Norfolk Daily News

Wednesday – September 19, 2007

Telebeep Owner First to Toss Hat Into Mayor’s Race

Tom Schommer, a Norfolk Businessman, has become the first to file as a 2008 candidate for mayor.
“I want to do my part to assure Norfolk is a great place to live and raise a family,” Schommer told more than 300 supporters gathered Tuesday at Divots for the announcement.

Schommer said he isn’t running because of the “issue or two I had with the city in the past…I’ve let that go”

Mayor Gordon Adams isn’t seeking re-election to the non-partisan position.

Schommer said his wife Linn, raised the possibility of him running while they were on their way last winter to a confrence on raising children.

“We felt it was something we needed to do. There were more positives than negatives, and we decided to make it happen,” he said.

It involved selling their house in Tara Heights, which is outside the city limits, and moving to a residence in town at 404 William St.

Schommer introduced his wife and four children and talked about his background, which included a stint working at the packing plant in Madison. He later became a two-way radio installer and eventually started Telebeep, the cell phone company he operates.

Schommer also is chairman of the Madison County Republican Party. He also has been active in Concerned Citizens for Norfolk, a group that has monitored the work of city government.

If elected, Schommer said, he would offer new ideas and a clear vision.

“We will approach things differently than we have in the past,” he said, including a “more user-friendly form of city government.”

He would seed to remedy difficulties that have existed between the city and business community, he said.

“I believe city government shouldn’t interfere with your desire to run your business,” he said. “We’ll lay the foundation for future cooperation.”

He said Norfolk needs a mayor, city administrator and chamber of commerce that get along and respect each other.

“We need a mayor who is integrated into the business community,” he said.

Schommer talked about the value of unity and good community relationships in avoiding problems. Schommer said he would seek to start benchmark performance audits to improve performance and efficiency.

He said the most pressing need in Norfolk is economic development and a team that works in harmony to make Norfolk business friendly.

Schommer was introduced by Dan Mauk, Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce director, who called him a “leader who will mend fences…and launch us to renewed prosperiety.”

Also speaking was Randy Nelson, former Norfolk school superintendent, who said Schommer was committed to education and that “the time is right for a change in leadership” in Norfolk.

Another speaker, Jerry McCallum of Madison, chairman of the Madison County Board of Commissioners, said he and Schommer became business partners and friends, and “I expect to be a partner and make this community a better place.”