Kratochvil, Jirik won't run

With the filing period for two seats on the New Prague City Council and for mayor approaching, two incumbent members of the New Prague City Council announced this week they will not be running for another term on the council.

Jim Kratochvil and Duane Jirik will not be on the November ballot and will leave office at the end of 2008.

At Monday's meeting of the New Prague City Council, both Kratochvil and Jirik noted they have either been volunteers or elected officials with the city for a number of years.

Jirik's community service dates back to 1985 when he joined the New Prague Ambulance Service. He served with the Park Board from 1986 to 1995 and has been on the council since 1997. While he is not seeking another term with the council, he has not ruled out doing some other volunteer work with the city. He is the third generation of his family to serve the city. His grandfather, Bill Jirik, served as mayor and his father, Bill Jirik Jr., was a longtime city council member.

Kratochvil noted he had a total of 34 years of service to the city, 26 years as a member of the volunteer New Prague Fire Department, including a term as chief, and eight years with the council.

It's time to let someone else do it