The proposal to shorten Ames City Council term lengths from four years to two was rejected by voters in Tuesday’s special election.

The measure lost 41.5 percent to 58.5 percent, with voter turnout at only 8.5 percent of registered voters. The other measure on the ballot, which changed the hotel/motel tax in Ames from 5 to 7 percent, was approved by nearly 80 percent of those who voted. More than 200 votes cast at campus satellite voting stations have not yet been added to the total.

“It’s really unfortunate that we created a situation in which we lost the election itself, but I think we created a healthy discussion in Ames,” said Mansoor Khadir, senior in computer science who campaigned to lower term limits. “I think that’s essentially what the campaign was about.”

He said the campaign opened a dialogue between Ames residents and students on how to improve the city, which is the first step toward creating one community.

“We wanted to re-invest and rejuvenate the student body toward local issues,” Khadir said.

Henry Alliger, Government of City Council terms.

“The important part of democracy is representation, which is part of why this referendum for two-year terms is so important,” said John Day, junior in history.

Erin Hughes, junior in anthropology, said it is important for students to run for City Council and voice their opinions, even if some students are apathetic.

Although most student voters turned out to express support for lowering City Council terms, Royce Woodroffe, freshman in aerospace engineering, said the hotel/motel tax is the reason he voted.

“I think it’s wrong that they try to squeeze more money out of college kids and their parents,” he said.

In contrast to students, many Ames residents said they were more concerned with supporting the hotel tax.

“If we can provide more services to Ames residents, that’s a good thing,” said Ames resident Kate Stewart.

— Erin McCuskey and Josh Nelson contributed to articles about the special election in Ames.