A tale of the tape in Marion

A ballot measure in Marion seeking to change the way residents elect a city council is more interesting than you might think.

How do I know? I've seen some signs.

They're blue yard signs, and they say 'Ward Voting YES Reaching Higher.” Well, only some of them say that. Many now have a piece of duct tape covering up 'Reaching Higher.”

So what's ward voting? Right now, Marion's seven-member council has a mayor, two at-large members and four members representing wards. But all members are elected at-large. You may live in Ward 1, and represent Ward 1, but voters citywide elect you.

The ballot measure would change that. A ward council member would be elected only by residents of his or her ward. The mayor and at-large members would still be elected by voters citywide.

Back to the duct tape. City officials contend 'Reaching Higher” infringes on the trademark of the city's newish brand identity 'Marion - Reach higher!” They contend it confuses folks by leading them to believe the city backs the ballot measure.

Officials called upon a large Des Moines law firm to inform the 'Marion, Reaching Higher” Committee about its transgression. Duct- taping 'Reaching Higher” was among steps the legal team recommended with hopes of avoiding 'legal action.”

In a guest column published here last week, ward voting supporter Charles Knudsen said 'Reaching Higher” was picked 'in the spirit of making Marion's government better.”

Of course, this is all happening against the backdrop of Marion's ongoing feud between folks unhappy with City Hall's debt-financed ambitions and supporters of what they contend is a necessary pro-growth city agenda. One side rails about a 'shadow government.” The other side once hired a private eye in an effort to oust the former mayor. There have been excesses.

City critics tend to back ward voting. City allies tend to like the way things are now. Cue the friction.

But, with apologies to the 'Reach” police, this duct-taping is silly. Claiming exclusive rights to the act of upward reaching, especially within the context of political speech, seems like an overreach. And it's not like 'Reach Higher” is all that unique or original. Ask the White House, Lincoln Motor Company and Michigan State's football team. They've all used it.

Heck, I'm just glad to find a campaign this fall that's all about reaching instead of grabbing.

And I think ward voting makes a lot of sense. Why should I, a resident of Ward 2, get to vote for Ward 1's representative, or vice versa? Electing ward members with ward votes is more representative and democratic. None of the arguments against it, that I've heard, measure up to those advantages. The notion ward-elected members won't do what's best for the whole city doesn't match my experience covering city governments elsewhere.

Opponents seem to want it both ways, arguing Marion is big enough to need large infrastructure and public facility investments while also insisting it keep a voting system better suited to a small town. We've reached the point where a change makes sense.

l Comments: (319) 398-8452; todd.dorman@thegazette.com