Mike Knowlton, 4th Ward alderman for the city of DeKalb, describes himself as a “nuts-and-bolts kind of guy.”

Knowlton, who has been in the position for three years, has worked in the industrial engineering management field for 25 years.

The reason for the change to politics, Knowlton said, was that he wanted to go in and make a change in the city. Specifically, he wanted to help the infrastructure of the ward.

As alderman, Knowlton said he has worked to add 18,000 square feet of sidewalk, repave an alley in his ward, improve the lighting in the area and help to curb gang activity.

He said his next project is to work on expanding the East Lincoln Highway corridor, a stretch of highway that enters the city of DeKalb.

Knowlton said he supported the recent hiring of Mark Biernacki as city manager. He said he liked Biernacki when he went through the selection process and went in with an open mind during the process.

Knowlton said he also has some feelings about Cavel International, the horse slaughtering plant located in DeKalb that currently is being rebuilt. He said he thought the business brought a lot of jobs to the city.

“Right now, they’re not breaking any laws,” Knowlton said, referring to the legislation going through the state and federal levels banning the slaughtering of companion animals.