News : Vogt announces run for Shellsburg Mayor

Shellsburg native Shadoe Vogt has officially announced his candidacy for Mayor in the upcoming November 4th city elections.

Vogt, who has lived in Shellsburg his entire life, says his decision to run comes from both his long history of community service and a desire to see the city regain momentum on local improvement projects.

Shadoe and Kristal, live on Grand Avenue with their three children - Max, Myla, and Ruby - along with the family's spotted dog, Stickers. "Any given evening you'll probably find us on the front porch waving to passersby," Vogt said. "And if we need a break, we'll jump on our Harley and take in one of the area's many destinations."

Vogt's community involvement began at the age of 18 when he joined the Canton-Benton, Shellsburg Fire Department. After many years of volunteering there, he moved into city leadership, serving the past eight years on the Shellsburg City Council.

"I ran for council because I wasn't happy with the direction our community was heading," Vogt explained. "We have all the ingredients to make a small town anyone would be proud of - we just needed to get them mixed correctly."

During his time on council, Vogt points to several community accomplishments: street replacement projects, a new bridge, installation of solar power at both the water and sewer plants (saving thousands annually), and assisting local investment in new housing development. When the 2020 derecho storm devastated the region, Vogt helped lead Shellsburg's cleanup efforts, working two weeks straight to return the city to normal - one of the first communities in the area to do so.

Vogt says his choice to run for Mayor stems from concern that progress has slowed in the past two years. "We haven't planned new projects or addressed many of our ongoing issues," he said. "That's something I can't ignore. So instead of running for my council seat again, I'm stepping forward to keep the ball rolling as Mayor."

If elected, Vogt's priorities will include:

• Budget: "It's time to take a deeper look at how we spend and make adjustments so funds are used more effectively."

• City Equipment: Updating outdated equipment like the city's 20-year-old dump truck and snowplow to reduce costs and improve efficiency.

• Roads & Drainage: Investing in longer-lasting street coatings and making small drainage fixes that keep roads in better condition.

• Sidewalks: Ending years of discussion with concrete action on long-needed improvements.

• Property Clean Up: Encouraging pride in property upkeep to make Shellsburg more inviting.

• Better Communication: Expanding use of city social media and signage to share important information with residents.

"We need to get back to work - together - to maintain the community we all love," Vogt said. "I'd be honored to lead Shellsburg in the right direction, and I'm asking for your vote to do so."

Vogt also encouraged residents to pay attention to the council race: "There are five candidates running for three open seats, and I'm excited to see new faces interested in leading our community. Please take the time to learn about them as well."