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Only one Republican is running for a seat on Johnstown City Council.

Mark Amsdell is a U.S. Marine Corps and National Guard veteran who served in Afghanistan.

With no other competition in Tuesdays GOP primary, Amsdell will represent the party in the general election, barring unforeseen circumstances.

There are four open council seats for which 10 Democrats also are vying.

Mark Amsdell

Age: 47.

Neighborhood: Moxham.

Occupation: CDL truck driver; UAV operator.

Background:Associate degree in aviation science; certified as auto mechanic, airframe/powerplant mechanic; machinist (CNC and conventional); A+ trained in computer repair.

Why do you want to serve on council?: It is absolutely necessary that people with clear vision and leadership stand up to stop the continued mismanagement before there is nothing left of Johnstown but collapsing buildings.

What do you believeare the most important issues facing the city?: Primarily, Johnstown needs a council that truly recognizes the situation it is in and will work toward real, lasting solutions, and the ability to communicate that to the community. ...

Secondly, a city government that understands its role, and that is willing to make the necessary changes to put Johnstown on a track toward sustainability. Even our new city manager agrees that Johnstown will not last much longer with the path it is on. Johnstown needs not only employees that will adjust to the roles they need to fill, but a City Council that is willing to listen to all of its residents, not just the loudest ones. ...

You may be asking why I didnt include jobs, drugs, crime, etc. Simply because those problems will solve themselves when the city is ready to fulfill its role properly.

We are the biggest obstacle to our own success, sometimes.

Not to say that these other issues do not also need a little coaxing, because they do. It would simply take too long to explain everything for every topic that is wrong in Johnstown. (It has been) 35-plus years of leadership doing nothing.

Dave Sutor is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at(814)532-5056. Follow him on Twitter@Dave_Sutor.

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Lone Republican runs for City Council - TribDem.com