Severin announces run for Charles City mayor

To The Press

A retired businessman, former teacher and rabbi has announced his candidacy for mayor of Charles City in the upcoming Nov. 2 election.

Richard M. Severin has turned in nomination papers to be on the ballot for the seat, saying his goal is to “bring vitality back to Charles City in every capacity the role of mayor will allow.”

Current Mayor Dean Andrews has previously announced he will seek re-election.

Also turning in nomination papers last week was Andrew Bryant Hicok, for Nora Springs City Council.

Severin said in a press statement, “My desire to run is part of my lifelong commitment to leadership and service to others.”

Severin is a graduate of Charles City High School and said he has degrees or licenses in communications, public relations, special education and theology. He spent five years in the Navy as a hospital corpsman, and nine more in the Iowa Army National Guard and Army Reserve as a medic and medic instructor.

After teaching 17 years in mostly urban schools in Milwaukee and Baltimore, Severin said, he started a home services and home inspection business in Florida.

Severin said he returned to Charles City last year to retire and care for his mother.

“I want to focus on the economics and quality-of-life issues in Charles City,” he said. “We have a lot to offer our citizens, and we could use more citizens being involved.”

He said he saw an article in the Charles City Press last winter about people from outside the city being allowed on committees due to lack of citizen involvement.

“I put in an application to be involved in a variety of ways, and although I was never contacted to serve, it planted a seed that has been growing ever since,” he said. “I have always believed that every person has something to offer and should be included in whatever way they are able to serve. I want to make that possible, and even normal.”

Severin said when was growing up in Charles City there were a lot of community leaders.

“We all knew them. They were at every event,” he said. “They took the time to talk to us and especially listen to us. I want to model that and use the office of mayor to create that energy once again.”

Severin said he has been interested in leadership since the Charles City Council, the local VFW, and then-Congressman Charles Grassley gave him awards for service while he was in high school, and described that event as “formative and infectious.”

Nomination papers to be on the ballot in the Nov. 2 city and school elections are due at 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16, in the county auditor’s office for city elections and at the school district secretary’s office for school elections.

Seats that are open in this year’s city and school board election to be held Nov. 2 are:

CITY ELECTIONS

• Charles City –  Mayor Dean Andrews and City Council members DeLaine Freeseman and Gerald Joerger.
• Colwell – Mayor Jeff Wright and City Council members Jennifer Cross, Judy Budwig, Mark Kirsch, Ryan Wegner and Rachel Krause.
• Floyd – Mayor Travis K. O’Connell and City Council members Charles Newman and Kevin Krueger.
• Marble Rock – City Council members J.R. Ackley, Todd Schriever and Tracy Merfeld.
• Nashua – Mayor ​​Clinton Betsinger and City Council members Tom Johnson and Scott Cerwinske.
• Nora Springs – Mayor Randy Hassman and City Council members Margaret Ueker and James Kraninger.
• Rockford – Mayor Scott Johnson and City Council members Vernon Arndt, Alex Hirv and Jason Stokes.
• Rudd – Mayor Jeffrey Buland and City Council members Matthew Bouillon and Tyler Scheer.

SCHOOL ELECTIONS

• Charles City School District – Board members Scott Dight, Missy Freund and Josh Mack.
• Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock School District – Board members Jeff Kuhlers and Mike Staudt.