Skroch is set to return as Ellendale mayor
Published 10:00 am Friday, November 14, 2014
By Matt Hudson, Owatonna People’s Press
ELLENDALE — About 14 years ago, when Mark Skroch ended a 28-year run as the mayor of Ellendale, he thought that he had finished his public service and eased into retirement.
Today, the 80-year-old Skroch waits to be sworn in as the town’s mayor again after winning last week’s election by a 20-percent margin. In a town the size of Ellendale that translates into a gap of only 57 votes, but it’s a win nonetheless for the former teacher who said he’s still mentally strong.
“Yeah, a lot of people don’t think I should have done it again, I’m sure, because I’m just retired,” Skroch said at his home on Wednesday. “Well, I can understand that. That doesn’t bother me. But I also feel I can provide the leadership that in some areas has been lacking a bit.”
He said that he received some encouragement to run for mayor after it appeared that the incumbent, Roger Swearingen, might run unopposed. Skroch referred to the situation as “integrity issues” in the mayor’s office.
Swearingen faces three misdemeanor charges of theft for allegedly withdrawing hundreds of dollars from the Veterans Memorial Brick Fund without explanation. He is scheduled for a jury trial in February.
Skroch wanted to give residents more than one choice in the election, so he filed for candidacy. Now he’s returning to his old post to continue his public life in Ellendale.
Originally from Wisconsin, Skroch was drafted into the Army after he finished college in 1956. Two years later, he began work as a music teacher in Claremont and settled in Ellendale in 1959. He spent 37 years there as a band director.
Along the way, he was elected mayor in 1972.
“I stayed on as mayor until the year 2000 and I didn’t run anymore,” Skroch said. “I thought I was going to give it up.”
Now heading into another two-year term as mayor, Skroch said that his priorities include streamlining some ordinances and working with other city staff to manage the payments on city debts.
He said that the bond debt burden has become “pretty heavy” from various projects. He said that he tends to be fiscally conservative in those matters, but the challenge is to balance debt payments and possible tax hikes.
“Everybody has to decide what’s the comfortable limit for a city of under 700 people,” he said.
Ultimately, Skroch is looking forward to being mayor again in the town that he said has been good to him. He said that while making his career and raising kids in Ellendale, the people have been friendly.
Skroch will take his position in January. One day, he hopes to see some younger people step into local leadership positions.
“It isn’t a new experience.”