Why it’s important to vote yes on March 7

To the Editor,
The current Monticello City Council consists of two at-large representative positions and four ward-specific positions. A yes vote at the March 7 special election would change all city council positions to at-large.
Why is this important for our city? The current ward system restricts who can run to represent you, and who you can vote for.
Monticello is the only city in Jones County that uses this obsolete system. The city council does not have ward reports, make decisions by ward, approve resolutions by ward, or take any other ward-specific actions. The ward system only restricts candidates from running and you from voting for them.
Your yes vote on March 7 will allow more people to get involved in our city government and give you more choices in who you can vote for. That’s a win-win for Monticello!
Quinn Phelan
Monticello, Iowa