Four candidates seek Newton alderman's job
By By William F. West / community editor
Feb. 3, 2003
NEWTON Four candidates are campaigning to fill a vacancy following the death of Newton Alderman Charles Love and his daughter is among the field.
LaShunda Love, 27, said she wants to continue the work of her father, who died Jan. 2 at age 51.
He owned and operated Progressive Funeral Home and was in his second term on the board of aldermen.
LaShunda Love said that, if elected, she wants to focus on improving public education. One way to start, she said, is by establishing mentoring-type programs to encourage Newton's children to excel.
Charles Love had been representing Ward 3, comprised mostly of Newton's west side. A special election is set for Feb. 18 to replace him.
Also in the contest are Jerry Collier, Eric McCalphia and Eva McDonald.
Collier, 54, is a chair assembly worker at La-Z-Boy's Newton plant, where he has been employed for about 30 years.
Collier said he decided to run for alderman after being approached by a couple of friends.
Collier said he believes two issues in the contest will be annexation and the leadership of Newton's schools.
He said he is for annexation but would like to know more about what is the best way to achieve that goal. He also said he believes the local school board may need some new faces, especially parents whose children are enrolled in the schools.
McCalphia, 31, is a leather dye cutter at La-Z-Boy, where he has been employed for about 10 years.
He said he decided to to enter the special election after discussing it with his he wife, Katrina, who works as Newton County's 4-H Youth Agent. He said he was planning to run for alderman after the end of Love's term.
McCalphia said he believes the issues in the campaign are a need for more jobs, an after-school center for youth and ridding neighborhoods of dilapidated housing.
McDonald, 48, has owned and operated Tinka-Tonka's Daycare for 14 years and has also long been active in community affairs and issues.
McDonald said she would like to have more activities for both the elderly and young people and would like to see Newton have more low-income housing and improved streets.
She said she is also concerned because she believes some businesses damaged by the Dec. 19 tornado are not going to rebuild or stay in Newton.
Qualification rules
Friday is the qualifying deadline.
Candidates seeking election to the Ward 3 position must have at least 15 signatures of voters in ward and must also be a resident of that ward. In a special election, candidates do not run based on political party affiliations.
The winner in Ward 3 will join Mayor Hamp Beatty, Ward 1 Alderman Michael Hillie, Ward 2 Alderman Murray Weems, Ward 4 Alderman David Carr and Ward 5 Alderman Tom Brand in running Newton city government.
Newton has a population of 3,699 and pays its aldermen $700 a month.
