With the election of Randy Erdman to the Albert Lea City Council, he is stepping down as president of Destination: Albert Lea and Soap Deli owner and former mayoral candidate Tony Trow will take over the office for the last year of Erdman’s two-year term.

Trow said he hopes to accomplish many things for DAL over the next year, and has typed up a page-long list of those items.

Trow has plenty of leadership experience and business experience, working with the Department of Economic Trade and Development as well as owning his own business and working in international business.

He said he hopes that DAL can make a difference through many projects which include getting a city historic preservation commission created, lobbying the state once again for a local-option sales tax for downtown redevelopment and lake clean up, and working on getting lake improvement projects done.

Trow also has a broad vision for the city and its organizations. Pointing to Tupelo, Miss., where a similar program has been successful, Trow said he thinks an Albert Lea Foundation, a privately run organization, could help to run the many organizations in the area much more efficiently.

Through combining the projects and goals of Greater Jobs Inc., the Port Authority, the Chamber of Commerce, DAL, and the Convention and Visitors Bureau under the auspices of one entity, Trow feels a foundation could do great things in the development of the quality of life of Albert Lea. Trow has high hopes for the future and said he feels that new leadership will help to make Albert Lea progressive city.

&uot;Hopefully we can make some positive steps in the right direction over this next year,&uot; Trow said. &uot;I think Destination: Albert Lea can help to do that.&uot;