Gazette's endorsement for Marion council at large

Marion's population has exploded since 1990. Providing public services increasingly strains the city budget. Growing the tax base is crucial to maintaining or improving the quality of life.

Among the three candidates competing for the at-large city council seat, we believe Craig Adamson is best suited to help solve the city's future needs.

Adamson, a financial planner with a young family, served on the Planning and Zoning Commission for two years, then won election to the Ward 4 council seat. He served on the committee that hired a consultant to develop the proposed Seventh Avenue/Sixth Avenue corridor development plan. That proposal, he told us, and the city's comprehensive plan are vital to expanding business. The city must increase its tax base to ensure that an “already nice place to live” will appeal to the young generation of adults who focus more on the quality of life a community offers when deciding where to live. Adamson sees the Plan D corridor development as meeting that demand, especially if displaced businesses are treated fairly and retained.

Bob Ebeling, a previous council member, and Harry Simonsen are capable candidates. But Adamson's vision, experience and in-depth understanding of the current issues make him the stand-out.