Sandra Henderson and Donald Leasher Jr. are running for mayor in Mason in the April 1 election.
Henderson is retired but owns a small business. Leasher is a semi truck driver.
The Effingham Daily News asked the candidates to answer the following questions.
List any public service or other experience that would help you serve as mayor:
Henderson: Have been a town board member since about 1990. Was treasurer for five years.
Leasher: None
Why are you running?
Henderson: I’m running because I love this little town. And board has asked me to continue. I also have 11 1/2 years as mayor and have filled in-between mayors. I have the experience.
Leasher: We moved to Mason whenever I was starting fourth grade, and I moved out in 2010, and I was gone for a little bit, and then we moved back here about three years ago… Things are so messed up in this town.
What’s the most pressing issue facing Mason and how would you address it?
Henderson: As any small town, we have no businesses anymore. We struggle with being able to maintain roads, sidewalks. Also, just trying to keep the town clean. I feel there is nothing worse than driving through a small town that has seen better days.
Leasher: The ordinances, fines, the prices of water bills and the prices of sewer bills. He would talk to the water and sewer companies to see if there’s anything that could be done. He would also have a meeting with the council and town members to go over things instead of fining people.
What’s more important for Mason right now: Building new homes and commercial space or rehabbing/expanding/better utilizing our existing homes and storefronts?
Henderson: For Mason, it would be just trying to see the town come together like it used to do.
Leasher: Both. You can’t see the town prosper if there’s nothing here… I just would like to see the town of Mason grow.
How do you plan to involve residents in decision making in Mason?
Henderson: Unfortunately, we find ourselves begging for someone to sit on the board. We have two seats available. All it takes to be a trustee is to be a registered voter and to have lived in town for one year. Our meetings are open and would love to have people come.
Leasher: Have open meetings and listen to what people say.
If you received a $1 million grant to use for the village any way you wanted, what would you do with it and why?
Henderson: A million dollars could be a God send. Every road in town would be perfect. New sidewalks everywhere. New park equipment.
Leasher: The first thing is I’d put a water tower up, and that’s to help drop the water prices. Besides that, I’d repair the roads, fix the ditches and sidewalks.
Why should residents vote for you?
Henderson: I would hope they would vote for me because they know I’ll try my very best to do what’s best for the town.
Leasher: If they’re ready for some change or at least somebody to get in there and try to change things for them, then I’d be the way to go because that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to try to change things for the people in the town of Mason… If they want to get things back in this town the way it used to be, then I’d say come my way and we’ll do what we can. I can’t guarantee it, but I guarantee I’ll fight for it.