The May 7 Republican primary for New Haven City Council has seven candidates vying for the nomination for three contested district seats. Here's a look at the candidates' backgrounds and views based on responses to formatted questions.

District 2

Dennis Schebig

Age: 72

Current job: Retired as sergeant after 31 years as a Fort Wayne police officer and after 17 years as manager of an auto parts warehouse

Education: Graduate of Elmhurst High School; U.S. Army staff sergeant from 1965 to 1973; graduate of several police-related training and certification programs

Political and community experience: First-time office seeker. Board member for Shepherd's House for homeless veterans in Fort Wayne; prepares meals for Hope House for families receiving care at Lutheran Hospital; drives sick children to Shriners hospitals in Chicago and Cincinnati; longtime off-ice official for Komets.

Why do you want to hold public office?

“I am a lifetime New Haven resident with children and grandchildren living here who cares about future of community.” Likes its “friendly help-your-neighbor” atmosphere. “I just think we can improve on what we're doing” on jobs, housing and education.

Please identify the most important issues facing the office you are running for.

Promoting fiscal conservatism; protecting neighborhoods with more police officers and police patrols; strengthening neighborhood associations and keeping water and utility rates under control.

If elected, how would you address the issues?

Working with Fort Wayne on utilities and economic development; retaining police officers with better pay “so that officers hired and trained with New Haven tax dollars don't leave for more money.”

Jeff Turner

Age: 43

Current job: Sales at Continental Diamond Tool, New Haven

Education: 1993 graduate of New Haven High School; graduated from barber school and was a barber for 21 years in New Haven

Political experience: First-time office seeker; nine-year volunteer with New Haven Little League and on its board of directors

Why do you want to hold public office?

“I've always been interested, and it was time with my family to make a change for the better in New Haven.”

Please identify the most important issues facing the office you are running for.

“Water rates are a huge issue because they are high, and we don't have control over them; we're at Fort Wayne's mercy through City Utilities fees. Our park system could be more efficient.”

If elected, how would you address the issues?

“We need to look at how we do everything with the water situation and if there is anything we can change, we should.” Would like to consolidate some parks to make the system easier to maintain.

District 4

Michael Mowery

Age: 54

Current job: Senior network engineer, Frontier Communications

Education: Electrical engineering technologist/technician

Political and community experience: First-time office seeker; attended New Haven Citizens Academy after many years attending council meetings

Why do you want to hold public office?

“To serve the New Haven community in a more active role.”

Please identify the most important issue facing the office you are running for.

High water/sewer rates

If elected, how would you address this issue?

“I want to look at how these utilities are currently funded and see if there are other funding options available.”

Robert (Bob) Byrd

Age: 64

Current job: District sales engineer, Integration Partners, Lexington, Massachusetts

Political and community experience: Incumbent on council running for second consecutive term; served for 12 years previously. On fire department governing body and has been president of the Daisy Softball League and on his church council and finance committee.

Why do you want to hold public office?

“I think it's important for you to be involved in your community.”

Please identify the most important issues facing the office you are running for.

Public safety and economic development

If elected, how would you address these issues?

Support police and fire departments and better promote New Haven as an easy place to do business, “so that if a company wants to build a business or increase their workforce they know that we have the infrastructure in place and they have the support of the local community leaders.”

District 5

Matthew Kennedy

Age: 25

Current job: In logistics for Wildman Linen & Uniform, Fort Wayne, and volunteer youth pastor at Impact Community Church, New Haven

Education: 2012 graduate of Heritage High School; online student at Indiana Wesleyan University working toward an associate degree in Christian ministry

Political and community experience: First-time office seeker; member of New Haven Community Foundation and organizer of special events for the community through church

Why do you want to hold public office? “I've lived in New Haven since I was 13. It really has everything to do with my heart for the community. New Haven has a lot going for it, a lot of momentum. I wanted to make a difference in my community.”

Please identify the most important issue facing the office you are running for.

“Tough question. ... As we grow our population, we want to make sure we don't forget residents who are low income and we take care of our citizens so they have a voice as we grow.”

If elected, how would you address this issue?

“It's all about community engagement for me – listening to people in proximity to me and also asking questions and then using my knowledge to make intelligent, responsible decisions.”

• Incumbent Sarah DiGangi, running for the District 2 nomination, and Eric M. Amstutz, running for the District 5 seat, did not respond to requests for information.

rsalter@jg.net