LANDIS — With a play on words, Mark Connell’s campaign for Landis mayor swaps out the “i” in the town’s name with a “u,” making it “Landus.”

Connell is ready to move the town forward. He said many residents are feeling useless and like they have no tasks to accomplish. But he is looking to change that.

Connell grew up in Landis, and his parents were involved in the community. He remembers how fun it was to live here.

He wants to explore what town officials can do to get people out and involved. He said Landis is missing opportunities, citing as an example that neighboring towns participated in National Night Out on Tuesday but Landis did not.

Connell has a three-prong approach: “relevate,” restore and revive. “Relevate” is to appreciate Landis’ heritage; restore relates to infrastructure; revive is to return Landis to being a flourishing community.

He said, if he is elected mayor, he would be accountable.

“When you start lacking vision, it’s easy for complacency to set in,” Connell said.

He promised he would check that every “t” is crossed and every “i” is dotted and every number is checked. Expense checks should have two signatures, he said.

He said being mayor would not be a once-a-month job, and he will ask questions. Connell says he is willing to “burn the midnight oil.”

Connell said he thinks residents should decide on the town’s vision. He has begun to hear from many of them through forums where they come to express their concerns and also present how they see Landis going forward.

Connell said he would continue that as mayor. He said the town board should be similar to a roundtable and not a line of seats overlooking the public, who should feel welcome when they come to Town Hall.

He said there is a “spirit of complacency” when residents walk into Town Hall.

He said being mayor is about serving and being the ear, voice and mouthpiece for its residents. He wants to start a conversation and build a relationship by connecting businesses, residents and the board.

He wants to get feedback from the public before discussing possible annexations. He also thinks it’s best to prioritize projects within the town’s limits, including maintenance of the sewer system and improving the town’s fire and police services.

Connell, 47, brings experience serving on the Planning Board and as a former officer of the Oaks of Landis Homeowners Association. In both those roles, Connell said he got comfortable asking the hard questions. He also has worked in hotel management.

He currently is front office manager for a Mosquito Joe pest-control franchise.

He says he learned a valuable lesson at a young age: a sitting duck appears calm on top of the water, but underwater the duck is working hard.

Connell said he is ready to help the town move forward.

“It’s not about me,” he said. “It’s about us.”