Preston City has no challengers to the mayor or city council this year.
PRESTON – It is unusual that a city has no one file to challenge a city official, and that’s how it is this fall in Preston. No one can recall when there was no election for lack of challengers in Preston.
There isn’t one. No one signed up to challenge the exiting council members up for reelection or the mayor.
When the filing deadline passed Sept. 1, no one filed.
“We were astounded no one filed,” Preston Mayor Dan Keller said. “Then two weeks later when people could write in their candidacy no one did.”
With no challengers there will be no municipal election this year.
“I think we (the mayor and city council) work well work together as a team,” Keller said. “We have got a lot accomplished; we’ve had no major controversy and we’ve tried not to have any drama.”
The mayor said they have got a lot accomplished, and they have not raised taxes.
The biggest challenge for Preston City officials is the $68 million sewer project.
When the bids came in for the federally-mandated sewer project the mayor told the group of state and federal officials $34 million was the city’s limit and they wouldn’t ask their residents for any more money.
The USDA went back to Washington and the USDA came back offering a $10.3 million grant for the city.
“Construction on the project has commenced and the city doesn’t have to pay the wastewater improvements bill until it is finished in 2026,” Keller added.
The $70 million wastewater treatment plant will cost the taxpayers 52 percent and the federal government will kick in 48 percent.
“It is humbling to serve the citizens of Preston,“ he said. “We are not perfect, but we work good together handling the issues of the city.”
City Councilman Todd Thomas has served four terms and is up for election in 2025.
Brent Dodge was elected in 2019 the same year Mayor Keller was elected. Terry D. Larson has served two full terms and Chris Larson is the newest member of the city council. He has been in for two years.