Foote announces mayoral candidacy

OTTUMWA — Ben Foote stood under the marquee outside the Ottumwa Theater, using the hallowed landmark as a symbol of his candidacy for mayor.
It was also a symbol for what he believes Ottumwa once was, and could be again.
In front of about 20 people, Foote became the first known candidate to launch a run for Ottumwa mayor Thursday, looking to succeed Rick Johnson, who is not seeking re-election. Foote, 53, said the city, like the theater, lost its core identity and needs restoration.
"This was built in 1942 to replace the one that was burned down, and when it was rebuilt, it was built with the greatest creativity and innovation," he said. "It's just one of the examples that we have here in our city that gives us the identity of who we should be.
"From generation to generation, we've been given an identity. The problem is we've allowed that identity to shift and move into an identity of confusion or mediocrity. Frankly, we've lost our identity."
Foote, who owns Faith-Built Architecture, first moved to Ottumwa in 1980 and graduated from Ottumwa High School, left for a spell, and returned in 2011. Even when he was gone, however, the city was close to his heart.
"I've always stayed in touch," he said.
Foote did not specify what he thought Ottumwa's identity is, but said the community "is in this place of transition."
"We definitely want to honor who we were, because that's something we can build on. If we let go of that, then we just stay where we've been," he said. "It's just pieces all over the place and you need coherency.
"I mean downtown ... 15 years ago it wasn't like this at all and we've seen huge improvements," he said. "We need to keep building on it."
Foote, who vowed transparency and integrity if elected, credited the Bridge View Center area with the hotel, as well as the Ottumwa Community School District, as showing a way forward.
"The school district is just going crazy," he said. "I know there are a lot of questions about how we've spent money. My question is, 'How are we going to use it to the best of our ability?'"
In Ottumwa, the mayor's role is largely ministerial because the position doesn't have a vote. Many, however, have used the office to sway opinions, not only of the city council, but also the public.
So why not run for a seat where he could have a direct influence on charting the city's path forward? Foote, a born-again Christian, said it was his Christian principles that brought him to this point.
"I've been praying for the city for many years. I love the city," he said. "[To me] the mayor is the one who drives vision. Even though the mayor doesn't have a vote, that doesn't mean the mayor doesn't have influence, right? I'm a vision guy.
"That's the architect. I work on planning, city development. I work on teams, and all that sort of aspect. But we do this together. We put one foot in front of the other, and we have to put our best foot forward."
The mayor's seat and three city council seats will be up for election in November; it'll be the first election held under the city's new ordinance that removed the primary and runoff processes.

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