To the editor:

Ever since Mayor Lyons appointed Junior Oliver to the Dowagiac City Council, residents have been asking if I would run for Mr. Oliver’s council seat this year.

I told residents to wait and see if Mr. Oliver did his job — which would be to stand up and speak out for his First Ward constituents.

From what I have personally witnessed, Mr. Oliver has failed to put the needs of the First Ward first and foremost.

Many have told me that his main goal appears to be to gain status in the community.

Topping the list is when Mr. Oliver allowed Council to take a second vote on the utility increase, which was voted down two weeks earlier, without standing up for his constituents by stopping the second vote.

When appointed, Mr Oliver told First Ward citizens he would stand up for them by asking questions before voting on anything.

It’s time that the First Ward has two council persons who aren’t afraid to speak out in open council meetings and not ask all their questions behind closed doors.

One of the traits of a true leader is admitting their own mistakes.

I have to admit that when I first started attending meetings, I may have been a little forceful.

I should have taken all that the city threw at me and kept a cooler head.

Now, eight years later, I am ready to win the First Ward seat to work with Council to make changes — not demand them.

I am grateful I was able to effect some changes in city policy by offering suggestions:

• For instance, the city made the online utility search safer by requiring citizens to use their account numbers to log in.

• They lowered the $500 utility deposit as I requested.

• Upon my suggestion, they added additional payment extensions for utility bills to assist low-income and senior residents of Dowagiac.

If elected to Council, I have some goals in mind:

• Finding ways for the City to assist people who choose to open new businesses in downtown  Dowagiac.

• Working with the Pokagon Band to enrich Dowagiac with their Native American heritage.

• Stop going it alone trying to bring jobs to Dowagiac. It’s time we take advantage of state and federal programs available to small towns like Dowagiac.  We need JOBS — not more statues.

• To work with community groups and churches to find and apply for grant money for after-school and summer youth programs.

• Fight for term limits for local officials. When you have councilmen that have been on council for 30 years, they still think and vote in the past.

• Hold city officials accountable for their decision to pay off a $3 million electric contract. This wasn’t the fault of citizens. Officials making these poor decisions should be replaced.

• There is no reason that we have one of the highest electric rates in the state. When elected, I will work at getting our utility costs in line  with other city-run utilities.

Compare my views with Mr. Oliver’s views at a debate, and you will find out who is the better person for the council seat.

The positive changes Dowagiac needs cannot be accomplished with changing just one council seat.

This has to be a community effort. Now is the time for others to step forward to make a positive change for Dowagiac. If you care about this city, run for office and be part of the new Dowagiac.

Anyone interested in finding out what it takes to run for office or has any questions, send me an e-mail at advenedu@yahoo.com.

Together, we can build a new Dowagiac, one which works for citizens, not against them — a new Dowagiac with a bright future.

Howard Hall