Fellow residents:

First off, everyone — permanent residents and students — regardless of your ward, please get out and vote on Nov. 3. This is our city, and we need to be active participants in its governance and future. This election is key to increasing citizen participation, not only in the election, but the daily governance, oversight and future of our city’s well-being. So vote on Nov. 3 and increase your participation throughout the year as matters come up about where Ames is going and how our council is planning to get us there. Ames is about people, and for now we are the people of Ames. Vote on Nov. 3, and remain active.

Secondly, I wish to throw my strong support behind Tom Wacha and Peter Orazem. These two fresh voices and active Ames citizens are key players in the long-term vitality of our city. They understand the critical role of fostering a friendlier business climate for our city. They understand the need for attracting more private sector jobs. They understand the need for growth within our city’s boundaries and what that means to our schools. They understand the need to grow our tax base. They understand they need to vote in such a way as to not negatively impact these areas. They are fully open to hearing and responding to new and existing voices. They are all for transparency. They have chosen Ames … now let’s choose them to help carry our city into the future. I am grateful these two candidates have stepped forward and shared their views so openly.

Finally, to learn more about Tom, visit http://www.tomwacha.org. To learn more about Peter, visit http://www.orazemforcouncil.org. And on Nov. 3, join my wife Peggy and me as we push for the election of Tom and Peter for Ames’ future.

Jeff Johnson

Ames resident

President, CEO and publisher,

life and sustaining life member,

Iowa State University Alumni Association