NEW ULM– The Ward 4 City Council election will be contested.

Incumbent Ward 4 councilor Larry Mack filed to run for re-election on Tuesday, and challenger Michelle Markgraf filed to run for the same council seat on Thursday.

Mack has served at the Ward 4 councilor since 2015. He will be seeking his third term on the council.

Mack was born and raised in New Ulm. He currently works as a tool and die maker at 3M. He has served on various city boards including Planning, Sister Cities and RENU.

He was also the former president of the Junior Pioneer Park, volunteered on The Grand’s Building Committee and has volunteered at various city festivals.

Mack said if re-elected his number one issue would be complete the city’s comprehensive plan. Mack has been on the New Ulm Planning Commission for 10 years and wants to help complete the work of updating the city zoning.

He said this work is how a city is strengthened and how it grows. Mack believed finding how to further develop housing and business, as well as updating downtown, New Ulm was critical.

Overall, he believed the most pressing issue facing constituents was inflation. Rising costs impact everything; including the price of building materials; creating further obstacles to development.

Mack also warned against losing sight of the city’s core resources. He did not want to forget about the families already living here. Mack wanted to make sure the city made it possible for families and businesses to remodel and expand existing properties.

Mack said as an elected official, he is down-to-earth and approachable. He said there were no dumb questions, and he was resourceful at answering constituent questions.

In addition to the Fourth Ward, New Ulm’s Second Ward and mayor’s office are up for election this year.

Candidate filing opened Tuesday and will remain open through 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 31.