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Letter to the editor

Council member hopes to stay busy in office

Al Carrier says he'll seek another term in the March 11 city election.

By ANNE LINDBERG, Times Staff Writer
Published December 12, 2007

KENNETH CITY - Council member Al Carrier, 71, announced Monday that he intends to run for re-election.

"I've got nothing else to do," he said. "I'm retired."

Carrier said he likes to keep busy and, if he weren't on the council, "I'd go out and find a part-time job. I'm not going to sit on my duff."

Carrier's seat is one of two up for grabs in the March 11 election. The other is held by Wanda Dudley, who could not be reached for comment about her re-election plans.

If anyone else wants to run, they'll have a week to decide. Qualifying ends at noon Friday.

Kenneth City's council is a bit different from those in nearby municipalities that have strong mayors or city managers to run the day-to-day operations. Kenneth City has a council as manager form of government, meaning each council member is in charge of running a town department. Carrier, for example, has been in charge of the Police Department.

The Kenneth City council is made up of four members and the mayor, all of whom run at large. They meet once a month. Council members earn $300 a month.

For the most part, this town of about 4,500 is a quiet place. But that has changed in recent months with the retirement of one police chief, the hiring of a replacement, property tax cutbacks and a controversy over the feeding of Muscovy ducks. It's likely that some of those issues will come before the next council.

[Last modified December 11, 2007, 23:36:57]