Below is the original press release that Ald. David Olsen submitted to the Daily Union.

The May 18, 2004 council meeting was their first opportunity to consider Ald. Olsen's motion. The Mayor presented his appointments largely as-is, with minor corrections for a resignation and a designation of a School Board official. The Council did not discuss the issue much - except for Ald. Chris Gang, who said he did not speak to anyone at the Daily Union to make the statements quoted below. The motion to reconsider failed, 7-1.

- John

Overwhelming Response to Council Plea,
Citizens Urged to Volunteer

When the Jefferson Common Council voted to reconsider Mayor Collin Stevens' appointments at their last meeting, there was some concern that nobody would answer the call to serve. However, that has definitely not been the case in Jefferson.

“The response has been overwhelming,” says newly elected Alderperson-at-Large David Olsen. “People have called me at home, at work, and one person even stopped me at the gas station and offered to serve on city committees and commissions. I have been astounded with the willingness of the citizens to answer our call to volunteer.”

In an unprecedented move, at their last common council meeting on May 4th, the council voted to reconsider the mayor's appointments to city commissions and committees by asking the mayor to redo his appointments. Nobody can ever remember a local conmiion council taking such an action.
“When I introduced the motion,” Olsen said, “the audience responded with a solid round of applause. Then the council voted in favor of the motion, 6 - 2, and I knew the winds of change were blowing in Jefferson.

Alderman Christopher Gang, the Common Council President, who seconded the motion to reconsider the mayoral appointments and spoke in favor of the motion said, “I believe we can do better, and I believe we can make a change. I ask that we support Dave.” His comments also drew sustained applause from the audience. “In all my time on the city council I've never heard a response from the audience like I did when I seconded the motion. I knew right then that we were doing the right thing.”

The mayor's race was decided by a one vote margin, 508 to 507, with Stevens beating challenger Jim Schroeder in the mayoral race on April 6th. In a subsequent recount requested by Schroeder, Stevens' margin grew to three votes. There is a general feeling in Jefferson that the race was a battle about change.

Candidate Jim Schroeder's web site claims “Your choice is clear. Arnold Brawders is retiring after 10 years as Mayor. He has endorsed Alderperson Collin Stevens, who's been on the Common Council for 6 years. The message from Mayor Brawders and Alderperson Stevens is simple: “Things are going pretty well, so let's just “stay the course”. Jim Schroeder believes that we can do better.”

Local resident Cathy Zimmerman wrote a letter to the editor on April 27th issue of the Daily Jefferson County Union taking the mayor and the city council to task for failing to make any changes in the commissions and committees. “One of Mayor Stevens' first duties was to appoint the council committees. I sat at the open forum before the election and Collin Stevens said he had new ideas and plans. I fail to see the new ideas.. .with his appointments. Arnold Brawders is now on the Plan Commission, Bill Brandel the library board and Richard Fischer the utilities board; all for three years.

Along with some other same names on committees. How is this showing us change?” she wrote. “Jim Schroeder, who ran a close second for mayor, Barb van Lieshout and Scott Howard and Janet Twist; they all received votes and deserved a chance to be on a committee. I'm very disappointed with Mayor Stevens' first duties and, in my opinion, I feel we did not see any new changes or ideas...” Both Zimmerman and her husband, Ron, have offered to serve on any city committee or commission the mayor would offer. Zimmerman has forwarded names to Olsen of people she has talked with who would like to volunteer.

Olsen, who urged residents to contact their aldermen, the mayor, or city hall, has talked with many people who have expressed an interest to serve. “There is a feeling that when you've served on a commission or committee for over 20 years that it's time for a change, time for new ideas. I have compiled a list of 15 names of people interested in serving and will be sharing those names with Mayor Stevens. He was out of town until Sunday night and we talked on Monday evening about the wonderful response of the people. I will continue to gather names and submit them to him so he can decide who should serve in these important positions. My only concern now is that he needs time to make the right appointments.”

Steven Lewis, Jefferson Development Commission President, is working to change the composition of that commission so that at least half the members have been on the commission for less than three years. He expects to finish that task within two weeks.

“The mayor's appointments are important and the first go-round was not without some major glitches, said Olsen. “One citizen found out he was appointed to a board by reading it in the paper. The mayor contacted him later and apologized, but I know he wants to serve on the Police and Fire Commission, not the board the mayor appointed him to. Another person wrote a letter asking to be removed from a committee he was serving on and asked to remain on another commission. He found out from the police chief that he was left on the committee he asked to be removed from and removed from the commission he wanted to stay on.”

Olsen, who used to baby-sit the Stevens' children, and grew up across the street from the mayor stated, “Collin is a family friend. Dad went on fishing trips to Canada every summer with him. My brothers and I, the neighborhood kids, we all idolized him. But this isn't about friendship; it's about what's best for the City of Jefferson. Although the council voted 6 - 2 to send these appointments back to the mayor, I think the fact that I'm the point man on this issue will put me in the mayor's doghouse and I will receive some flack for taking such a hard stand. But the citizens deserve a better job of implementing change with his mayoral appointments. I feel it is our duty as council members to hold him to that.”

“I think the way the change comes about is important. You don't just throw someone off a board who has faithfully volunteered for many years. Imagine how someone who has served for 20 years would feel if they are just removed from a board of committee. These citizens deserve our respect, our appreciation, and accolades for their selfless time and effort on behalf of the city. The mayor can do this the right way - contact them, express his appreciation for their years of service, and ask if they would please allow someone else to serve. Then the council needs to host a major reception at city hall, invite the press and public, and honor these volunteers for their service. When you're dealing with people who have done so much for the city over the years you want to do this the right way. If it is done correctly, we get change in government while, at the same time, giving honor and respect to those who have served.”

Interested citizens are urged to contact Mayor Stevens (674-5263), Council President Gang (674-4962), or Alderpersons Bare (674-5890), Benka (674-2417), Coffman (674-4855), McGrath (674-3594), Olsen (674-4004), Stewart (674-3533) or Wagner (674-3844). Jefferson needs to get as many people involved as possible. If someone wants to do their civic duty, now is the perfect opportunity.

There are many opportunities to serve on the following boards and committees - Plan Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, Police and Fire Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, Library Board, Museum Board, Utility Commission, Jefferson Development Commission, and Cable Television Local Access Commission. No experience is necessary, just the desire to serve and improve the City of Jefferson.