La Crosse needs a new mayor

The race is on to become La Crosse’s next mayor. Tim Kabat will not be seeking a third term, making the race to replace him wide open. Typically, when an incumbent isn’t running we see a slew of candidates, because it is easier to win without having to take on an incumbent. When Kabat won his second term four years ago he didn’t have a single opponent. So far, there is only one officially declared candidate, but there are others said to be interested, a number that could grow in coming days and weeks. So what do we want in a new mayor? Obviously, first and foremost, someone who puts the needs of the city and its residents first. Someone who loves La Crosse unabashedly. We need someone who will be a careful steward of our tax dollars, but someone not so tight with the purse strings that city services and employee morale suffer. We need someone who has a vision for the future of the city, and someone who can work well with city department heads and members of the city council. And someone who can get things done, who can convince his or her critics that their plan is the best one and get others to support it. They tend to be our best mayors. Is that you? Do you check a number of those boxes? There is still time to take out nomination papers and get your name on the ballot. Then maybe come April, voters will be checking the box next to your name.