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The Herald & Review Archives
Herald & Review (Decatur, IL)
September 13, 2007
Section: News
Page: A3
Change Decatur again seeks to get referendum on ballot
MARY TALLON H&R Staff Writer
DECATUR - Officials from Change Decatur formally announced plans to push for a new form of city government at a downtown news conference Wednesday. A statue of Abraham Lincoln commemorating his first political stump speech at the corner of Main and Main streets provided the backdrop for the announcement of a petition drive to abandon the city’s "council-manager" form of government and adopt a "strong mayor" form of government. Change Decatur leader Steve Daniels said the change would give citizens a government "of the people, by the people and for the people" just like that outlined in Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. Under the current system, six at-large councilmen and the mayor make up the city council. Decatur would be divided into 10 wards with two aldermen from each ward plus the mayor forming a new 21-member council if voters approve the referendum. The measures also would eliminate the unelected position of city manager, making the mayor the sole chief executive overseeing Decatur affairs. "We’ll have a mayor who runs the city on a full-time basis day-to-day," Daniels said. Another Change Decatur leader, Brian Burcham, said he had full confidence the group easily would secure the 650 signatures it needs to place the issue on the ballot as a referendum for Decatur voters in the Feb. 5 primary. He noted the group already has collected more than 50 signatures. "Our goal is to give the people an opportunity to decide if they want change in Decatur or if they want to stay with the status quo," Burcham said. Keith Anderson, who joined the men in a bid to put the issue to a vote in April’s municipal election but withdrew the petitions after the group failed to secure enough valid signatures from registered voters within city limits, said the group is back because of its resilience and passion for its goals. Change Decatur members contend switching to the aldermanic form of government would create more transparency and accountability for decisions city officials make. Daniels said that after the group secures a place on the ballot for its proposed referendum, Change Decatur’s next step would be an education campaign to help voters make an informed decision before the primary. He said if voters were to approve the changes, the new council would take office after the April 2009 municipal election. Mary Tallon can be reached at mtallon@herald-review.com or 421-7984.
Copyright, 2007, Herald & Review, Decatur, IL
