After 33 years as a treasurer in Sycamore, Ken Mundy is looking to serve even more in the role of mayor.

Mundy, running as an independent and one of three candidates in the April 5 election, has been the library board’s treasurer for nine years, the city’s for 24 and payroll manager at NIU for 30, a position he will retire from March 1.

Retiring from NIU and moving the treasurer’s duties back to the city’s finance office would allow him to devote more time to his role as mayor, Mundy said.

“I’ve worked with five mayors in my time with the city, and every mayor had a job or business to take care of,” Mundy said.

“I just love the town and I have the time now to devote all of my energy, as my job, to the position of mayor.”

Mundy said his campaign has focused on a positive message about his qualifications and plans, instead of criticizing the current or previous administrations.

Mundy said one of the most important matters as mayor would be managing the city’s growth along with the city council, manager and planning commission.

“My approach is a team approach,” Mundy said.

“One of the main jobs of mayor is communication and working with the people of the town, the council and the manager who oversees day-to-day operations of the city,” Mundy said.

Mundy said he was proud of earning Sycamore $17 million of investment income in his time as treasurer and would use his experience in dealing with city funding.

“No matter what program we’ve brought in, we have to pay for it,” Mundy said.

Mundy said he wanted to work with the other departments to bring in more industry to provide jobs for Sycamore’s heavier residential makeup, as well as work to better manage the city’s comprehensive plan.

Mundy said he also wanted to address the city’s high property taxes and water bills.

The lifelong Sycamore resident and four-year Vietnam War Navy veteran said he has been in public service his entire life.

Mundy is a member of the eight-gallon blood donor club, the Sycamore Kiwanis Club, has been involved in the Big Brothers program and has served as a chairman and elder at the St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, 321 Park Ave.

Rev. Don Phelps, senior pastor at St. John’s, called Mundy “a man of integrity” and said he thought he would do a great job as mayor.

“Whatever he takes on he’s going to do to the best of his ability,” Phelps said.

Mundy’s next task will be an extensive campaign.

“I intend to knock on every door in Sycamore,” Mundy said. “I’ll be in the neighborhoods every day and every evening getting my material out.”