dbryce@journalnet.com

Incumbent Eric Christensen

SHELLEY - Mayor Eric Christensen, seeking a third term at the city's highest post, is a native of Shelley.

In fact, the mayor will celebrate his 50th Shelley High School reunion next year, the day before the town's annual Spud Days event.

"We wanted everyone to be able to come for the reunion and stay for Spud days," Christensen said.

Christensen is a retired crop duster and agricultural consultant. He served as a City Councilman for 12 years prior to be elected to the Mayor's office.

Completion of the new Regional Waste Water Treatment plant was one of the city's biggest accomplishments during the past four years, he said.

Construction of the plant is finished and Christensen said the facility will begin operations next spring. The site was built in cooperation with the city of Ammon and Bingham and Bonneville counties. The cities of Ammon and Shelley passed municipal bonds to help fund the $20 million project. In addition, congressional allocations and grant money helped to fund the plant.

Christensen and his wife, Jeannie, have been married 42 years and have four children and nine grandchildren together. Jeannie is also a native of Shelley.

If elected to a third term, Christensen said he would focus on responsible growth in the city.

"I'd like to see Shelley continue to grow the way it has," he said.

The current sagging economy and drug enforcement will be challenges facing the city during the upcoming four years, Christensen said.

Tyler Olsen

SHELLEY - Tyler Olsen said he decided to make a bid for the mayor's office because he was tired of seeing longtime officials running unopposed in the rural town of Shelley.

If elected, Olsen wants to review the current policies regarding annexation in the city.

"It seems to me that the city is looking for loopholes instead of giving people a reason to want to part of the Shelley," he said.

Providing more affordable utilities for residents in Shelley is another issue he plans to focus on if elected to the mayor's office.

A producer at KIFI 8, the local ABC affiliate, Olsen said he believes change can be a positive thing for the city.

A native of Shelley, Olsen said he would like to revive the sense of community that existed in Shelley while he was growing up there.

"I want to promote community involvement by being involved," he said.

Olsen and his wife, Heather, have been married for 10 years and have two children.

"I think I can help the city grow," Olsen said.