FRUITLAND, Iowa — The face of Fruitland’s government will take on a different  look after Tuesday’s election, when a new mayor and at least one new City Council member will take office.

Voters got a preview of that new look Wednesday night during an candidate forum at the Fruitland Community Center. The event was hosted by the Muscatine League of Women Voters.

Mayoral candidates Jerry Miller and DeWayne Walter, along with council candidates Judy Knouse, Rick Honts, Perry Anderson and Scott Wilson were present. Ryan Hoeg, who’s also running for Council, did not attend.

Long-time Mayor William Brockert’s term is ending, and he is not seeking re-election. On the Council, incumbents Knouse, Honts and Miller’s terms are ending. Knouse and Honts are running for re-election and Miller is vying for mayor.

Questions submitted by the audience reflected concerns and issues of the approximately 20 people present.

The Council candidates were asked how they’d distribute a limited budget, which revealed a common theme in their answers.

“We can’t spend money that we don’t have,” said Wilson. The other candidates agreed.

“We need to make the budget readily accessible to the community,” Wilson added, “Maybe we can e-mail it to a list of people.“

Wilson is also in favor of communicating with the town through a Web site.

Fruitland’s affiliation with Muscatine came into question more than once.

In response to a question about connecting to Muscatine’s sewer system, the candidates agreed that now may not be the best time to consider it.

“At one time we thought we were in a position to hook up with Muscatine but that went to the wayside. We don’t have the funds,” said Knouse, who has been on the Council since 1986.

Anderson said if it were in the best interest of Fruitland, he would favor the hookup in the future.

Honts, who has served two terms as Councilman, said the money that has been put away for infrastructure from the local option sales tax had to be used for the Community Center and City Hall and that it would be too expensive to make the connection right now.

“They (Muscatine) have more cash. We have one asset they don’t have and that’s the (Louisa-Muscatine) School District,” said Wilson.

When the topic turned to possible annexation into Muscatine, the answers were more clear-cut.

The mayor candidates’ eyes widened when asked if they believed Fruitland should be annexed into Muscatine.

“No,” said Walter. “We’ve prospered to where we’re at today and we’ll continue to grow.“

Miller echoed that sentiment.

“Fruitland may have a minor budget problem but that would just totally destroy what we’ve built here over the last 35-40 years,” he said.

The mayoral candidates were also questioned about allegations of corruption

and nepotism in local government.

Both Miller and Walter said they have heard the rumors. Walter said people are gossiping because he is Brockert’s second cousin and people allege there is corruption going on in the local government.

“I sit at the Council meetings and everybody else there sees the same thing I do,” Walter said, adding that the negativity is unproductive.

Miller has had people approach him stating they heard rumors about him, too.

“Maybe they’re trying to stir the pot,” Miller said.

After many questions the candidates shook hands and agreed that they are in it for the community and they hope to see more Fruitland residents become involved with the meetings and events.