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Lutz, a Republican seeking his third term in office, faces a challenge from Democratic newcomer James Robert Haug.
"Obviously, I have the eight years of experience, as well as the experience I brought to the job from my professional life," Lutz said.
Lutz, 62, of 369 Kinderhook Road, is a retired operations supervisor for Caterpillar Inc.
He also listed "the working relationship I have with county and state agencies, and the experience I have working with the police and administering the law" as qualities that make him the man for the job.
Lutz said key objectives of the coming year include "holding the line on spending due to the economic downturn … and getting all the projects we have going in the community finished."
Projects, he said, include River Park enhancements, Market House renovations, installation of surveillance cameras and new curbs and sidewalks along Locust Street and a $1 million Safe Routes to School project providing curbs, sidewalks and new storm sewers along Ironville Pike.
Haug, 58, of 515 S. Ninth St., is a former letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service.
After 22 years walking the streets in Columbia, he said, "I know a lot of people.
"I want to work with the younger generation in Columbia," he said. "They're not volunteering the way they used to, and we need people to volunteer. … Volunteering helps keep taxes down and gives you some pride in the community."
Haug said he also wants to get to the bottom of rumors within the police department.
"Columbia has been getting a bad rap for many, many, many years," he said. "It's time maybe people should come to Columbia. If you're an investor, this is the time to come to Columbia. If you're a business owner, this is the time to come."
• Mountville Borough Mayor Connie M. Guy, a Democrat, wants to keep her seat from Republican contender Philip S. Kresge.
Guy, 54, of 307 E. Main St., has served as mayor for the past four years.
Kresge, 56, of 31 College Ave., is a teacher and musician and has served 12 years on borough council.
Kresge said he wants to "continue to provide the services that we've had — such as police and fire services, library and trash — and to keep those at the level that we've become accustomed to at a price we can afford.
"I have a better understanding of the job and the town's needs. I'm a lifelong resident of the town, and I've had my kids grow up in this town," he said.
"The position requires more experience with our town in order to be a good leader."
Guy, who moved to Mountville more than a decade ago, said the borough must decide whether to continue with Manor Township for police services. Guy favors staying with Manor, while some officials want to switch to West Hempfield.
"We also are facing the closure of Route 462 right in the middle of Mountville for about four months while they rip out the bridge over the railroad tracks and rebuild it," she said. "That will be something to watch closely."
Guy also said she wants to develop a skate park for local youth and continue to build on the borough's new community center.
• In Manheim Borough, both parties are hoping to capture the post being vacated by incumbent Republican Mayor Randall Kreiser.
Republicans are counting on Eric B. Phillips, 50, of 44 Market Square. Phillips is a certified public accountant.
Democrats are counting on Rebekah L. Bowers, 31, of 27 W. Gramby St., who works as a baker's assistant.
Phillips, who has served two years on borough council, hopes to be mayor for the borough's 250th anniversary in 2012.
"We want to see it commemorated with all community organizations participating, from church groups to civic groups to schools," he said. "We're going to do it up big."
He also expects a lot of action in 2010, when the borough renegotiates its contract with the police union.
"I've had experience working with the police department directly," Phillips said. "I'm very intimate with the borough budget process."
Bowers, who moved to Manheim about six years ago to teach Sunday school, wants Manheim to be a destination.
"We need to be able to get more tourists to stop in Manheim instead of driving through. We need to increase the things that people will want to stop to do," she said.
Bowers also wants to tackle traffic problems caused by Manheim Auto Auction. She proposes improving Auction Road to handle the increased load.
There also are contested council races in two local boroughs.
• In Lititz, there's a contest for a four-year term from the 3rd Ward that pits Democrat F. Patrick O'Keeffe against Republican G. Kevin Zartman.
O'Keeffe, who's 47 and a dining service manager for Homestead Village retirement community, said his candidacy is "not so much about being a Democrat as it is about (America) being a democracy.
"We live in a country where more people vote for 'American Idol' than vote for president," O'Keeffe, of 54 Pennwick Drive, said.
"My number-one issue that I want to get across is simply citizen participation and how important it is to a democracy," he said, adding that "a choice of candidates from just one party is no choice at all."
Zartman, 45, a manager at Keller Brothers Ford and Dodge, cited his previous 10 years of council experience and interest in issues such as the borough's business district and finances.
Zartman, of 310 E. Fourth Ave., wants to keep up on traffic and the historic town's business district, which is "such a vital part of the community, so it's something the borough needs to stay on top of."
And when he was last on council, "finances were something that we watched closely … and I would think we would have to even more today."
There's another race in Lititz's 1st Ward, where Democrat Todd Fulginiti faces Republican Joe Kane III.
Fulginiti, 40, lives at 131 S. Spruce St. and is a teacher in Warwick School District.
Kane, 50, lives at 249 E. Main St. and works for the Ray Group, a Lancaster architectural and planning firm.
• In Adamstown, four Republicans and two Democrats are running for four seats on council.
On the Democratic side are Cindy Schweitzer, 51, of 49 W. Main St., who's the assistant manager of East Hempfield Township, and Gary Stuck, 50, of 44 Misty Meadow Drive, manager at Hanover Foods.
They face four Republicans: Andre Gagliano, 42, of 10 Michael Lane, Denver, a chemist with McNeil Consumer Health; incumbent Randy Good, 59, of 159 N. Broad St., a purchasing official for Pennsy Supply Co.; incumbent David Matz, 58, of 191 W. Main St., a toolmaker; and Benjamin Zentner, 32, of 267 E. Main St., a pastor.
Staff writer David O'Connor contributed to this report.
