Henderson mayoral candidates throw hats into the ring

Heather Cory

With his grandson Logan in his arms and his son, A.K., to his left, Councilman Andy Hafen laughs as he prepares to file to run for mayor of Henderson at the City Clerk’s office Tuesday.

By Jeremy Twitchell (contact)

Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009 | 6:02 p.m.

Councilman Andy Hafen officially joined the race for mayor of Henderson Tuesday morning, arriving at City Hall shortly after it opened on the first day of filing to turn in his paperwork.

Hafen becomes the third veteran City Council member to declare his candidacy for mayor, joining former Councilwoman Amanda Cyphers and current Councilman Steve Kirk. The winner will succeed Mayor James B. Gibson, who is ineligible to run because of the state's term limits law.

Hafen said he is prepared for a tight and demanding race.

"One thing I think that the residents of Henderson need to know is that they have three wonderfully qualified candidates," Hafen said. "I just have to show that I'm a little better choice. I think with my time as a councilman, my institutional experience with the city, my financial background — I have a degree in accounting — and my experience on committee assignments like the (Regional Transportation Commission), I'm the best choice."

One of the biggest challenges will be developing a campaign in such a short period of time, Hafen said. From the time the filing period ends on Feb. 6, candidates will have six weeks until early voting begins and 8 1/2 weeks before the municipal primary.

"The person that works the hardest I really think is going to have the advantage," Hafen said. "I plan to work very hard."

A councilman since 1987, Hafen has two years left on his current and final term. Though running for mayor has long been a goal of his, Hafen said, he didn't feel right running for mayor while he still had a full-time job. Now that he has retired after 23 years with Metro's Special Investigations Section and the position is wide open, the timing is perfect, he said.

Hafen said his agenda begins with maintaining a favorable business tax structure to encourage job growth in Henderson.

"In today's tough economy, the biggest thing we can do as a City Council is continue to create stable, well-paying jobs," he said.

His other goals include increasing access to city government, expanding police and fire protection and applying smart growth planning to the city's development, Hafen said. He also would like to see that planned roads throughout the city become reality.

As for the campaign trail, Hafen said one of the biggest challenges will be getting voters to the polls. In 2005, only 8.8 percent of registered voters cast a ballot in the municipal primary; that number rose to 11.1 percent in 2007.

The city is undertaking a new outreach effort to increase turnout in 2009. Hafen, for his part, plans to pound some pavement.

"Just walking is probably the best thing a candidate can do," he said.

Other candidates to file on the first day were Cyphers, Municipal Judge Douglas Hedger, who is running for a second six-year term, and Bruce Cutler, who is running for City Council Ward 3, which is currently held by Jack Clark. Clark is ineligible to run again because of term limits.

Jeremy Twitchell can be reached at 990-8928 or jeremy.twitchell@hbcpub.com.