Honest dialogue; thoughtful, long-term vision; and conservative use of resources for the benefit of everyone in Ames — this is what we need from members of City Council.

However, some seem to think a “business-friendly council who get things done” will solve all of our problems.

The current election chatter about the Ames City Council not being business-friendly enough is tired, worn-out propaganda. An “all growth is good” approach to governing will not help Ames meet the needs of the world we presently find ourselves in.

Clamor for growth has gotten Ames years of wasted city effort in support for a second mall that will never happen while an industrial park goes begging; an ugly, dysfunctional development at Highway 30 and South Dakota [Avenue]. And for those who wish we were like Ankeny, our taxes are among the lowest of 20 cities our size and our debt load is a third of Ankeny’s, while Ames is one of the few cities not hitting state tax limits. Ankeny’s “growth at any cost” has its price.

Some candidates for council want to take these lessons to heart and not rush into decisions that may be costly to taxpayers in the future. For this, they are accused of fostering a bad business climate. However, Forbes magazine puts Ames in the top 20 business-friendly towns our size, so what is really going on here?

I believe it is classic scapegoating. Don’t buy it! Ames needs council members like Mike Miller, Mike Murray and Dan Rice, who will foster dialogue across political lines, not people who will widen gaps and who want growth at any cost.

Choose your council carefully.

— Joe Lynch is an Ames resident.