Two incumbents, Larry Rennels and Jeff Lahr, and the challenger Matthew Hutti are vying for the two-open seats on the Charleston city council, today.

The election polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Larry Rennels, 63, said he has been on the council for 14 years and is retired from his television and appliance store job.

Rennels said the city is still undergoing financial challenges.

“My experience on the council would help Charleston look forward to the future,” Rennels said.

Rennels said he was apart of the council during recent renovations upgrades including- the upgrades to water treatment plant and the wastewater treatment plant, the swimming pool renovations, updates to the library, and the water main.

He now that those projects are complete the council can focus on other things.

Rennels said he would like to focus on the infrastructure of the city such as sidewalks and roads.

He said if reelected to the council he hopes to get funds from the state to add an additional turn lane to levy the congestion on Ninth Street by the Tarble Art Center.

“We can look to improve sidewalks in Charleston by the O’Brien Stadium and Division Street,” Rennels said.

The sidewalk improvement could benefit the students, Rennels said.

Rennels said he is interested in local issues such as the Will Rogers Theatre.

“The city could not buy Will Rogers Theater because the city does not have the funds, but the city could assist a citizen group who wished to purchase the theater,” Rennels said.

The citizens’ group could use the tax increment finance (TIF) to help with outside improvements, he said.

A second candidate, Matthew Hutti, 32, said he was been a resident of Charleston all his life and he is currently working as a substitute teacher in the Charleston School District.

“I grew up in Charleston and I would like to give back to Charleston,” Hutti said.

He said he wants to work with Eastern and he is concerned with issues that affect students.

“I want to keep the collaboration between EIU and Charleston running smoothly,” Hutti said.

If elected to the council, Hutti said he would focus on the city’s infrastructure such as sidewalks and roads in Charleston.

Hutti said he would focus on local issues such as the Will Rogers Theater, as well.

“I am for fixing up the Will Rogers Theater,” Hutti said.

The tax incrementing finance could be used to fix up the theater, he said.

Jeff Lahr was not available for comment because he was out of town, but Lahr has served on the council for six years.

This year Lahr has voted for change orders for the Wastewater Treatment Upgrade Project, the 2005 version of the Electrical Code, and approved the Class D liquor license.

Elizabeth Edwards can be reached at 581-2812

or eaedwards@eiu.edu.