Meet the Candidates: McGregor Mayor

Three candidates are vying for a two-year term as mayor of the city of McGregor. Current mayor Russell Crawmer, who was appointed to the position in fall 2024 after the retirement of Lyle Troester, faces challengers Anne E.H. Kruse and Luke Corlett in the Nov. 4 city/school election. The candidates recently shared their thoughts about key issues with Times-Register editor Audrey Posten. Visit elections.claytoncountyia.gov/ for more information on candidates and when and where to vote.

— — —

Luke Corlett

Luke Corlett is married to wife Heidi and has five children and two grandchildren. He currently works for Clayton County. Corlett has lived in McGregor nearly his whole life and said, “I have an immense amount of pride in our community and want to be a part of making sure McGregor continues to be an amazing place to live.”

Q: What motivated you to run for mayor and what are your primary goals if elected?

A: What motivated me was a sense of responsibility for my hometown. Talking with people in the community, I feel there are issues and concerns that many of us have that are being ignored by current leadership. I will work to be a voice for the people and small businesses in town. 

Q: What do you view as the most pressing issue(s) 

facing McGregor?

A: McGregor is in a unique position of being a small town with so much historical charm. As much I have the desire and understand the need for McGregor to continue growing and developing, we can not do so at the expense of losing what makes McGregor so unique and special to so many of us. 

Q: Like many small towns, McGregor faces budget pressures. What are your priorities for the city budget?

A: Like so many of us with families, running a budget is part of daily life. I believe in responsible spending and      ensuring that McGregor is set up to handle issues and development in the future. 

Q: What balance do you feel McGregor should strike between development/growth and preserving its small-town character/natural features?

A: Development/growth has its place in McGregor, however, we can do so without being reckless and destructive. We, as a community, need to work together to find ways to preserve our character while continuing to make McGregor a home for future generations.

— — —

Russell Crawmer

Russell Crawmer and his wife will celebrate 30 years of marriage next year. Together, they have raised five children, ages 15 to 28, and are proud grandparents of two boys with another on the way. Crawmer has 25 years of experience as a school administrator, helping families and working closely with city and state counterparts. He was appointed by the governor to four terms on the Commission on Childcare & Early Learning Council, where he helped create statewide policies that improved kindergarten readiness.

As mayor, Crawmer said he has led public/private partnerships that produced real results, including connecting Artesian and Pocket parks, adding new transient docks with electricity, improving transparency through early release of council packets and minutes and supporting downtown revitalization projects already underway.

Q: What motivated you to run for mayor and what are your primary goals if re-elected?

A: I ran for mayor because McGregor is my home, and I want to protect its historic character while ensuring it thrives. In my first term, I’ve dedicated 30-plus hours a week to city work and delivered results:•Connected Artesian and Pocket parks for community enjoyment

• Installed overnight transient docks with electricity to support tourism.

• Partnered with the DOT to delay bridgework so our 2025 fall tourism season isn’t disrupted.

• Improved transparency with digital council packets and quickly posted meeting minutes.

• Helped add a license plate camera system to support local law enforcement in recovering stolen vehicles and responding to Amber Alerts.

If re-elected, my priorities are to:

• Complete the Brick Street Project, saving taxpayers nearly $1 million through TIF financing.

• Advance waterfront development, Trilogy Condos and The Station (under construction now, to be completed in 2026).

• Support continued improvements at the opera hall and hardware store, preserving historic landmarks while bringing new life to downtown.

• Secure a secondary well to protect our water reserves.

• Continue strengthening infrastructure, expanding public/private partnerships and preserving McGregor’s small-town charm.

 I am asking for re-election to ensure these large, mid-project initiatives are seen through to completion without disruption.

Q: What do you view as the most pressing issue(s) facing McGregor?

A: The biggest issue is infrastructure. Without reliable water reserves, safe roadways and erosion protection, our community faces long-term risk.

I’ve already presented a list of infrastructure issues to the McGregor Municipal Utility board, which has begun addressing them and applying for grants.

Roads like Prospect Street are being evaluated with geo-technical engineers to protect utilities and homes.

At the same time, I’ve supported projects like the Alexander McGregor Hotel renovation, The Station and opera hall improvements, which strengthen our economy while respecting our history.

Public safety remains a priority—that’s why I helped add a license plate camera system to aid law enforcement and protect families.

Q: Like many small towns, McGregor faces budget pressures. What are your priorities for the city budget?

A: Our budget is limited, and raising taxes isn’t an option. My priority is protecting core services while ensuring we spend wisely.

Police, fire and the library must always come first in the budget. That includes tools like the license plate camera system to keep law enforcement effective and our residents safe.

Currently, one sponsorship area receives more than twice the funding of our library—something I plan to audit and address.

I’ve already improved efficiency with digital council packets and faster posting of meeting minutes, keeping residents informed without added cost.

Q: What balance do you feel McGregor should strike between development/growth and character/natural features?

A: Growth is essential, but it must respect McGregor’s history and natural beauty. My record shows that balance can be achieved.

The Trilogy Condos are designed in historic style, adding housing while fitting McGregor’s look.

The Alexander McGregor Hotel renovation preserves its facade while bringing new dining, lodging and jobs.

Opera hall and hardware store improvements are underway, with more planned to revitalize downtown while honoring its past.

The Station, now under construction, will be a major addition to McGregor by 2026, blending modern use with historic design.

The waterfront development improves access and views while keeping historic character.

I also introduced a new permit process through Historic Preservation, giving six to eight weeks for research and review of historic properties to ensure proper care before changes are made.

Many of these projects succeed because of public/private partnerships, which protect taxpayer resources while encouraging growth.

I am seeking re-election so I can finish these critical mid-project developments and ensure they reflect McGregor’s values while benefiting our economy.

— — —

Anne E.H. Kruse

Anne E.H. Kruse was born and raised in Beaver Dam, Wis., and graduated from Beaver Dam Senior High School, where she was actively involved in dance, show choir, musical theater and other activities that gave her a strong foundation in teamwork, creativity and public presence. Kruse earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from the University of Wisconsin–Platteville and went on to obtain her Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1992. Since then, she has built a broad legal career, working in private practice and serving as municipal attorney for up to 10 cities, large and small. In addition, Kruse spent six years as an assistant county attorney for Clayton County prosecuting criminal cases. Today, she continues her legal career from her home office, serving as a public defender with the state of Iowa.

Kruse is married to Jerry Kruse and, together, they enjoy a blended family that includes Kruse’s daughter Vanessa, bonus children Jessy (Travis) and Gabe (Amy) and six wonderful grandchildren.

“My career as a municipal attorney has given me a firm background in not just municipal law, but the day-to-day realities of operating a city and the responsibilities of each department. As your mayor, I will make it a priority to ensure that the city offices are staffed on a regular basis to serve the needs of citizens in regular working hours. The city needs to provide regular municipal services, and communication with its citizens is an included primary service,” Kruse said.

Q: What motivated you to run for mayor and what are your primary goals if elected?

A: Communication and Comprehension: One of my greatest strengths as an attorney has been the ability to clearly communicate with clients and help them understand complex issues. As a city, we must also prioritize transparency and accountability to our citizens. That means ensuring information is shared openly and in language that is clear and accessible to everyone. I frequently send direct messages to persons interested in municipal affairs. I can help explain the municipal activities in an understandable manner. An effective mayor needs to know the law and ensure council meetings are held on a regular and dependable basis so the public knows when to attend. Meetings must be set per City Code by Resolution of the Council and not moved to alternate dates and times illegally.

Honesty: Delivering difficult news is never easy, but honesty is essential. Citizens deserve the full story at all times so they can trust their local government and feel confident in the decisions being made.

Consistency: Laws and policies must be applied fairly and uniformly. Consistency builds trust and ensures that every citizen is treated equally under the law. Attention needs to be paid to conflicts of interest to ensure no officer benefits from services to be furnished or performed for the city, unless expressly permitted by law. 

Team Building: Strong communities depend on strong teams. As your mayor I will strengthen communication between city departments, encourage cross-training and confirm that our city offices remain accessible. Just like a local business, city offices must maintain consistent daily hours of service so that the needs of our citizens are reliably met.

Q: What do you view as the most pressing issue(s) facing McGregor?

A: Lack of experienced, knowledgeable leadership. McGregor has a “Mayor-Council” form of government. It does not have a manager format where duties of the mayor are assigned to an administrative staffer. Therefore, the mayor is to act as the chief executive officer of the city and presiding officer of the council, and supervise all departments of the city. I like to compare the position of mayor to that of coach. The position requires specific municipal knowledge and leadership skills. As your mayor, I would be an effective CEO, obligated to see that each officer and employee discharges his or her duty, working with all other departments, and that all laws and ordinances are enforced within the city. I will not abdicate the development of the agenda to the non-elected officials or development of proposed resolutions without full knowledge and awareness of your elected officials.

The city has been unable to adequately negotiate the garbage pickup contract and has left citizens, some challenged by disability, with substandard service. This failure has exposed the city to potential liability for violation of the ADA law and ill will from citizens. The suggestion to put overflowing, odorous garbage dumpsters on the Main Street of our community, in front of struggling businesses, is simply not a responsible answer. 

Q: Like many small towns, McGregor faces budget pressures. What are your priorities for the city budget?

A: Like many small towns, McGregor faces real budget pressures and addressing them requires both discipline and creativity. I believe it’s important to look at our finances through both a short-term lens—finding immediate ways to keep spending in check—and a long-term lens, where we plan ahead to ensure the city is positioned for stability and growth.

In the short term, I would start by engaging directly with city hall staff, department heads and our board and committee chairs. These are the people who see firsthand where dollars are being spent and where efficiencies might be found. Their input could highlight opportunities to streamline operations, reduce unnecessary expenditures or even identify new revenue sources. Sometimes, small adjustments—like revisiting service contracts, collaborating across departments or pursuing grants more aggressively—can have a meaningful impact.

For the long term, I believe a Capital Improvement Plan is essential. It provides a roadmap for prioritizing infrastructure and major investments in a way that’s realistic and transparent. Paired with a strategic plan that aligns with the city’s master plan, this approach would help us weigh “wants” against “needs,” phase in projects responsibly and ensure taxpayers get the best value for their dollars.

Finally, if elected, I’d recommend that the council consider tapping into the expertise already present in our community. McGregor is home to a handful of people with strong financial backgrounds who could lend their skills to a budget review or advisory group. Inviting them into the process would not only strengthen our analysis but also build public trust by making budget decisions more collaborative and transparent.

Ultimately, my priority is to strike a balance: being responsible stewards of taxpayer money today while investing wisely in McGregor’s future so that our community can thrive.

Q: What balance do you feel McGregor should strike between development/growth and preserving its small-town character/natural features?

A: Change is a fact of life. Change, though difficult, has the potential to bring benefits to our community members. I’ve been around McGregor long enough to recall the concerns raised when the casino moved to our area. Fears were a casino would bring a criminal element. There were legitimate concerns about a gambling business adversely affecting the culture of our close-knit rural community. Now, this very same casino is an important part of our economy providing employment and contributing to our tourism industry. 

McGregor currently faces change with newly proposed developments. The key is not to attempt to prevent change but to work with developers to ensure benefit to our community while maintaining our hometown culture. How do we make change work for us? As your mayor, I will work within the boundaries of law to ensure positive development. Let’s bring more jobs to the community, jobs that pay well enough to develop housing that we are proud to have in our neighborhoods that local residents can actually afford.

Let’s ensure that any change holds and preserves our very best assets:

•The “wild west” vibe, rooted deeply in our history of native Americans, cowboys, pioneers and pirates;

•The ever-growing artistic community of musicians, poets and artists of all mediums;

•Our natural resources—state, federal and county parks and rivers large and small; and

•Our friendly hometown residents that welcome visitors to enjoy and explore and hopefully return to our area. 

These are the qualities that brought me to McGregor 20 years ago and made it my heart and my home. As your mayor, I will keep them sacred in my heart and strive for your benefit always.