Nobody would deny that the once-quiet bedroom community of Marysville is growing and changing at a rapid pace. How the city should manage that change is worthy of debate.
Voters must decide on Sept. 17 whether to keep the current council-mayor format or adopt a manager-council system. It’s an issue with plenty of merit and deserving serious consideration, especially since it’s such a fundamental change in local government. For now, voters should say no to Marysville’s Proposition 1 — not because it’s a bad idea, but because it’s an idea that needs more time to develop.
Whether supporters initiated the proposition in response to Mayor Dave Weiser’s support of former city council candidate Tom Grady or if that incident was the impetus for examining the city’s long-term needs, people need time to cool down and gain distance from the city’s contentious past.
Residents have good reason to be embarrassed by the antics of past city councils. But the manager-council system would hardly be a panacea for those troubles. Council members could still misbehave and create dissention with a different system of government. In fact, it could make hiring and retaining a city manager even more difficult. Things appear to be settling down now and council members are working cooperatively. Such behavior should be the norm for Marysville, no mattr how much or how little council members have in common.
Proposition 1 supporters have done their homework on manager-council systems of government. Spokeswoman Jan Gustavson’s calm, informed demeanor is impressive and encouraging. We hope to see her more involved in city politics. Still, the group needs time to build a stronger case that the city needs such a big change. And it’s likely with more time they’ll be able to accomplish that. Voters should adopt a new form of government only after carefully weighing the pros and cons, not out of a desire to clean house. That’s what city council elections are for. And if last year’s elections are any indication, voters did just that by electing some new members.
If voters approve the proposition, council members should respond by working hard to find a solid manager for the city. If it fails, council members shouldn’t take that as a sign that the issue is dead. This is no time for local politicians to circle the wagons. The matter could be back at the ballot box again. By then, the time may be right for a change.
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