EDITOR’S NOTE: There are contested races in both wards in Moscow Mills. Published below is the candidate profiles submitted by Cody Quist and Melvin Gilbert in the race for Ward Two Alderman.

Name: Cody Quist

Family: Married for 19 years with 5 kids ages 17, 15, 12, 10, and 8

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Spanish, Master’s Degree in Business Management

Professional Experience: Operations Management for 12 years, Project Manager in IT for 6, Alderman for Moscow Mills for the past 6 years

Why should voters elect you to the Moscow Mills Board of Aldermen?

I have been an Alderman for the past 6 years so I have a lot of experience and understanding of the nuances of our city’s operations. I understand the issues affecting our city and have a clear vision on how to guide the growth that is occurring. I want to encourage growth and improvement but make sure that it is done in a methodical way and not haphazardly. I love this city and want to help it succeed.

What would your goals be as a Moscow Mills Alderman?

My main goal is to see Moscow Mills through the precarious financial situation we are currently in. The single biggest issue affecting our city right now is our lack of revenue. With inflation drastically increasing our expenses and the revenue remaining stagnant because of retail trends shifting to online sales (for which the city receives no revenue) we are at a severe deficit. Being a wise financial steward, encouraging business growth, and sustaining population increases will be my main focus.

Lincoln County is experiencing unprecedented growth. What can Moscow Mills do better to prepare for that expanding population?

Our city is growing at an incredible rate and the best thing we can do to support that growth is to properly plan the layout of the city and guide what that growth will look like. Properly zoning sections of our city will ensure that there is a logical flow to the layout. We need to carefully review plans before approving them to make sure that new buildings and businesses fit into our plans that we have and the overall aesthetics of the city so we have consistency. Most importantly we need to make sure that we have the proper infrastructure in place to support the growth that is coming our way. I also want to make sure that we have everything set up to attract new businesses and encourage that critical piece of growth.

Name: Melvin Gilbert Jr.

Family: Two girls, one boy, eight grandkids and two great grandkids.

Education: Graduate of Troy Buchanan High School.

Professional Experience: Recently retired, professional driver, U.S. Marine Corps veteran, union carpenter, volunteer firefighter for Lincoln County.

1. Why should voters elect you to the Moscow Mills Board of Aldermen?

Have some experience because of being alderman for city of Moscow Mills in 2012 for term and a half. Resigned due to job requirements. Also worked for the city of Moscow Mills in the mid 1980s in maintenance.

2. What would your goals be as a Moscow Mills Alderman?

To bring more retail stores to town, also create industry, study streets and sewer and water system in old town Moscow. Insure police have enough resources to provide service and protection of citizens of Moscow Mills. Make sure the town is as appealing as possible for new interests looking to Moscow Mills.

3. Lincoln County is experiencing unprecedented growth. What can Moscow Mills do better to prepare for that expanding population?

Infrastructure is always important. Being able to supply water and sewer, maintaining streets, enforcing ordinances or creating new ones to help existing and new citizens of Moscow Mills. Giving maintenance department the tools and other resources to keep Moscow ahead of future growth.