Editor’s note: The Tribune is running profiles on all individuals who submitted a letter of interest for the mayor’s seat throughout the next week. As of the 5 p.m. Wednesday, the deadline set by the city council, City Manager Victoria Simonsen received four letters of interest. City council members interested in the position were not required to submit letters of interest.

By Jennifer Rogers, Tribune staff writer

Former Mayor Aaron Summers never intended to run for another term for mayor, but he decided to volunteer his services for the city council’s current predicament.

&uot;I really wanted to be able to help Albert Lea and get them through this period,&uot; said Summers. &uot;The negativism I’ve heard about Albert Lea this year has been outstanding. We’d like to put a more positive slant on that over the next year and a half.&uot;

Summers has submitted a letter of interest for the mayor’s seat.

He served as mayor in the 1980s but chose not to run again because &uot;at that time my business started to take off and I was going to be doing more traveling,&uot; he said. &uot;I didn’t have the time to devote to the position that I wanted to.&uot;

Now retired, Summers wants to do what he can to put Albert Lea &uot;in a better light.&uot;

&uot;I am volunteering to step up and offer my services for this term,&uot; he said. &uot;It is strictly a decision of the city council, and they can decide to accept or reject this offer.&uot;

Q: What inspired you to seek this position?

Summers: I’ve been encouraged by friends and family to seek and try to bring something to the city and the city council to get away from the negativism that has been a part of that office for the last year or so. I want to put Albert Lea in a better light and to inspire people to feel good about living and working in Albert Lea.

Q: What qualifications will you bring to the mayor’s office?

Summers: My business experience. I am a former mayor of Albert Lea and I know and understand the inner workings of city hall and have the ability to work with people in other departments and business leaders.

Q: What do you perceive as the greatest challenge to Albert Lea’s progress?

Summers: Growth, creation of jobs, retention of jobs, the same things that have been the focus over the years. It hasn’t changed. We are in an agricultural community and we have a varied amount of industry. There are several manufacturing facilities and if we can we need to provide for more businesses and better jobs.

Q: How have you been involved in the community?

Summers: I am a former president of Kiwanis, the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce and Jobs Incorporated. I am a former mayor, Elk member and I am a member of the Albert Lea Golf Club. I have been involved in the United Way’s fund-raising efforts for many years and I come in contact with a great number of people during my activities around town.

(Contact Jennifer Rogers at jennifer.rogers@albertleatribune.com or at 379-3439.)