Vacancy on Marion City Council following resignation

MARION - A seat is left vacant on the Marion City Council after Ward 3 Council member Cody Crawford stepped down because he moved to Anamosa.

Residency requirements for public office in Marion require candidates and officeholders live within city limits, requiring the first term council member, who was elected in 2011, to resign from his seat at the end of September.

When asked if Crawford had anything to say to the people within Ward 3, he said no.

Crawford's is up for re-election in November, as well positions for Ward 1, member-at larger and the mayoral seat. Crawford didn't intend to run again. Two newcomers will compete for Ward 3 council member: former city council member Kay Lammers, who served from 1996 to 2011 will run against Will Brandt, a real estate agent. There is one regular meeting of the council before the November 3 election, and new members will be sworn in at next meeting following the election.

Crawford was a progressive member of the council, supporting controversial initiatives such as the city's nicotine ban in parks, the Marion Library Board of Trustee's mixed use library proposal, and the building of a multimillion dollar police station on the east side of town. Crawford was a sales manager for Water Pro Inc. Culligan of Marion and a member of the Marion-East Cedar Rapids Rotary Club. He served as a trustee for the Marion Independent School District Foundation and Alumni Assocation.