Pledging to give my all

Hi, my name is Rene Gadelha and I hope to earn your vote on Nov. 7 and serve you on the Marion City Council.

Since moving here six years ago with my family, I've been involved with a variety of posts in town, immersing myself into our community. My family and I started as participants in the Adopt-a-Spot Program, and we've been taking care of a portion of Lowe Park for four years. Next, I was appointed to the Planning & Zoning Commission, was invited to join the Blue Zones Committee, and was elected to the Linn-Mar School Board. Clearly, I enjoy serving Marion.

In this new role as council member, I hope to continue to shape Marion along its growth path because we are definitely growing! I believe we need to embrace our progress, so that we are proactive in our decision-making and have more control over Marion's future. The opposite response is to be reactive, which typically doesn't allow for successful long-term planning, is often more costly in the long run, and doesn't adequately reflect the citizens' desires.

I enjoy talking to and working with others, and will bring these communication strengths to bear in terms of balancing priorities and needs. I look forward to including other residents in the discussions and finding ways for their helpful involvement. Serving as a representative of Marion will be a welcome challenge and I pledge to give it my all.

' Rene Gadelha is an unopposed candidate for Marion City Council, Ward 4