Does Blaine need a change?

By Christine Callan

On September 18 Blaine voters go to the polls to decide on the future of Blaine’s city manager system of government. This week, The Northern Light went to them and asked how they would be voting and why. Here’s what some of them had to say..

Teresa Sherwood: I think the mayor should be voted in. City manager doesn’t seem right to me because the citizens should decide who they want in.

Carole Solomon: I’m happy with it the way it is. It seems to be working and they’ve accomplished a lot.

Bill Lhirondelle: It always worked better with a mayor. The city manager is too into politics, whereas a mayor isn’t as concerned with his job. Blaine has had its ups and downs and it’s not going to have any more ups without the inspiration of a mayor.

Clyde Raper: We need a change of government, definitely. It has been in a rut for six or seven years and we need a change. The council doesn’t listen to anyone. The city manager can only be as good as the council. It’s not the type of government that’s bad, it’s the people running it.

Edmund Root: This city is very fortunate to have a wonderful city manager because ther is so much to take into consideration. The way we have it now there is a lot of democratic input and professionalism. You get the best of both worlds.

Carol Rowley: I think we should leave it the way it is. With the qualifications for the position, I think it would be better for someone from the outside with the education and the experience.

Randy Kirk: Keep it the way it is. They voted two years ago and it stayed the same. Why keep bringing it up? It seems to work so why not keep doing it?

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