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The Herald & Review Archives
Herald & Review (Decatur, IL)
November 4, 2007
Section: Opinion
Page: B5
Our Views
Decatur voters will decide in February whether to change the form of city government. It’s an important decision, and one that will require voters to pay close attention to the advantages and disadvantages of changing the way the city operates. Change Decatur, which is pushing for a switch in government from the city manager form to a strong mayor form of government, has succeeded in getting the issue placed on the ballot. The city currently has a mayor and six council members who are elected at large to represent the entire city. Under Change Decatur’s plan, the community would be divided into 10 wards, represented by 20 aldermen. The mayor would serve as the city’s chief executive officer. The issues surrounding the vote are many and varied. Illinois laws will also make voting potentially confusing. When voters enter the voting booth Feb. 5, they will be faced with two questions: 1. Shall the city of Decatur retain the manager form of municipal government? 2. Shall the city of Decatur adopt the strong mayor form of municipal government? Since the questions are separate, there are a number of possible outcomes. The outcomes are pretty clear if a majority of voters answer yes to the first question and no to the second. The form of government will remain as it is. The outcomes are equally clear if voters decide no on the first question and yes to the second. Then Decatur will face the task of switching its form of government. But what happens if voters say no to both questions? It appears then that the city’s form of government would revert to the city’s previous form of government: a commissioner form. In a commissioner form of government, the mayor and council serve as heads of the various public departments. Even more confusing is what would happen if voters would vote yes to both questions, effectively stating that they want to retain the city manager form of government and adopt the strong mayor form of government. What would happen then isn’t quite clear. Attorney Scott Rueter filed an objection to placing both questions on the ballot, saying it creates a "potential legal paradox." Rueter, who was acting on behalf of Decatur Realtor Carla Brinkoetter, also argued that the strong mayor question should be delayed until the next general municipal election in April 2009. His objection was overruled, and Rueter said the decision might be appealed. It’s unfortunate that the law doesn’t allow the two options to be rolled into a single question. But the way it stands now, voters are going to have two questions facing them Feb. 5 and will have to pay close attention when casting their ballots.
Copyright, 2007, Herald & Review, Decatur, IL
