Newcomer's goals include getting students involved.

The population of Bloomington is approximately 70,000 people. About 38,000 of those are students.\nAnd Fred Prall, the republican candidate for Bloomington mayor, says he wants students to realize the influence they could have on area politics. \n"Students should care (about government)," he said. "They are treated rudely in my opinion, over such things as the police harassing them when they are trying to get home, walking home from the Bird … and if students had some representation, I think that'd be a little different. Students are often treated like second-class citizens, and they shouldn't be."\nPrall said he has had fantastic results after going door-to-door with campaign volunteers to discuss city issues with student living in the residence halls, Greek housing and the Varsity Villas. He says mentioning that Republican candidate for city clerk, Matt Stevenson, is an IU student often breaks the ice.\nAlong with bringing the IU and Bloomington communities together, Prall said he has several other goals regarding Bloomington. \n"First, we have to deal with the crime and security issues that are confronting our community," Prall said. \nAs mayor, Prall said he would like to focus on recent problems with theft and proximity of fire and police stations from certain areas of town. He said an additional police precinct on the west side of town and a fire station closer to campus would better serve the community. He also said city funding is being spent inappropriately, using the Miller Showers Park on the north side of Bloomington as an example. The park, located between College and Walnut, is billed as useful for storm water management, aesthetics and use as an outdoor classroom. But Prall said he believes the park project, now estimated at around $5 million, is costing far too much money. \nHe said the money could be better spent on initiatives that spur economic development and strengthen existing businesses. Prall cited a weak job market in Bloomington as the central problem. \n"If we have more opportunities for employees, then that's what will raise the job entry level, the wage level," Prall said. \nHe has a three part plan to improve employment, he added. First, he would work with the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation (BEDC) to take the politics out of the organization. \nSecond, Prall said he wants to create a central office in Bloomington where small businesses can address any concern or regulation involving their day-to-day operation. \n"Instead of bouncing around from planning to utilities to state department, etc., I want a single office that would deal with all of that while expediting the process," he said. "... What we need to do as a city is make it efficient for small businesses to approach the city."\nThird, Prall wants to address unemployment in the community. \n"We have a tremendous talent pool here in Bloomington, but because we don't have job opportunities, people are working for $6, $7 or $8 an hour, when they might be worth twice that in a different market," he said. \nTo remedy that situation, Prall wants to bring high tech corportations such as software company Intuit to Bloomington. He said companies like Intuit need service personel, and there is no reason why the companies can't be located in Bloomington. \nReducing the high school dropout rate by strengthening vocational training programs and working to devise solutions to Bloomington's traffic congestion problems are also on Prall's agenda.\nComing into the mayoral race with no previous experience in a political office could be seen as a problem for some. But Prall believes it is one of the reasons he's the best man for the job. Prall said he thinks the city government is heavily influenced by special interests that go against what is best for the citizens. \nBecause he has been a Bloomington resident and active in the community for most of his life, Prall said he has experienced the issues first hand. Prall's campaign manager, Sandy Parkes-May said Prall sees citizens and their needs as his main priority.\n"He does a very good job of trying to reach all of the community, not just certain groups," Parkes-May said. "He has gone door-to-door in all parts of the community." \nPrall was born in 1941 in East Saint Louis, Ill., but was raised in southern Indiana, living in Martinsville and Columbus before settling in Bloomington. He received both his bachelors and masters degrees in accounting from IU. After almost 10 years of employment with IU as an Internal Auditor and Financial Systems Coordinator, Prall left in 1973 and founded Prall and Company, a private accounting firm in Bloomington. \nPrall and his wife, Cindy, raised their two sons, as well as Prall's two daughters from a previous marriage in Bloomington. Priding himself on community involvement, Prall has coached 17 local football, basketball, soccer and baseball teams, is a member of Sherwood Oaks Community Church and the Chamber of Commerce. He has also spent many hours working with local non-profit organizations, offering his accounting advice and assistance. \nRetired vice president for facilities at IU, Gary Kent, said he considers himself a good friend of Prall. They have known each other since the 1970's, when they were both employed by the University. Kent said Prall has the drive needed to take Bloomington in a new direction. \n"He has strong opinions, and he's highly principled," Kent said. "If elected, he will surround himself with good, strong people. He knows what the real priorities are." \nPrall said someone once asked him whom he would give the keys to the city to if he were elected mayor. Smiling, Prall responded, "No one. I'm going to take them with me. We have a lot of work to do." \nTo learn more, visit www.fredprallformayor.com.\n-- Contact staff writer Jenny Viviano at jviviano@indiana.edu.