Waukon Mayor - Al Buege vs. Duane "Dewey" DeWalle
Waukon residents Al Buege and Duane "Dewey" DeWalle are squaring off in the election for Mayor of Waukon in the Tuesday, November 3 City Election, replacing outgoing mayor Loren Beneke, who is not seeking re-election. The responses from candidates Buege and DeWalle to questionnaires issued by The Standard in the interest of informing voters appear below:
Please provide some background information about yourself.
Buege: I was born in Waukon in February of 1940 where the bowling alley now sits. I went to Waukon Public School. In 1949, we moved to a farm three miles southwest of Waukon. In 1958, my junior year, my dad had a heart attack so I quit school to work on the farm. In 1959, Dad and Mother sold the farm. I then went to Waterloo and went to work for Rath Packing Co. In 1967, I got laid off so I came back to Waukon and bought the taxi service in Waukon. In 1969, I went to work for Northern Engraving for three months. I ran the taxi in the daytime, then at 3:00 I went to work at Northern at night. In August of 1969, I met my wife-to-be, Rose. We were married in 1970. I have one stepdaughter, Tori, and two granddaughters. In 2003 my wife passed away. I retired from Northern in May of 2004. I still work part time for Kol-Gol and move cars for car dealers in Waukon.
DeWalle: My wife and I moved to Waukon in 1970. We have three grown daughters, eight grandchildren and one great-grandson. I worked at the power plant in Lansing for 27 years.
As the potential Mayor of Waukon, what do you feel would be your ultimate responsibility to the citizens of Waukon if elected?
DeWalle: Keep the City solvent, and keep striving to keep Waukon moving forward.
Buege: Let the people know what is going on in our town and get their feedback on what is important to them.
If elected, what would be your issues of highest priority in helping direct city government?
Buege: Try to find a way to fix the streets and sidewalks in town without costing the taxpayers much money.
DeWalle: Figure out how to finance road repairs, and make a five- to 10-year plan to move forward on that plan.
What are the current issues, good and bad, that you see facing Waukon, and what does your candidacy offer in addressing those issues?
DeWalle: Every day, issues are facing the Council. Being able to see those issues as they come up and being able to address those issues right away.
Buege: Try to get some kind of industry to come to Waukon, to keep Main Street and the rest of town moving forward, not backward.
In your view, what will it take to allow Waukon to not only survive, but thrive in the future?
Buege: Never stop trying to improve our great town by working together as a co-op more or less. It is going to take all of us working together. Waukon is made up of good hard-working people. I love this old town and hope you do also.
DeWalle: Trying to take advantage of every opportunity that comes to the town, and trying to keep people working and keep taxes as low as possible.
