In less than a week, Guttenberg voters will choose between four candidates running for city council.

Councilmembers Stephan Bahl, Mandy Ludovissy and Michelle Geuder are running to retain their seat, while Brian Rodenberg is looking to unseat one of them for a spot in the Council Chambers.

Voters can choose three of the four candidates on the ballot. Council members serve a four-year term.

Three out of the four candidates filled out questionnaires for the Guttenberg Press, which can be read in this week’s edition of the paper.

For more information on any of the municipal elections this November, visit https://elections.claytoncountyia.gov/files/candidate_list/2025_cityschool_election_83912.pdf.

1. What are your main priorities for the city if you assume or maintain a seat on the council? I would like to continue with upgrades already in the process. I also support working with our local organizations and supporting their projects when they make sense and add to the community betterment.

2. How can the council help increase tourism and attract more money-generating events to the area? By continuing to support the Chamber of Commerce. Also by continuing support of the Clayton County Development Group.

3. Housing, daycare options and bringing in new businesses are ubiquitous areas of concern for many communities. How can the council help Guttenberg address these needs? Housing: There is a need for more housing options. Not only to raise the tax base but also to support senior citizens options as they downsize so they can open up more housing for others to enter our community. This in tune supports our hospital, school and existing businesses. Day Care: As we transition from an older generation to a younger gen, cities and businesses all need to support the efforts in child care. New businesses: We do offer $500 grants for existing business expansion and business start ups.

4. Where should the city be focused on putting funding? Does Guttenberg need help with their roads, public safety resources, etc? We need to address the needs of our community supporting the ambulance, fire department in their equipment replacement needs and address this in a long term program instead of going in to debt to do this. There was a GO bond taken out for 1.335 million for Acre Street project and new fire truck this will be paid off in June 2029. Also the Marina Debt has been paid off and is now self supporting.

5. What areas does the city excel at? How can the council continue to fortify these strengths? The city council and staff are open to input from the public. Anyone can address the city council by putting theirselves on the council agenda. If you have a concern do not be afraid to address anyone of us. And we will relay it on to our employees.

6. Looking into the future, what obstacles do you see the council and the community encountering? Are there financial concerns that you have, a lack of opportunities or community resources? At this time I do not see any immediate concerns at this time.

7. If you were making a pitch for why you should be chosen to be on the council over others, what would you say? I think I do my homework on each item on the council agenda. And that every item needs to be done so the public is well informed.

8. What is your assessment of the council’s performance over the last two years? If you had to give it a grade (A-F), what would you give them? I would grade as a B because no one is perfect.

1. What are your main priorities for the city if you assume or maintain a seat on the council? My priorities remain focused on keeping Guttenberg a place people are proud to call home. That means maintaining our infrastructure, using taxpayer money responsibly, and supporting the businesses and families who keep our town thriving. We need to continue improving our streets and lighting, stay proactive about flood resilience, and make sure city services are dependable and affordable. I also want to see us keep building on the sense of pride and cooperation that makes Guttenberg special. Growth is important, but it should always fit our character and benefit the people who live here.

2. How can the council help increase tourism and attract more money-generating events to the area? While the city cannot directly support businesses, it provides a monthly stipend to the Guttenberg Chamber of Commerce and an annual stipend to the Clayton County Development Corporation. These funds, generated from the hotel and motel tax, are reinvested in the community to support tourism. Combined with additional Chamber fundraising, this enables event support and advertising. Looking ahead, I’d like to see continued collaboration with local volunteers and organizations to expand seasonal events, highlight our riverfront, and promote Guttenberg’s historic charm to visitors year-round.

3. Housing, daycare options and bringing in new businesses are ubiquitous areas of concern for many communities. How can the council help Guttenberg address these needs? Guttenberg faces challenges in housing, daycare, and attracting new businesses, but it is equally important to support our existing businesses. A lack of local support discourages new businesses from opening or relocating to the area and makes it difficult for existing businesses to remain. These businesses make significant contributions to the community through taxes, utilities, and donations. Without adequate support, they may close, leading to job losses, declining school enrollment, and vacant properties that reduce city revenue. Housing remains a challenge because Guttenberg cannot expand eastward. Much of the city’s buildable land has already been sold or donated, limiting opportunities for new development. When new construction is possible, the city can offer tax increment financing, which is currently our main tool for supporting new businesses. I have also advocated for grant funding for brick-and-mortar businesses and have helped connect businesses with available resources. In the future, we should explore redevelopment incentives for underused properties and regional partnerships that can help address housing shortages. Daycare availability is limited in Guttenberg, with only two public options and no known home daycare providers. While the city’s ability to assist is limited, the council is open to considering specific proposals for new daycare facilities and will look for ways to support such initiatives that benefit taxpayers.

4. Where should the city be focused on putting funding? Does Guttenberg need help with their roads, public safety resources, etc? Infrastructure remains a top priority for the council. The recent water main replacement project has benefited residents, and we continue to seek improvements that minimize costs to taxpayers. Upgrading streets and streetlights is especially important, and these projects are included in future budgets as we pursue grant funding. We also remain focused on maintaining strong public safety services and investing in equipment or technology that improves city efficiency without adding to the tax burden.

5. What areas does the city excel at? How can the council continue to fortify these strengths? Guttenberg excels at community pride and small-town connection. People here care deeply about where they live, and it shows—through our events, volunteers, and local support. We have strong city departments, a safe community, and a beautiful setting along the river that draws visitors and new residents alike. Our businesses work hard to serve this community and give back to it, and that’s something worth protecting. The council can strengthen these areas by maintaining open communication, supporting local organizations, and finding practical ways to improve the lives of the people who already call Guttenberg home.

6. Looking into the future, what obstacles do you see the council and the community encountering? Are there financial concerns that you have, a lack of opportunities or community resources? The main challenges ahead are financial and generational. Costs for materials and services continue to rise, and small towns like ours have to make every dollar stretch. Balancing necessary infrastructure projects with the realities of a limited budget is always challenging. Another challenge is keeping and attracting young families. Housing and daycare are key components, as are good schools and local job opportunities. Guttenberg has weathered change before, and our strength has always come from working together. The way forward is to continue investing in our people—through steady infrastructure improvements, local business support, and community partnerships that will keep our town strong for the next generation.

7. If you were making a pitch for why you should be chosen to be on the council over others, what would you say? I’ve served on the city council for nearly four years, but my connection to Guttenberg goes back generations. I was born and raised here, as were my parents and grandparents. My family has owned and operated small businesses in town for decades, and I’ve worked for a local business myself for over 20 years, while also owning and operating one of my own. My kids attended school here, and like many families, I want to ensure that Guttenberg remains a place they’ll be proud to grow up in. Being on council isn’t about politics for me—it’s about responsibility. I understand how city decisions affect real people, because I live it every day as a parent, property owner, and business owner. I know what it means to work hard, to budget carefully, and to plan ahead. My goal is to keep Guttenberg moving forward while staying true to the values that built this town in the first place.

8. What is your assessment of the council’s performance over the last two years? If you had to give it a grade (A-F), what would you give them? I would give the current council a grade of B. While we don’t always agree, we’ve maintained respect for one another and worked together to make decisions that benefit Guttenberg in the long run. Over the past two years, we’ve completed major infrastructure projects, improved communication with residents, and managed city finances responsibly through rising costs.

That said, there’s always room to do better. As a council, we need to stay focused on long-term planning, continue to improve transparency, and continually find ways to make residents feel heard and involved. My goal moving forward is to help the council operate with even greater consistency, efficiency, and accountability—because Guttenberg deserves a city government that works as hard as its residents do.

1. What are your main priorities for the city if you assume or maintain a seat on the council? While I believe Guttenberg is financially strong and has good systems in place for ongoing maintenance and/or replacement of infrastructure and equipment, we need to consistently work to keep property taxes and utility rates low in order for residents to enjoy a low cost of living here. Guttenberg is blessed with many ideas for improvement, which the council should actively consider, but we need to always consider whether ideas are consistent with the will of the taxpayer. 

2. How can the council help increase tourism and attract more money-generating events to the area? The council helps to promote tourism by financially supporting and working with the Guttenberg Chamber of Commerce. We also financially support and participate in the CCDG Marketing Campaign which brings several projects and advertising opportunities aimed at informing and serving visitors. Because visitors are an important part of the local economy, the council is eager to work with any organization that seeks to promote tourism.

3. Housing, daycare options and bringing in new businesses are ubiquitous areas of concern for many communities. How can the council help Guttenberg address these needs? The city council is consistently aware of and dedicated to improvements in the areas of ED and housing, and is currently involved in discussions around the lack of community daycare. Guttenberg Economic and Industrial Development has a revolving loan fund for startup and expanding businesses. We have also supported new business development and community projects through Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and mini business grants. 

4. Where should the city be focused on putting funding? Does Guttenberg need help with their roads, public safety resources, etc? The primary revenue sources for the city are property taxes and utilities, so funding priorities need to include providing police/fire/ambulance services, Public Works services, flood control, keeping roadways and electrical infrastructure up to date, providing safe drinking water, etc. 

5. What areas does the city excel at? How can the council continue to fortify these strengths? Guttenberg has great city boards! The volunteers that serve on boards overseeing the park, historic preservation, recreation department, riverfront, planning and zoning, and library (just to name a few, there are others as well) are tasked with understanding the challenges and finding solutions for their specific area, so they can make recommendations to the city council. The time and sometimes physical labor of these volunteers is vastly underappreciated. In addition, Guttenberg has robust community service organizations such as Rotary and Umbrella Arts that work on community betterment projects and events. The council is happy to partner with organizations that make Guttenberg a great place to live, and has done so on many community projects. Guttenberg is an engaged, passionate, and active community!

6. Looking into the future, what obstacles do you see the council and the community encountering? I have observed that not all people are able or willing to engage in civic discourse. Community issues are often complex, come with historic or future implications, and are complicated by different personal values and perspectives. It takes time and patience to understand issues and to make fair decisions; council people must be guided by a community vision that is unimpeded by personal agendas and alliances.

1. What are your main priorities for the city if you assume or maintain a seat on the council? Maintaining and improving the overall quality of life in Guttenberg would be my main priority if I were to be elected to the council. That would include supporting our local businesses, attracting new businesses to come to Guttenberg, and promoting the city as a place for families to settle and grow.

2. How can the council help increase tourism and attract more money-generating events to the area? I believe that we need to continue to promote and improve what we currently are doing and be open to new ideas to get people to see what we have to offer. The Stars and Stripes and GermanFest are events that are well attended and get a lot of people in town. The area is known for the fall colors, and we need to encourage people to come to our town and enjoy the area. 

3. Housing, daycare options and bringing in new businesses are ubiquitous areas of concern for many communities. How can the council help Guttenberg address these needs? These are key issues facing most areas. I would say we need to look at grants and provide some tax relief to our current businesses and use this to attract new businesses. The day care issue is huge for young families. We currently have a couple of options in town, but I am sure they are full. Keeping the cost down is a major challenge and I would like to look at grant possibilities.

I am not sure how to address the housing issue but would be willing to work with our local banks and realtors to produce a plan to provide affordable housing.

4. Where should the city be focused on putting funding? Does Guttenberg need help with their roads, public safety resources, etc? Funding for public entities is always a concern. The city must manage the money and put the dollars in areas where we can get the most return on our investment of those public funds. As a former school superintendent, it was always a challenge to do more with less. Here again, I am open to some innovative ideas on how to do business. To be honest, I am not aware of the financial resources the city has. However, I would work with the city management, mayor, and other council members to maximize the power of the financial resources of the city to provide quality streets, safety, and public facilities to improve the quality of life in Guttenberg.

5. What areas does the city excel at? How can the council continue to fortify these strengths? Obviously, the beauty of the city is a huge draw. Having a medial clinic and hospital is a major positive for the community and area. The city parks, boat landings, swimming pool, and other public facilities enhance our quality of life and provide recreational opportunities. Maintaining these facilities and looking for ways to improve them is an ongoing process.

6. Looking into the future, what obstacles you see the council and the community encountering? Are there financial concerns that you have, a lack of opportunities or community resources? Having the financial resources to provide the services that the city needs for its citizens is a major concern. The taxpayers have had to pay for the brunt of the services, and it seems like support for cities and schools from the state is declining. The financial stresses will be a major part of the work of the council.

7. If you were making a pitch for why you should be chosen to be on the council over others, what would you say? Guttenberg is a special place. My family has lived in the area from the early days of settlement. I have collaborated with school board members in the past and feel it is important to serve your community. I am willing to serve and have experience on boards of local churches and golf courses in the past. That experience will be helpful for me to best serve the city as a member of the city council.

8. What is your assessment of the council’s performance over the last two years? If you had to give it a grade (A-F), what would you give them? I think the city council has done a decent job. I respect all of those that serve as mayor and the city council. It is challenging work, and you cannot please everyone. I am only offering another option for the voters in the upcoming election.