The Newton City Council set Oct. 29 as the deadline to apply for the currently vacant mayor's seat with plans to interview all applicants and to appoint the city's next mayor at Monday night's regular meeting.

It would appear their work has already been done for them. Headed into the meeting, the council will have just one candidate to consider: Second Ward councilor and mayor pro tempore Mike Hansen.

"Newton is my 'hometown,' where my wife and I were raised and went to school, and after completing my honorable service in the U.S. Army Special Forces, returned to raise our three daughters," he said in his letter of application dated Oct. 29. "We now enjoy spending time with our five grandchildren."