The members of a new Ames political action group have one main goal — they want their voices and opinions to be heard.

The Ames Citizens for Better Local Government have formed, said Chairman Erv Klaas, and city government better take heed.

“Many are concerned that the City Council isn’t listening,” Klaas said. “We want to be acknowledged by the city.”

Klaas said the group formed slowly during the summer, sparked by a recent city resolution that moves another step closer to allowing a new mall to be built in east Ames.

But, Klaas said, however upset the Better Local Government is on this topic, the group is not a one-issue organization.

“Unless the City Council and mayor listen to the fact that the citizens need to have a say in what goes on, the citizens are going to be ignored,” Klaas said. “They are going to be held accountable for these votes.”

The group will sponsor a series of open forums, starting at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Ave. At the forums, the group hopes to identify issues of community interest to bring up to city government. The group also hopes to recruit and support candidates to run for local office.

Mayor Ted Tedesco said he is not surprised that a group would form because of the new mall issue.

“We had multiple meetings over five years with citizen input,” Tedesco said.

“You can disagree with a decision I or the council makes as long as you don’t attack the council or I personally.”

Tedesco said he doesn’t quibble with groups that are upset.

“That’s the case if you don’t agree with the decisions made,” he said.

“I don’t know what to say.”

Klaas said citizen groups have formed before but haven’t flourished for a number of reasons. Klaas said he would propose that neighborhoods each elect a representative, and the council of representatives would act as a cabinet for the mayor.

Klaas was cynical about the last attempts at political action committees to get attention from city government.

“Basically, we were told, ‘The City Council and the mayor know better’ and that we should just go away,” Klaas said. “We are going to try to change that.”

City Councilman Steve Goodhue serves on the Committee for Economic Development, and he said the issue of the new mall was made with a lot of attention to people’s sentiments. Goodhue also said Klaas’ statement of the council ignoring residents was exaggerated.

“I think that’s an inaccurate statement,” he said. “We received hundreds of e-mails, calls, things of that sort. I think the council has listened closely to constituents.”

However, Goodhue agreed with Tedesco that Citizens for Better Local Government has every right to form.

“First and foremost, it’s their right to form a committee,” Goodhue said.

Klaas said the group is open to anyone of any background.

“We are a nonpartisan group,” Klaas said. “We invite any members of any party. The City Council is nonpartisan, so this should be too.”