Geraldine Mauthe will be facing a challenge when she takes over as Marshall Chamber of Commerce tourism director next month.

City Commissioner Bryan Partee has been outspoken in his belief the chamber's tourism program has not been effective. City Manager Frank Johnson said Friday he thinks the chamber, as far as tourism is concerned, "can do better than we have been doing.

"And I think that we, on the city staff and chamber staff and city commission would all like to see a more expansive effort," Johnson said.

Partee and Johnson said they have standing to criticize the chamber's tourism efforts because the city provides it with some funding.

This fiscal year, the city funded the chamber $111,500 for tourism.

"Tourism is free money and according to some publications, it is the number one to number five industry in the state," Partee said, "and I would like us to capitalize on that.