Chance Carroll, new 2020 West Liberty Village mayor, is working very hard to fit into his new administrative role in the community.
“It’s a work in progress,” Carroll said. “It’s a learning process.”
But, he’s embracing and loving it, he said.
Despite the mayoral seat being a part-time position, Carroll said it’s very time-consuming.
“There are a lot of things as administration you want to do, but it takes time,” he said. “It’s going great. So far, I’m just learning the little things.”
Carroll said he’s still trying to find a way to sync with council and the village’s various departments.
He had been thinking about running for mayor throughout the years, but there was always an incumbent running which stymied him.
When he found out outgoing Mayor Greg Hostetler was not running for re-election, Carroll took his chance in the November race.
“It was about wanting to give back to the community,” Carroll said. “I wanted to show people I can still serve and still enjoy it and help the community.”
Carroll has a background in public safety, serving 18 years as a law enforcement officer, and he also did a stint on the West Liberty Fire Department.
“It’s definitely a difference going from on-thes-treet, boots-on-theground going to an administrative role,”
Carroll commented. “It’s a challenge to get that out of my head.”
Carroll said one of his goals is to see lines of communication in the village open up.
“I want the village to be a place to grow, but I don’t want it to get too far grown,” he said. “I want it to keep its quaintness and smallness of the village while also advancing us a little. I want us to be a destination and not just a stop.”
Carroll is to serve as mayor until the end of December 2023 — a fouryear term.