MONROE - Charles (Chuck) Schuringa, incumbent alderman for Ward 10, will face challenger Tyler Schultz in the April 5 election.

Schultz placed second in the three-way mayoral race with Bill Ross and then-mayor Ron Marsh in 2010.

Schuringa is seeking a third term as alderman for the ward. He is standing on his past experience on city council, including chairman of Salary and Personnel Committee and License Committee - and on his extensive work experiences in farming and construction and at the county Highway Department.

Schultz is running on the same platform he used in his bid for mayor: making city government more open, transparent and trustworthy, and creating jobs in Monroe.

To face the upcoming state squeeze on revenue sharing, Schultz advocates eliminating wasteful spending in the city budget, while still remaining fair and accountable to the people.

Schuringa is showing his support for a soon-to-be-created ad-hoc committee for city and community input on restructuring city government to eliminate some costs.

Economic development and job growth are needed in the city, according to both candidates.

Schuringa wants some improvements made with the city's current relationships with county government and private business organizations, while Schultz advocates a more forward-looking plan and a business-friendly environment.

Schultz also said he wants to update Monroe's "promotional portfolio" to highlight Monroe's charm and to attract more visitors to the city's events.

Promotion of the area also is important to Schuringa, who credits current organizations with doing a good job promoting tourism; and he sees the proposed World Cheese Discovery Center as potentially boosting those efforts.