Eugene Newsome has entered the race for an at-large seat on the Fort Dodge City Council, triggering a primary election for that position.

Newsome, Councilman Neven Conrad and Jim Underwood will compete in the Oct. 8 primary. The top two vote-getters will advance to the Nov. 5 general election.

There are three at-large seats on the seven member council, but just one of them will be filled in this year’s election.

Newsome, of 322 Ave. F, said if he’s elected he’ll use his council seat as a platform for lobbying for a $10 an hour minimum wage.

”I need a platform to speak from,” he said. ”People don’t listen to you, pay attention, unless you have a situation like that.”

He said he also wants to be a ”magnet for minorities.”

”I think it’s incumbent on the majority to open arms to the minority,” Newsome said.

Newsome is a Georgia native who was an Army paratrooper from 1961 to 1966. He earned an associate degree from Iowa Central Community College.

He previously served on the city’s Cable Television Commission.

Voters will also fill all four ward seats on the council this year. The candidates so far for those seats are Councilman Terry Moehnke (Ward 1), Justin Myers (Ward 2), Councilman Dave Flattery (Ward 3) and Councilman Kim Alstott (Ward 4).