Candidates for Ames City Council and mayor are united in stressing improved communication between ISU students and the Ames community as a central part of their campaigns.

Controlling the growth of Ames and improving dialogue between the school board and residents are also central issues of some council campaigns.

Dan Rice, academic adviser for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, is running for the first ward seat on the City Council. He said he believes in using basic communications principles to create “one community.”

“Ames is a fantastic community to live in, and a lot of what the council does is maintaining what we have,” Rice said.

Jon Shelness, an ISU alumnus and candidate for mayor, said he agreed with Rice.

He also said the mediation skills he uses at work can help build better communication within the community. Shelness works at the Woodward Academy, an educational facility for teenage delinquents.

The other mayoral candidate, Ann Campbell, also stressed improving communication.

Campbell said she is interested in hearing about ongoing student and community concerns and facilitating discussions on how to improve interactions between the segments.

“Hopefully, we as a community can put aside differences and see the different ideas and respect that people came to those in a valid way,” she said.

Ryan Doll, senior in political science, is running for the third ward seat and said he agrees listening to the opinions of all Ames residents is key when making council decisions.

Doll said a lack of information given to residents about the new mall was a major factor in his decision to seek a seat on the council.

Jim Popken, former Smart Growth committee chairman, is running for the at-large seat on the council and said growth issues, especially related to school district land, are very important issues to him.

“Looking at growth issues in town is part of my reason for running. I want to see growth happen, but quality of life needs to balance off some of the growth,” he said.

“I would also like to see the city and the school district communicate a little better and work together — especially in the land use area, because it sounds like the schools are going to sell some property.”

Councilman Russ Cross, who is running for re-election to an at-large seat, agreed with Popken and said increased cooperation and a “closer working relationship” with the Ames Community School District is essential.

“We need to look for ways to work together. They want to grow enrollment and we want to grow Ames. We have mutual goals of interest,” he said.

Also facing both the school board and the city is affordable housing issue.

Daryle Vegge, councilman representing the third ward, is seeking re-election and believes the affordable housing issue is especially important.

“There needs to be a balance — you have to make houses affordable but still make sure they fit in with the surrounding area,” he said.

Three seats on the council and the mayoral position will be decided at the Nov. 8 election. The official filing period for the candidates is from Aug. 29 to Sept. 22.