud to say that many of the trees we planted and retaining walls we built – still stand today! I take great pride in the quality and longevity of that work and often point them out to my family and friends. I also have many personal connections, my wife and I were married here, we raised our girls here and we met our best friends while participating in and volunteering at school events. Clear Lake has given me so much great education, amazing restaurants to eat at, events to attend, places to shop, a lake to relax on, and most importantly a place to call home. I am extremely grateful and feel the best way for me to give back is by serving on the City Council. I am excited about the potential opportunity and would greatly appreciate your vote at the polls on November 7th.
There will be a City Council Candidate Forum on Monday, Oct. 30, at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall. The event will include a chance to get to know the candidates and ask questions. Everyone is welcome and there will be a chance to chat with the candidates following the forum.
