Dave Hovel looks back on 12 years

PRESCOTT – Prescott Mayor Dave Hovel has decided not to run for re-election April 5. After serving as mayor for eight years and as a council member for four years prior, he has decided it is time to take a break.

After working with the city of Prescott for 12 years, Hovel has experienced change and improvements within the city over his time and feels it’s time for someone else to take a turn.

“I’ve been on the council for 12 years and I just need a break,” he said.

Mayor Hovel expressed that he will be able to focus on his full-time job and have some time to relax. Aside from serving as mayor, he is also a building inspector for

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the city of River Falls.

“My real job is being a building inspector so I’m dealing with politics all day at my job and then go back to Prescott and do it again and it is just time to take a break for a little while.”

Hovel also believes in term limits, another factor in decided not to run for re-election.

“I really believe in term limits and being there eight years, that’s pretty long,” he said, although he might for mayor again someday.

He joked, “Who knows, maybe down the line if I get bored, I might run again.”

Eight years ago in 2014 when he filled the role for the first time, his experience with politics is what led him to running in the first place.

“I had government background before running for council and then people were encouraging me to run for mayor and once my kids graduated, I decided it was a good idea and I finally did,” he said.

After many years working with council members and city staff, he admires all they accomplished and the way they worked together.

“I enjoy the council and the staff that I work with,” he said. “I really like it and it wasn’t always everyone agreeing and saying yes and in the end, we all would figure out how to solve problems and make the city a better place.”

During his time as mayor, he has enjoyed seeing the riverfront and downtown projects come together. The council has put a lot of work into the riverfront project and the community is beginning to see the outcome of that planning. The installation of the new courtesy dock was one of the first finished products of that plan.

“The downtown plan and the riverfront plan come into place and seeing that being fixed up is great and watching the courtesy dock go in was awesome,” Hovel said.

To see the growth in Prescott is also rewarding to look back on over the past eight years.

“The growth is an accomplishment, the subdivisions that have come in and working with them to bring in more housing which we needed,” Hovel said.

Hovel is looking forward to relaxing and spending time with his family.

“I appreciate all the support from the city and the community and I appreciate everyone’s opinions even if we didn’t always agree, and to the council, staff and residents, I thank you for that support.”