Keeping local government focused on the essential needs of public safety and public works will be the goal of Dr. Ed Toney if he is elected to the Fort Dodge City Council.

Touney is running for the Ward 4 council seat. He is challenging Councilman Kim Alstott, who is seeking his eighth term.

“I want to stand up for the hard working people of Fort Dodge, especially the hard working taxpayers,” Touney said Thursday evening. “I think the City Council lately has not kept them in mind.”

He said he believes the council has prioritized some projects that do not qualify as needs for the majority of Fort Dodge residents. As an example he listed the council’s decision to accept a $100,000 grant for replacing an elevator and doing other work in the Boston Center downtown. That grant requires $100,000 in local matching funds. Touney said he believes the building’s owners should be responsible for paying for that work.

“I think we need to take care of our streets, sewers, water lines, police, fire and rescue and not get involved in serving other private entities that are not serving the public,” he said.

He said he decided to run for the Ward 4 seat because “I think this area can benefit from more representation.”

Touney, of 1911 N. 17th St., is a physician who practices emergency medicine and hospital medicine.

He is a native of Fort Dodge who graduated from St. Edmond High School. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Grandview University in Des Moines and his medical degree from Des Moines University.

He and his wife, Hiedi, have eight children.