When Shannon Savick returned to her Minnesota roots three years ago, she never imagined becoming a mayor. But that’s just what happened in November as Savick swept to victory in the Wells mayoral race.

Facing off against Diane M. Dulas, Savick won a narrow victory in the town of 2,500 in northeastern Faribault County. She moves from the City Council seat she won two years ago into the challenging position of civic leadership in tough economic times. Eighteen percent of the city’s budget currently goes to servicing its debt. Infrastructure improvements are needed, the population is aging and economic development faces many hurdles.

The incoming mayor will rely on her lifetime of experience in the business world, key city employees and widespread enthusiasm for positive change as she takes her new position. Citing recent survey results showing that 4,000 vehicles travel daily through Wells, Savick said she wants to give the travelers good reasons to stop, and hopefully shop, here.

“We only have one building empty on Broadway, our main retail street, so the businesses seem to be holding their own. I’m hoping we can build on that,” Savick said.

A historic railroad depot will be restored starting next spring. The Wells Historical Society has spearheaded a $400,000 fundraising drive that included grants from state government and the Minnesota Historical Society. Savick hopes that restoring the depot to its former glory will give travelers a new reason to stop and shop in Wells.

Wells also needs serious improvements to its infrastructure, including streets, sidewalks and sewers, Savick said. Long-range planning resulting in a list of priorities for infrastructure improvements is a point of emphasis for the new mayor. Working with the five-member City Council, Savick said she hopes to use the skills of city employees, including City Administrator Jeremy Germann.

“Jeremy has really impressed me with his organizational skills and his ability to work with people. He’s very polite and he works the issues,” Savick said.

A widespread feeling of dissatisfaction with local government helped Savick win the mayoral election. Dissatisfaction was sentiment she first noticed at a local cafe. Hearing the grumbling on a daily basis, she had finally had enough and stood up to speak her mind.

“I said ‘Look, you people have lived here all your lives, and if you’re not happy, then one of you should run for City Council to try to change things.’ They all looked right back at me,” Savick said.

She agreed to run for the council only if she could count on the support of her fellow coffee-drinking cafe patrons. Support her they did. Attendance at council meetings grew dramatically as Savick progressed in her career as a council member.

“We went from having no public attendance to standing-room-only.”

Her run for mayor was the next logical step for Savick, whose long business career could help her succeed in her position.

Daughter of a grain elevator manager in Bricelyn, Savick earned a degree in math and physics from Mankato State College in 1970 and her master’s degree in business administration from Clark University in Worcester, Mass. She worked as an executive in sales and marketing for Digital Equipment Corp. for 18 years, and later worked as a sales executive in Iowa. She and her husband of 27 years, Delmer Phipps, moved to Wells in 2005.

“Wells offers affordable housing for seniors. I think we can market ourselves as a retirement community,” Savick said.

She said she believes the road network connecting Wells to area cities such as Albert Lea, Owatonna and Mankato is another advantage for the city.

“We are, in part, a bedroom community for people working in larger cities, but there are also many people who drive here to work at Wells Concrete Products and other businesses.”

Savick said she looks forward to the challenges awaiting her in her new position but added she knows she can’t do it alone.

“Wells is a great place to live, but we need to do more for our citizens, especially seniors,” she said.