It is disappointing that there will be no contested races on the City of Monroe election ballots on April 1.
Particularly given the nature of city politics over the past two years, it would be beneficial for voters to have the opportunity to weigh in on whether they like the directions city government is headed.
The filing deadline for candidates in the April municipal elections was last Wednesday. Incumbent Mayor Ron Marsh filed his candidacy papers, as did aldermen Neal Hunter (First Ward), Mark Coplien (Third Ward), Chuck Koch (Fifth Ward) and Thurston Hanson (Seventh Ward). Kent Kallembach, who was appointed last week to the Ninth Ward council spot, also filed to be on the ballot. None of those current office-holders will face challengers on the ballot April 1. The only way any of them could have opposition is from write-in candidates.
If you could only say one thing about the current mayor and Monroe City Council, it would be that they've done anything but maintain the status quo in city government. They have taken head on controversial issues such as large-scale retail development, a second fire station, liquor licenses, pet ordinances, downtown parking and the sidewalk program. They got heavily involved in the Green County government justice center debate, unsuccessfully attempting to persuade supervisors to keep the court system in downtown Monroe. They also debated at length - but didn't necessarily resolve - changing the way that council votes on ordinances are decided.
All of this occurred during the first two years working with a professional city administrator. When the council approved creating the city administrator position, most believed Monroe's mayor would be more of an ambassador and have less influence on city policy decisions.
Marsh, even as he was running for office - ironically, as a write-in - two years ago, never hesitated to say he'd be a hands-on mayor looking to be a change agent for the city. He certainly has delivered on that promise. If anything, the mayor's role in city government has become more pronounced, not less, under the city administrator system.
Are Monroe citizens content with that course? Are they encouraged by the decisions the council and mayor have made in attempts to move the city forward?
We probably never will know, because current office holders can't be held accountable for their performance if there aren't any challengers to choose from. Elections are one of the few opportunities citizens have to hold their elected officials accountable. That doesn't happen in uncontested races.
Certainly, Marsh proved two years ago that write-ins can have a significant impact on local elections. But that's the exception, not the rule. Even if write-ins materialize before April 1, it would be difficult to present much of a challenge to the incumbents.
Particularly given the activity in city government over the past two years, that's unfortunate.
Particularly given the nature of city politics over the past two years, it would be beneficial for voters to have the opportunity to weigh in on whether they like the directions city government is headed.
The filing deadline for candidates in the April municipal elections was last Wednesday. Incumbent Mayor Ron Marsh filed his candidacy papers, as did aldermen Neal Hunter (First Ward), Mark Coplien (Third Ward), Chuck Koch (Fifth Ward) and Thurston Hanson (Seventh Ward). Kent Kallembach, who was appointed last week to the Ninth Ward council spot, also filed to be on the ballot. None of those current office-holders will face challengers on the ballot April 1. The only way any of them could have opposition is from write-in candidates.
If you could only say one thing about the current mayor and Monroe City Council, it would be that they've done anything but maintain the status quo in city government. They have taken head on controversial issues such as large-scale retail development, a second fire station, liquor licenses, pet ordinances, downtown parking and the sidewalk program. They got heavily involved in the Green County government justice center debate, unsuccessfully attempting to persuade supervisors to keep the court system in downtown Monroe. They also debated at length - but didn't necessarily resolve - changing the way that council votes on ordinances are decided.
All of this occurred during the first two years working with a professional city administrator. When the council approved creating the city administrator position, most believed Monroe's mayor would be more of an ambassador and have less influence on city policy decisions.
Marsh, even as he was running for office - ironically, as a write-in - two years ago, never hesitated to say he'd be a hands-on mayor looking to be a change agent for the city. He certainly has delivered on that promise. If anything, the mayor's role in city government has become more pronounced, not less, under the city administrator system.
Are Monroe citizens content with that course? Are they encouraged by the decisions the council and mayor have made in attempts to move the city forward?
We probably never will know, because current office holders can't be held accountable for their performance if there aren't any challengers to choose from. Elections are one of the few opportunities citizens have to hold their elected officials accountable. That doesn't happen in uncontested races.
Certainly, Marsh proved two years ago that write-ins can have a significant impact on local elections. But that's the exception, not the rule. Even if write-ins materialize before April 1, it would be difficult to present much of a challenge to the incumbents.
Particularly given the activity in city government over the past two years, that's unfortunate.
