By Judy Seifert (Contact / Staff Bio)
October 28, 2009 - 10:53 a.m. EST

VASSAR — Nine candidates will vie for three seats on Vassar’s City Council this November.

One four-year term and two two-year terms are opening this year – current Councilwoman Pasty Schell has opted to not seek re-election.

The nine running during the upcoming General Election are incumbents Faye Hembling and Henry Hornung, former councilwomen Judy Adams and Pat Gawne, Robert Curtis, Brandon Frank, Ted Gamet, Barry Schweitzer and Dan Stedry.

Adams, who served on the council two years ago, said she decided to run again because the city faces some tough times, “and I want to help as much as I can.”

Adams has devoted time to the Downtown Development Authority, Cool Cities and the Fair Board. She is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Vassar Lions and volunteers at the library.

“I love my community. I will always support it and the businesses that serve it,” she added.

Robert Curtis opted to run again because he believes the residents of Vassar deserve a fair shake.

“There are a lot of good people living here they need someone to represent them. We need to make some changes,” he said.

Twenty-five-year-old Brandon Frank grew up in Vassar and believes in being involved in his community.

“I decided to run because I can offer a new, younger point of view to the city,” he said. “I don’t have a personal reason for running, I just want to make this town a safe place to raise a family. I want my children to be as proud of this city as I am.”

Frank is a member of the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Cool Cities Committee.

“I believe I can represent the city’s future while helping preserve its past,” he added.

Assistant Fire Chief for the City of Vassar, Ted Gamet said he decided several years ago to get more involved in the city’s affairs.

“I started attending meetings and listening to the problems. I feel the time is right for me to start giving back to the community, making Vassar a better place to live and raise a family,” he said.

He also wanted to emphasize that as a city employee there is no conflict of interest if he is elected to the council.

“That’s something I want to assure everyone of. We checked with the city’s attorney and in his opinion there is no problem. I have a vision for this city too, it includes not just our children but our seniors as well.”

Former council member Pat Gawne is bringing her years of experience with her if re-elected, she said. First elected in 1994, Gawne served until 2005 when she retired.

“But after observing the council for the past four years, I feel not much progress has been made,” she said. “I want to return and lend my experience not only to the council but the new city management team.”

She’s been active on the Planning Commission and Parks and Recreation since leaving office.

Incumbent Faye Hembling hopes to remain on the council because now more than ever the city faces numerous challenges.

“Now is the time for fiscal responsibility,” she said. “Our citizens demand nothing less. They want to trust those they have elected to office and need assurances that their hard earned tax dollars are being spent in ways that promote growth and enhance their property values.”

Incumbent Henry Hornung decided to run again, saying his first two years have gone unfulfilled.

“The current council was stagnant. We need to move forward, get past pettiness and spitefulness,” he said. “The new council needs to be pro-active, aggressive, thoughtful - we need to get things done, not just talk about it.”

Dan Stedry was born and raised in Vassar.

“I love this city and want to see it grow and improve. I’ve got some great ideas to bring to the table – ideas that don’t involve raising taxes yet help our lives,” he said.

For Stedry, it’s about attracting new families and new businesses to the community, it’s about good schools, making the city safe and improving its infrastructure.

“We need to work together to accomplish things and we can, if we can just get past some of the negatives,” he added.

The Tuscola County Advertiser was unable o reach candidate Barry Schweitzer for comments.

Candidates win by receiving the highest number of votes. The mayor and mayor pro-tempore will

be selected after the election according to the city’s charter. Absentee ballots will be accepted at city hall through Oct. 31.