Letter: Vote “no” for ward voting in Marion

Marion is unique in that ward representatives are elected by the voters at large. In my nearly 12 years on the Marion City Council, I never saw this to be a problem. They must live in their wards and be nominated from their wards.

Marion is growing but still a largely geographically familiar area. It is largely residential with some wards containing more business and industrial areas than others, but not to the point of making any ward totally unique or distant to the knowledge of residents of other wards.

The current arrangement may encourage people to run for office. Knowing they are responsible to the total electorate may encourage a broader outlook toward the many issues they will be facing rather than a narrow outlook on their ward. It could also discourage the perception of incumbents being 'locked in” their positions for as long as they choose.

The diversity of the total electorate getting to vote on all the ward offices is another benefit of the current system. The wider range of ages, education and experience of all the votes brings a greater mix of thought to the overall benefit of the city.

Marion is a unique community and one of the unique features of our city is the At-Large voting for all council offices. It has served the city well since 1976 and still is working today.

Our charter 'ain't broke” so I plan to vote 'no” to this proposed change.

Paul Rehn

Marion