Following Tuesday’s city elections, there are new council members throughout Guthrie County.

In Guthrie Center, residents re-elected Dennis Patrick and elected a new city councilman who has a deep connection to the community.

Randy Nickel was born and raised in Guthrie Center before leaving town in 1970 to join active duty in the Marine Corp.  Nickel and his wife returned full-time in 2005, and while he doesn’t have a specific agenda now that he’s a member of city council, he is excited to use his more prominent role to improve Guthrie Center.

“I don’t think that the age of retail like we had back in the 60s and 70s is going to return, but I think we just have to put our minds together and get creative, get some new ideas here and get things back rolling the way we want it to.”

Nickel has been heavily involved with the Guthrie Center Revitalization Corporation the past couple years, and one of his main goals is to help the town follow through with more building improvements.  Nickel also says he will be pushing for the community to continue getting behind the Main Street Iowa program that is currently being pursued.

Having received so much support in Tuesday’s election, Nickel says he’s anxious to serve those who showed him support in a place he truly calls home.

“I think the number of people that we had that voted–the turnout–is an indication that we’re all interested, we all want to see things better.  I appreciate everybody voting for me that did and I’ll do my best.”

Nickel won his seat on the city council by securing about 30% of the votes cast in Guthrie Center.