It didn’t take long for the first candidates for Mayor of Albert Lea to emerge, now that current mayor, Bob Haukoos, has announced he’s not seeking a second term.

Tony Trow, board member for Destination: Albert Lea and a lakefront resident of Albert Lea, and George Marin, pastor of Grace Christian Church and a current city council member, have both announced their intentions to seek the mayor’s office.

Trow announced his candidacy Thursday afternoon.

According to him, issues are paramount, and that it’s time for Albert Lea to have an &uot;issues-oriented&uot; campaign. He wants to make ideas the focus of the campaign for all candidates.

When it comes to economic development, Trow has a simple creed.

&uot;If not now, when,&uot; he says. &uot;I sense a growing feeling in the community that the world is passing us by and that the time for catching up is right now.&uot;

Among the issues that Trow expects to bring up in the campaign and as mayor are quality of life, a new library, greater access to the lakes and closer cooperation with the county in watershed and water quality issues.

&uot;We need to focus on what makes this a great city for us to live in,&uot; he said. If the people who live here love being here and enjoy sharing their community with visitors, that will rub off on people and businesses that might be looking for someplace to locate, he said.

The other candidate, Marin, announced his candidacy at a press conference Friday morning in front at the City Center.

One of the main goals of his campaign and work as mayor will be to bring the city’s residents together and move the community forward, Marin said.

&uot;I see a growing momentum to get things going in Albert Lea,&uot; said Marin. The mayor’s role is pivotal in the attempt to bring people and organizations together to keep the community focused on development, he said.

Marin sees the mayor as a kind of ambassador for the city and city government and agrees it will be a busy position. He thinks his youth and enthusiasm will be more than adequate to help him cope with the job.

&uot;I’m prepared for the time and effort that the job requires,&uot; Marin said. He counts his family among his main level of support.

Mark Anderson, a local attorney and candidate for mayor in the last election, is also considering a run at the office again, although he has made no decision at this point.

In 2000, when Haukoos was elected, the campaign drew eight candidates, resulting in a narrow victory for Haukoos over Anderson.