WAVERLY - A longtime councilman representing Ward 5 plans to cast his hat in the ring to become mayor.

Fred Ribich, 62, hopes to succeed Waverly's outgoing leader, Ike Ackerman, who has served six terms but won't seek re-election.

Ribich's third term as a councilman expires this year, and he says he debated how to help but not whether to keeping serving the community.

After consulting family and constituents, Ribich decided trying to translate 12 years of experience as a councilman into mayoral leadership represented a good challenge.

"It seemed like this was the right time to make the transition," Ribich said.

Ward 5 has active and involved citizens and is capable of producing some very good candidates for his council seat, Ribich added.

Ribich is currently mayor pro tem for Waverly and has served as a council liaison to nearly every city board and commission. A Waverly resident since 1977, he teaches psychology and serves as director of institutional research and assessment at Wartburg College.

He and his wife, Trish, have two sons in Waverly and are members of St. Mary's Catholic Church.

If elected to the city's top post, Ribich said he would support what he described as dedicated city employees and engaged citizens working to make Waverly an attractive place to live. In addition to being a cheerleader for the city, Ribich said one of the mayor's biggest responsibilities is to ensure an open and fair debate of issues and timely decisions.

"I think it's that quality of maintaining open, responsive city government that really is the key piece," he said.

Also important, Ribich said, is progressing on all fronts of hazard mitigation; building the tax base through sound and sensible economic development efforts; developing strategies for street, sidewalk and trail improvements; creating a pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly community; promoting tourism and exploring green initiatives.

Earlier this summer Bob Brunkhorst, a former state senator and representative, announced he will also run for mayor.

Other council members with terms set to expire this year are Gene Lieb, Ward 1; Cyndi Ecker, Ward 3; and Duane Liddle, at-large.

Ecker does not intend to seek re-election.