Stillwater Mayor Ken Harycki has decided to seek a second term.

"During my first term, I have spent a lot of time trying to increase citizen involvement, fight for spending decreases and addressed many traffic issues throughout the city," he said.

Priorities for a possible second term include better traffic flow to the Stillwater Lift Bridge, completing the flood wall downtown and making more downtown parking improvements, Harycki said.

Accomplishments during his first term, he said, include a "graffiti initiative" involving the city and the Youth Service Bureau, more annual road repairs within the existing budget, and more emphasis on neighborhood safety.

The city's recent budget crisis has been one of his strongest challenges as mayor, he said.

"You have to balance a lot of expectations against the reality of the checkbook," he said.

Harycki, 47, owns a Stillwater business, Customized Payroll Solutions. He is a certified public accountant who holds a finance degree from the University of Wisconsin and a business taxation degree from the University of Minnesota.

Harycki served on the City Council for two years before he was elected mayor in 2006.

KEVIN GILES