Local elections, like the one in Ames, rarely get the amount of attention as those at the state or federal level.
However, local elections are immensely important. A voter’s ballot carries more weight when voting for the mayor than it does when voting for the president. As residents of Ames, this is our greatest opportunity to raise our voices, to shape the city as we would like to see it.
On Tuesday, Ames residents will cast ballots for Ames City Council, mayoral candidates and Ames School Director candidates. They will also vote for public measure B, the proposed moving of Fire Station No. 2 and the subsequent increase of property tax.
While the candidates for city counsel and mayor are unopposed — and therefore a forgone conclusion — I would like to add a word on the importance of local elections.
Do elected representatives at the state and federal level really represent Ames? No, they represent the state or the nation.
To be sure, Ames is part of both the state and the nation, but most governors, presidents and so forth don’t represent Ames. They are not from here, they do not live here, and they are not directly looking out for the interests of this city.
But the people running for local elections are. They live in Ames; they represent Ames.
For instance, Mayor John Haila graduated from Iowa State and has lived in Ames for many years. He has an interest in Ames that representatives on the state and federal level do not. Keep this in mind.
I’ve already mentioned public measure B, the proposed relocation of Fire Station No. 2. I would like to explore that further.
Fire Chief Rich Higgins spoke of moving the station to a more convenient location and of upgrading some of its amenities. This proposed relocation, however, will “result in approximately $11 more in taxes per year for every $100,000 of assessed value,” as a fellow writer at the Daily reported.
I think immensely highly of the firefighters and police force in Ames, but I also think there must be some way of moving this fire station (or improving the convenience of the original one) without further raising taxes on the Ames residents.
My family lives in Ames and owns properties. They are still in the process of paying them off. They are not keen on tax increases. Taxes are high enough already.
Is there no other way to improve this fire station, other than increasing the burden on the taxpayer? I do not feel compelled to vote for this relocation, not as it is currently constructed.
Whether you agree or disagree is up to you. The important thing is to go and vote, and be a voice in the community.
