The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."

Flanagan, Cole vie for mayoral position

Daily Egyptian

A top government official and SIUC researcher, both current members of the city council, declared their intention to run for mayor of Carbondale in the April 2003 election.

Brad Cole, deputy chief of staff for George Ryan, and Maggie Flanagan, a researcher in the College of Agricultural Sciences, announced Wednesday they will run to replace outgoing Mayor Neil Dillard.

Dillard, who is serving his fourth term, announced at Tuesday's city council meeting that this would be his last.

Cole said Carbondale needs to take a more active role as a leader in the region, to become the community that others look to.

"Carbondale is the capital of Southern Illinois and we need to start acting like that," Cole said.

Flanagan said she would like to push an agenda of revitalization, citing enhancing the creative expression of art downtown as something she would like to see improved.

"I think when you're mayor, you're able to enhance the direction of the city," Flanagan said.

Both candidates said they wanted to boost the city's economic viability.

Cole said the city relies too much on the University economically and when the University has problems, the town and the region have problems. Carbondale lacks a job market for those who don't work for the University, he said.

To remedy this, Cole said he would work to attract small businesses and light industrial and manufacturing businesses. He said it is important for Carbondale to offer an environment that small business entrepreneurs would be willing to invest in so the community can continue to grow even when the University doesn't.

Flanagan cited similar economic concerns and said she would look at the expansion of the economy and the sustainability of area jobs. She said she would be willing to work closely to bridge some of the differences between students and city members, a direction she thinks both institutions are already working toward.

Cole said that as mayor, he would work to bring a new attitude to the city, an attitude whose purpose is to foster prosperity.

"The mayor needs to be the number one salesman for Carbondale," Cole said. "The mayor needs to be the one singing our praises and doing whatever he can to attract people here."

Cole, 30, graduated from SIUC in 1993 with a degree in political science. Cole works as Gov. George Ryan's deputy chief of staff for downstate, where he responsible for coordinating the administration for government services for 40 counties. He was elected to the city council in 1999.

Cole has served as a commissioner for the Carbondale Park District and a trustee for the Carbondale Public Library. While a student at SIUC, he served as USG chief of staff from 1990 to 1992 and as USG president from 1992 to 1993.

Flanagan said she would like to bring vision, creativity and commitment to the mayor's office.

"I feel as if I can bring Carbondale to a new millennial level," she said. "I'm very well-networked in the community and I'm effective at getting things done."

Flanagan has been on the city council since 1993. As an agribusiness-economics researcher, she works closely with the Southern Illinois community foundation on rural development projects. She worked to create the downtown revitalization program in 1989 and volunteers for Carbondale Main Street.

The election will be on April 1, 2003 along with four city council seats. Candidates must file with the city clerk between Dec. 9 and Dec. 16. If three or more persons file for mayor, there will be a primary election on Feb. 25

Reporter Phil Beckman can be reached at pbeckman@hotmail.com

Reporter Molly Parker can be reached at mparker@dailyegyptian.com

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