Incumbent Dave Walter will be running as a write-in candidate against Tom Black in the April 7 election. Walter's name was removed from the ballot for failure to pay his personal property taxes by the Jan. 20 filing deadline. He wound up paying the bill two days later. At the time, Walter said he never received a personal property bill from the county collector's office. Closing out his first term, he admits the mistake could cost him some votes. "But I've done a pretty good job," Walter stated. "I will have to sit back and wait and see what happens." Walter cites the expansion of the city's wastewater treatment plant and the construction of the Diekroeger Park building as two highlights during his term. "I want to keep the city moving forward," Walter said. "I want to keep enforcing ordinances across the board fairly." The 80-year-old Black, who is retired from a 35-year career with Ford Motor Company, is running for alderman after losing a three-way battle for mayor last year. ð While noting voters might be concerned about this age, Black said "I have as much energy and spunk as the other guys." If elected, Black wants to see the city continue to clean up properties and look to bring in more businesses. He also wants to see better cooperation between members of the board. "There's too much fighting," Black stated. "They should be working for the people. I want to get in there and help the people." Cleaning up the city remains Black's main emphasis. He said properties like the former Big Boy's and nearby service stations need to be taken care of. "We have weeds here and there since 1984 it seems," Black said. "It's a mess." Coincidentally, when Walter was elected the first time in 2007, he beat out two candidates, including incumbent Bill Schaffer, as a write-in candidate. Walter's name was removed from the ballot in that instance for not paying his taxes and not being a registered voter. He resolved both issues in order to run as a write-in candidate. Another issue facing Walter is a lawsuit filed last November by Mayor Roy White. Walter and his wife were charged with defamation and tortuous intrusion upon seclusion for allegedly following White home after he left a bar and reporting he was driving erratically. The intrusion upon seclusion count has since been dismissed, Walter said. Noting the lawsuit has kept him from campaigning under the advice of his lawyer, Walter declined to talk specifics about the ongoing defamation count, but did say "I don't feel like I did anything wrong."