DECATUR - The newest city councilman is no newbie.

Larry Foster, 65, a Decatur native, longtime resident and former member of the city council, once again took up a post he's held twice before. Council members appointed Foster to fill the vacancy created when Councilman Michael Carrigan became mayor in the wake of former Mayor Paul Osborne's resignation.

Foster previously held the position from 1977 to 1981 and 1995 to 1998.

He said the reaction he is receiving from citizens is positive.

"I'm having two or three people a day tell me how happy they are that I'm serving," Foster said.

He said he thought about stepping up for the appointment after hearing suggestions from former council members that he do so.

"I was asked by several people to consider it," Foster said. "I have not been seeking this; the honest truth was I felt like the community needed me to fill in."

Shirley Moore, who served on the city council from 1987 to 1995 and worked with Foster in other community groups, said she's happy Foster decided to take the seat because his positions are clear and he doesn't shy away from challenging tasks.

"I think you know where he stands," Moore said. "He's not afraid to tackle something that's difficult."

Moore cited Foster's clear opposition to moving to an aldermanic system of government, which he voiced the night he accepted his appointment.

Stephen Daniels of the local group ChangeDecatur said he's disappointed with Foster's appointment because of his position on that issue.

"As a citizen of Decatur, I'm disappointed that he would bring a closed mind to giving people the right to vote on more representation," Daniels said.

Foster will fill the position until April, at which time he could choose to run again, though during an interview for this article his comments were centered on serving out the interim term.

"I think at this point I'm going to do the best I can to learn everything I can about the issues and then help make a decision that I think is best for the community," he said.

Foster grew up in Decatur during a time when milkmen and icemen came by the house every day.

"I can tell you a couple of things that would make me look pretty old," Foster said. "Whatever I have now was not the way I was raised."

Attending schools in Decatur through Millikin University, Foster described himself as an average student.

Framed on the wall of his office is a report card from Millikin, which displays an A in all six of his classes - his only straight-A report card. It occupies the wall in the same way as his awards from other community organizations.

During his time in the city, Foster has served on seemingly innumerable boards, including the Mid-Illinois Chapter of the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and Millikin Decatur Executive Association Board.

He also served on the city council during two very different periods in Decatur's history.

Some issues, though, remain the same. A news article wherein Foster declared he would not run again after his term ended in 1981 listed an additional water supply as a problem he thought the city needed to solve.

Foster said his lifelong efforts in public service largely have been because he likes to help others.

"I think that's it, that I'm motivated to help, and I've always believed that wherever you live and work you should give back to the community, and I give back as much as I can."

Kenneth Lowe can be reached at klowe@herald-review.com or 421-7985.