News & Updates

No! We are not endorsing anyone for Mayor but we do believe that he would be much more effective if he had the legal reins of government instead of only being a figurehead. Under our current form of city government the elected Mayor has nearly no authority over city government. He has nearly the same responsibility as city council-members. All the legal authority for city management is vested in an unelected (and typically unaccountable) city manager.

We would welcome Paul and many others to seek to serve as a full-time mayor. We also believe that many other citizens will offer to serve as leader and visionary of our community under a new form of government. Electing someone based on their vision, passion and ability to lead will result in a much brighter future for Decatur.

Some have questioned our proposals for a new form of government principally based on vitriol against individuals. We welcome all to the debate that have a substantive concern that new form of government won't work. Join the debate.

Seven out of ten major downstate cities in Illinois use aldermanic representation for some or all of their city council. (Besides Decatur, the only other two major downstate cities-that elect their council "at large"- are the much smaller towns of Normal and East St. Louis.) Five of ten have a Mayor that has the statutory authority to run their city subject to the checks and balances of the elected alderman. Nearly every one of those cities have brighter economic prospects and results. Facts are important to debate in a democracy. Nearly every major city in the US uses the same form of government that ChangeDecatur has  proposed.

Perhaps defenders of the status quo will explain to the community how all the strengths of the current system are working so well. Jobs are flat, taxes are increasing, people are leaving, house prices are nearly half of other central IL communities. The market is telling us that something isn't working. These facts are not imagination. They are the reality that most in Decatur know on a day to day basis.

We do hope everyone will  jump into the pool of public debate. The water is great!

Posted by SDD at 02:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

A recent blog post in the Herald & Review asked the question as to why the police space needs issue seems so hard to resolve. The Herald & Review wrote an excellent opinion piece on this topic a month or so ago. You can obtain it by clicking on the link or searching their archives.

In short, this decision has been impeded unnecessarily by a bureaucratic decision process that started with an answer and then tried to support it with a litany of flawed assumptions. We at ChangeDecatur believe that a mayor/alderman form of government would get a better decision much more promptly. A healthy tension would exist between the Mayor to run the city effectively, provide for the reasonable needs of the police and the need to persuade city alderman that his ideas were best. Without their support, the Mayor could be held accountable for not addressing a real problem in the city.

Under our current form of government, after months and years of discussions, the only elected leaders (including the Mayor) are frustrated by the lack of decision and the lack of information to make a decision. The unelected city manager says "......give me 4-6 more weeks to suggest what the decision criteria should be.......". WHAT? Should these criteria have been clearly stated prior to studying alternatives? Is this an example of the current form of government not working? Is the city manager position accountbale to anyone?  

Change the form of government and this decision will be made on a timely basis. The system we have doesn't work. A new one will. ChangeDecatur - Together We Can.

Posted by SDD at 02:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The US revolution in 1776 was based on a new idea called democracy. Prior to the independence of the US from England, we lived under a monarchy where the "king" had all power, had the only rights to free speech and made all the laws. Those that attack the idea, and/or supporters, of ChangeDecatur, have that right because our country's constitution (now over 220 years old). Our constituton gives everyone the right to say what they want, when they want and any way they want. We in ChangeDecatur think that the concepts of democracy and free speech are good things and should not be usurped by others.

A council-manager form of government places too much power in one person's hands. The appointed city manager, in Decatur, only needs to influence 4 people to make any decision that the city manager deems appropriate. These so far have included tax increases, hotel purchases, debt increases, cut back in police protection, disregard of many citizen concerns and an endless parade of initiatives focused on the narrow interests of a few. While he may be well trained in the technology of managing city affairs, he is not elected. Therein lie the flaws with the current system.

I hope more will watch and listen information available about ChangeDecatur. As another commenter stated: "Our founding fathers believed in our ability to govern and so do we in ChangeDecatur." Let the debate continue. Maybe all of us will see what "representative democracy" means.

Posted by SDD at 01:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

To see thoughts on City Government and the need for a change to a strong mayor form of government go to:

VLOGCafe.Com to see Brian Burcham talk about City Government

Posted by SDD at 09:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

From the Decatur Herald & Review 9/23/2007

Decatur City Councilwoman Betsy Stockard drew praise Monday for her frequent travels to conferences and workshops around the country.  Stockard was criticized last year for her numerous publicly funded trips, which dramatically outpaced the travels of other council members. Brian Burcham, who advocates changing the form of Decatur city government, defended Stockard’s travels at last week’s council meeting.  Burcham urged more councilmen to follow Stockard’s example.

“In my business, and in any business, you’ve got to network,” Burcham said. “Betsy has been out networking, and you all got on her about it. “And, Mr. Mayor, you said something along the lines that your travel expenses were like 30 bucks. That’s just another reason why I think we need a strong mayor form of government. “We need somebody who will go out and network in the United States, find out what’s going on out there, and bring it back to Decatur. And Betsy, I thank you for what you have done.”

Stockard, in turn, thanked Burcham for his comments. The council last year changed its rules regarding reimbursing travel expenses. Now, the travels of a council member must be approved by the group before the trip.

Posted by SDD at 03:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

 This comment came in from a citizen and reader. We welcome perspectives on changing local government.-----------------------------------------------

I am originally from Davenport, IA and every few months I go home and notice rapid changes and expansions within the whole Quad City area. I have been in Decatur for 3 years now and the lack of shopping, restaurants and activities for children in this area forces my husband and I to take our money and kids elsewhere(Springfield, Bloomington, Champaign,etc).

The taxes in Macon county are through the roof, meanwhile our city leaders are spending 2.7 Million on a brick road down Main street that in my opinion was not a very thoughtout plan. I mean look how you have to drive down Main now, swerving back and forth, wasn't there even a motorcycle accident because of the medians in the middle of the road???

I think the city of Decatur deserves the chance to thrive and I believe a new form of Government and its leaders are the answer to making Decatur a great place to live and raise a family.

Posted by SDD at 06:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

A frequent discussion topic is about the size of the Council when the Strong Mayor system is in place. While each of us may prefer a council of one size or another, the statute in Illinois(3) calls for and requires 20 with the change to a strong mayor form of government(1). We think the most important number is who represents you in the current and new system. Many have said "no one represents them". Currently, many citizens feel that their concerns don't have a voice in the city council. We call that "disconnected".

Many are troubled that only four "well-connected" council members can make major decisions for the entire community.

Under the new system, each person will have TWO people elected to represent them from their neighborhood with a total of ten neighborhoods in Decatur.

After the next census, that number will likely be reduced to 8 neighborhoods with 2 each because of our population has declined to 77,000 since 2000.

One of our supporter/members said:

We have much larger numbers both in the state legislator and in congress.  It isn't the number of people in any body that determines effectiveness, rather it is the strength of the leader of those bodies that will determine effectiveness.  Many have said, "Everything rises or falls based on leadership."

The new aldermanic council will have several ways available to modify the size of the council once it is seated in April 2009. See Note (2) below.

It is also interesting to note that most downstate city councils do use aldermanic representation or a hybrid of it. We only found one other downstate city that uses exclusively at large council representation.

It is time to ChangeDecatur.

Notes: 

(1) Under the alternative Article 3 Mayor/Council system we would have 18, and would have that many under the current system had they not been reduced to 6 with at large representation that was established many years ago.

(2) The means to alter the number of alderman in a strong mayor system include:

1. The 2010 census will likely reduce the alderman-council automatically to eight neighborhoods with two representatives each (total 16) in 2010 when the next official census is taken.
2. The current council or newly elected aldermanic council could call for a special census at any time to alter the size of the Council under a strong mayor system. It is likely that the current population of 77,000 will be confirmed in a special census and thereby reduce the size accordingly.
3. Once "seated" the new aldermanic council has the authority to call for a referendum to modify the number of wards/districts/neighborhoods and the representatives from each ward. An ordinance can place this on the ballot for a vote.
4. Once the new aldermanic council is "seated" citizens have the authority to call for a referendum-via petition- to modify the number of wards/districts/neighborhoods and the representatives from each ward. If voted in favor at the next election, the Council would then be reduced.

(3) From the Illinois Municipal Code:

(65 ILCS 5/6‑3‑3) (from Ch. 24, par. 6‑3‑3)
    Sec. 6‑3‑3. Municipal officers ‑ Terms.
    The municipality shall have the following elected officers: one mayor, one municipal clerk and one municipal treasurer, all of whom shall be elected at large, and aldermen, the number of which shall be as follows: In cities not exceeding 25,000 inhabitants, 8 aldermen; between 25,001 and 40,000, 10 aldermen; between 40,001 and 60,000, 14 aldermen; between 60,001 and 80,000, 16 aldermen; and exceeding 80,000, 20 aldermen. Two aldermen shall be elected to represent each ward.
(Source: P. A. 76‑746.)

Posted by SDD at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

That from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion, that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God, and that government of the people by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth.
—Abraham Lincoln in the Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863

Posted by SDD at 09:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

When we talk to people in Decatur, we hear many of the same aspirations for Decatur. These aspirations include better schools, safer streets, lower taxes, and an ever improving quality of life. Many note that local measures of economic growth trail other Central Illinois communities. For example, just since the 2000 census, Decatur's population declined 10,000 as compared to the average of other Central Illinois major cities. Those that visit Sprinfield, Champaign and Bloomington see the effects of economic growth that are not prevalent in Decatur.

And are these issues being discussed regularly by our Mayor, City Manager or the City Council?

No.

The lack of focus on important issues is one of many reasons that ChangeDecatur is necessary.

We need a city government of the people, by the people and for the people.

Posted by SDD at 08:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)