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Resignation of Mayor Osborne - Best Wishes

Today's (May 31, 2008) Herald & Review reported that Mayor Paul Osborne resigned effective June 1, 2008 (Sunday) from his position as Mayor of the City of Decatur. He was serving in his second year of his second four-year term as Mayor. By all accounts, this was an unexpected announcement to his colleagues on the city council and the entire community. Mayor Osborne stated that he was increasingly troubled with the difficulty of balancing his role as journalist and Mayor regarding important matters before city government. As noted in the Decatur Herald & Review:

In a letter delivered Friday night to council members, Osborne wrote, "Due to dramatically escalating time and energy commitments in both the mayor's position and the Decatur Tribune newspaper, and some health issues that need to be resolved immediately, I will no longer be able to serve as mayor of Decatur, effective June 1, 2008." The entire article in the H&R can be read by clicking on the above link.

Mayor Osborne is lifetime resident and respected member of the Decatur community. He has been a journalist and the Publisher/Editor of the Decatur Tribune for several decades. His service to the community is well known and respected both as Mayor and Publisher. Everyone in Decatur is aware and appreciative of his love for the city and his boundless enthusiasm for the city's future.

We wish him well and hope that he will recover promptly from any health issues. We also look forward to many future editions of the Decatur Tribune.

Factors affecting 100 Best Cities per Relocate-America

Many Decatur cheerleaders choose to ignore the ways to make Decatur better. Decatur has good qualities. It can have more good qualities if we address the challenges and opportunities to be a city that makes the "100 best cities list". Relocate America.com publishes a list annually of the 100 best cities in America. Bloomington made the current year's list. The criteria that the selection is based on are:

"... the site's editorial team ... takes into account an area's growth, its educational and employment opportunities, crime rates and housing options before granting it a spot in the top 100. Environmental highlights also play a role, with a city gaining points for good air and water quality or the strength of its recycling efforts, Nickerson said. ..... Home-price appreciation does get some consideration, however it's only one piece of the analysis, Nickerson said -- explaining why some struggling real estate markets in California and Florida, for example, still made the top 100. Areas that offer a comfortable climate and economic opportunity tend to be the most sought-after communities on the site, he said." Source: By AMY HOAK, Marketwatch.com 

(Amy used to write for the Decatur Herald & Review; now she is in Chicago and a writer for Marketwatch.com; congrats Amy.)

FAQs

What is being proposed? To replace the council-manager form of government that has been in place for half of a century with a strong mayor form of city government. The mayor would be the full-time head of city government. Two aldermen from each from ten designated neighborhoods would represent the people of Decatur instead of the current six at-large council members. The ten neighborhoods will be determined by the current city council based on population and state law.

Do other cities have a similar form of government? YES, most cities use the proposed Strong Mayor form of city government. Many downstate IL cities have aldermen and/or a strong mayor. Only two of the major downstate cities have the same form of city government as Decatur.

Are 20 aldermen too many?

How is the Strong Mayor form of city government better?

Is it expensive?

Will my vote make a difference?

How do I help?

For answers to these questions, keep reading below.