Write-in adds to crowded Lyle field

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, October 31, 2000

LYLE – Brian Price may be an anomaly in this year’s municipal elections.

Tuesday, October 31, 2000

LYLE – Brian Price may be an anomaly in this year’s municipal elections.

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Price wants to run for office.

That’s right, he is actively seeking an elective office.

All too often in small communities, it is impossible to get people to run for mayor and council posts.

Not so in Lyle, where two candidates are running for the mayor’s position and five for two seats on the City Council.

Incumbent Mayor Ron Frank is seeking his second two-year term in office. He is being challenged by Craig Stark, owner of the Copper Kettle restaurant.

Four people are seeking two seats on the council: Georgia Byrnes, the town librarian; Betty Fisher, one of the community’s most active volunteers; Dennis Hemann, who is well-known for his work with the Eagles Cancer Telethon each January; and Robin Meyer, a member of the Lyle Economic Development Authority.

The vacancies were created by the decision not to seek another term in office by Louis "Tip" Taylor. Arguably the most civic-minded citizen Lyle has, Taylor is completing 38 years in public service.

The other vacancy was created by incumbent council member Price, who now has announced he is waging a write-in campaign for one of the two four-year terms on the council.

Price took himself out of the race for re-election this summer, when a job opportunity to teach auto mechanics surfaced.

"There aren’t many programs around and the opportunities to teach are few and far between," he said.

In Price’s case, the opportunity arose in West Virginia. So, he and his wife Shirley, who works for the Mower County Department of Human Services, and their at-home children (they have five total and two grandchildren) made the decision to move from Lyle where they have lived for 10 years and relocate in West Virginia.

Then a "snag" occurred and Price decided to remain in Lyle, where he operates an automotive repair business.

"By that time, the deadline for filing for office had passed," he said.

According to Price, his first four-year term on the Lyle City Council was a pleasant challenge and one that left unfinished issues.

"I decided to run again and do it with a write-in campaign," he said.

So, Price has thrown his hat into the political ring as a write-in candidate.

With a race for mayor and four people with their names on the ballots for the two council posts, Price faces an uphill battle typical of write-in candidates.

"I think the main issues are keeping the city running without raising the levy. I want to continue to help do that," he said. "Also, there is the new water tower project to see through."

Price also said he believes it is a citizen’s "duty" to serve a community.