This is the first in an eight-part series of questions for the five candidates for mayor of Albert Lea. Each week, the Tribune will ask the candidates a question, and their answers will be printed in the Monday edition of the Tribune.

The primary election, which will select two candidates to compete in the general election, is Sept. 10.

This week’s question: &uot;What is Albert Lea’s greatest asset, and why?&uot;

Tony Trow:

Without question, our greatest asset is our many lakes. Visitors and residents will testify that Albert Lea is a city of beautiful lakes. We are blessed to have Fountain, Albert Lea, Chapeau, Pickerel, School Section and Goose lakes right here for our enjoyment. We are fortunate that our lakes have miles of public shoreline that are available for use by all people. These lakes are all different in character but collectively their 3,937 acres provide a wide range of recreational opportunities from power boating to fishing, swimming, hunting, and bird watching. Our lakes also offer us great opportunity for the future. Development of the Farmland site with parks, shops, apartments, civic center and marina with a waterway between Fountain and Albert Lea Lakes will complete the picture. Our future is bright and the lakes play a large part. With strong leadership and community support, we can build a great future.

Don Mathison:

Albert Lea’s greatest asset is its people. The people have a genuine love for their city, and want it to be a city to be proud of. The people are diverse and provide the workers for any business or industry Albert Lea may have now or in the future. You can say our location at the crossroads of two interstate highways, or the beautiful lakes are great assets, and they are, but the people are the resources that will make Albert Lea grow and prosper.

George Marin:

Of all the many assets in our community, I believe our people are our greatest asset. Why? People are the lifeblood of a community. Someone said, &uot;The greatest investment you can make in life is the investment in people.&uot; The opinions, interests and quality of life of all citizens, young and old, are of utmost importance.

One recurring theme I hear is people feel we are not pulling together as a community. We’re not on the same page &045; our local governments and citizens. This is why we’ve chosen the theme, &uot;Bringing our City Together, Bringing our City Forward.&uot; People feel their opinions do not matter and are left out of the decision-making process. As your mayor, it will be my top priority to build bridges of focus, communication and involvement between our local government and our citizens.

We have so many assets to build on &045; let’s do it together!

Jean Eaton:

Besides our citizens, our lakes are our greatest asset! Thousands of people pass by Albert Lea on I-35 daily and wonder if we are a &uot;viable&uot; city. This is a missed opportunity for many of our businesses. The underutilized Albert Lea Lake is our &uot;hidden treasure&uot; staring us in the face waiting to be developed. It is an integral part in recognizing our city’s potential. When I was director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Pelican Breeze was launched as a &uot;floating billboard&uot; to entice visitors to stop and spend both time and money in our beautiful community. By creating partnerships, like we did to get the Pelican Breeze and the Blazing Star Trail established, I will work to create a vision as to how our lakes can be improved and &uot;uniquely&uot; developed to improve both our economic base and the quality of life for our community!

Mark Anderson:

Albert Lea’s greatest asset is its people. Lots of places lay claim to fertile farm land, lakes, and other resources but it takes people to create a prosperous community. Despite a few bumps in the road, the people of Albert Lea have done just that. This is a generous community. When a need has been identified and presented well, folks have responded by supporting the United Way, the new high school and displaced Farmland workers. People have made Albert Lea a place that offers the best of both a small town and a large city. Many a husband has had to convince his wife to leave the big city and move to Albert Lea. After a few years, most of them cannot imagine raising children and making a home anywhere else. Budgets and mission statements are fine but it requires the ideas and initiative of people to make things happen.