Sixth Ward Councilor Al “Minnow” Brooks has been a fixture on the Albert Lea City Council for 16 years. While we appreciate his dedication and service to the community, it’s time for a new face to represent the south side of the city.

The Tribune endorses credit union president Matt Maras in the Ward 6 race.

Maras would be a stand up for Ward 6 in city budget hearings. During budget hearings, city leaders assign numbers to projects to assist with prioritizing projects. Too often — and Brooks admits this — the south-end projects would end up as a low priority. We feel Maras would end this streak and be a stronger voice for Ward 6 needs.

With the Minnesota Department of Transportation resurfacing Broadway from Main Street to the Interstate 35 exit, there is much talk in City Hall and around the community about beautifying that corridor into the city. It’s far less attractive than the East Main Street, West Main Street and Bridge Avenue routes.

In our meetings with the candidates, it was clear that Maras could provide ideas, such as, for starters, simply planting trees or bushes along the right-of-way and in the median. He said if MnDOT isn’t willing to do it, there would be plenty of volunteers available to assist. We can see Maras displays pride in the south side.

While Brooks has lived in the ward pretty much since he was 4 years old and has respect and connections, he at times offers a low estimation of the condition of the ward. Maras seems to speak of the neighborhoods of the ward in a more positive light, which is refreshing.

Maras is up on the city issues and from answers given it is clear he has been following city issues for years. Why? His wife works at City Hall. He can hit the ground running.

He also would bring his insight into business and finance to the table. He sees the city government as a cooperative formed by taxpayers, similar to how his credit union is a cooperative formed by groups of local workers.

Still, there is a clear role for Brooks in serving this community. The interest he has in city matters could be put to use in two years on the Freeborn County Board of Commissioners, which could use more city-oriented representation. After all, Albert Lea taxpayers foot most of the bill for the county government. The county government could be doing more to make the county seat a stronger place economically and strategically. Perhaps the bantering on how to resolve the sewer issues in the Stables neighborhood could finally get resolved, among other issues. They seem to forget that if Albert Lea does well, the county tax base increases.

We urge our readers in Ward 6 to vote for Maras on Nov. 4. Let’s give this solutions-oriented candidate a shot at leading.