Marion Mayoral Candidate Q&A: Nick Glew

Q: What are the most important issues facing Marion?

A: Well, we are a growing community, and with growth comes a lot of challenge and opportunities. From a campaign standpoint I have named four priorities.

1. Fiscal responsibility. Managing the finances of the community. The number one job of the City  Council is approving the budget. We can talk about big planning projects and infrastructure, but at the end of the day, from a financial standpoint, if we are not an affordable community to live or to have a business, then we have failed in the community.

To read a Q&A with candidate Snooks Bouska follow the link.

Q: What do you say to those that claim the Seventh Avenue reconstruction plans will hurt local businesses?

A: We have had people from the begining that said this is going to hurt my business and we have focused on special attention to make sure they remain around the table and in the discussions. We are not cutting off traffic access to Seventh Avenue.

Q: Why do you think the Central Corridor Project is necessary for Marion?

A: One of the things that the Central Corridor Project does is that it makes the Marion community more appealing asthetically. If your first impression is driving through the core of our city, we aren't putting our best foot forward. We can do better. When young people come through looking for a place to live and they see the improvements in infrastructure, that is going to be a big draw for the community. We have to stay focused on, are we providing the things younger families want? The splash pads, the recreation trails, the things an active community wants, we have to make sure we don't forget those things.

Q: Why do you think your time in Marion City Council qualifies you to be mayor? 

A: I think it takes at least one term in office to be able to understand the complexity of the city and how they operate. We have been through four budget cycles when I was in office. I have spent time establishing relationships with those in the business community the residents in the community the nonprofits. I have really made sure we are listing to the people. I am the first one that will reach out to those that are upset and say how can we work together? We all live in this community, we all love this community, let's figure out how to make this community move forward.

Q: Where do you think the future of Marion's economic development lies?

A: I think we have done a lot of things in the last four years to partner with the private sector. To make sure you have commercial and industrial ground that is ready for development today. We have to make sure we grow our commercial and industrial tax base. Marion is positioned better than any community in the Midwest for economic development projects. What we have done is that we have constructed an industrial park that is a status we call shovel ready. As businesses are looking to relocate — they can find a site and build a site tomorrow if they wanted to. We are focusing time on marketing those assets to developers across the city.

Q: What do you think Marion's budget priorities should be?

A: First and foremost, they should be in the basic services: making sure that the community is safe and providing infrastructure. We have a lot of work to do on roads and on sewers. We have to balance it with other priorities and do it in an affordable way.

Q: What would you like to see at the end of your first term as mayor?

A: I would like to see Tower Terrace (Road) well under way, completing the first two phases of the Central Corridor Project. With that, we'll see the development that happens in the corridor. We have had at least three new businesses that have opened in the last year. 

Q: Do you have any worries about the direction Marion is going?

A: No. I think there has been so many citizens involved in the planning process in the last four years. The reason I am running for mayor is that we are on the right track. I want to make sure the things we are working on with citizens are moving forward. The main difference between me and the person who is running against me is moving forward. I see Marion going a different way. I see progress. I see growth. I see thriving business, and I am not sure we share that vision of the community.