Mayoral hopefuls share visions
Four Marion residents have filed for the position of mayor. The Marion County Record asked the four candidates, David Colburn, Marion "Nick" Nickelson, Mary Olson, and Martin Tice, to respond to questions related to the position and the future of Marion.
Here are their responses.
Marion E. "Nick" Nickelson
1) Why do you want to be elected as mayor of Marion City Council?
Nickelson: "I believe my experience and knowledge will help the City of Marion."
2) What do you envision as a five-year plan for the City of Marion? How could those goals be accomplished?
Nickelson: "Re-establish Marion as a business center to provide jobs, services, with a reasonable, comfortable place to live.
"The goals could be accomplished with hard work and enthusiasm!"
3) Are you satisfied/dissatisfied with the current council and city operations?
Nickelson: "I sense the current council is not responsive to citizens' needs. Open government needs to satisfy the taxpayers' confidence."
4) What is your background and/or qualifications for the position of mayor?
Nickelson: "I have construction and retail sales — 58+ years of experience, education, and dealing with people — am a 1955 graduate of Emporia State University, and several sales schools associated with business. I have served on state and national boards that have allowed me to gain the perspective of learned people."
5) Please provide personal information about yourself.
Nickelson: "I was born in Clay Center and am a lifelong Kansan. I have lived in Marion, Beloit, Great Bend, Scottsdale, Ariz., Emporia, and Salina. I have been married to Norma for 15 years with six children, 16 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren."
Mary Olson
1) Why do you want to be elected as mayor of Marion City Council?
Olson: "When I moved to Marion in 1996, I became involved in many city and chamber of commerce activities and committees. Now I want to take this opportunity to be elected and serve the community as the mayor of the City of Marion. I am retired and have the time and energy to serve. As mayor, I plan to bring a 'new voice' with a 'fresh perspective' to the city council."
2) What do you envision as a five-year plan for the City of Marion? How could those goals be accomplished?
Olson: "The five-year plan I envision for the City of Marion would foster economic growth and development for the county and its residents. In Marion, the industrial park would have more industrial tenants and the downtown business district would encourage new businesses and visitors to the city.
"This plan may sound like an 'old record,' but the 'old record' may just need some new insights to produce a 'new hit song'.
"The top goals of the plan are: 1) provide on-time quality and cost-effective improvements of the city's infrastructure and other projects; 2) revitalize the downtown area to attract businesses and shopping; 3) foster cooperation and support between the city and governmental entities (i.e. the county and other municipalities) to create a plan for new tax-based economic development; 4) show support to maintain an excellent health care facility for the community; and 5) maintain and improve recreational and cultural opportunities for the community and visitors.
"The objectives to accomplish these goals are to: 1) encourage extensive community input to express concerns; 2) enlist the expertise of the city administrator and staff to investigate all avenues of funding for the proposed budget to meet the goals; 3) prioritize the 'needs' and 'wants' of the city before the city's funds are used; 4) ask residents to lend their expertise whenever possible; and 5) generate positive support between the city and other governmental entities that will lead to efficient use of information, resources, and services offered by the entities."
3) Are you satisfied/dissatisfied with the current council and city operations?
Olson: "I have supported and am satisfied with the five-member council. I have attended city council meetings and read newspaper accounts of the meetings. I am satisfied with some of the actions taken by the current council and disagreed with others. The same is true of city operations. However, I think positive expression of disagreement is necessary in the decision-making process."
4) What is your background and/or qualifications for the position of mayor?
Olson: "I was on the Lincolnville City Council for 15 years. During this time, I served as city clerk, council member, and mayor of the city.
"I referred to being in city affairs in question one. The experiences have provided some background in the activities and day-to-day operations of the city.
"Other leadership positions in which I have served are president of Marion County Historical Society, board director of Marion (city) Historical Museum, vice president of Marion/Morris County Chapter of the Thrivent Financial Services for Lutherans, currently serve as treasurer of Heartland Retired Educators, various officer positions of Centre Teachers Association, director of Marion County 4-H Foundation Fund, and president for three biennial terms of Alpha Omega Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society, a women's educator organization."
5) Please provide personal information.
Olson: "I have been a resident of Marion County all of my life. I grew up in the Peabody area and still have family members living in the area. I was married to my husband, Warren, for 34 years until his death in 1998. He had farmed in the Lincolnville area until his retirement.
"I have been in the teaching profession for 50 years, including 36 years as a classroom teacher in the Centre school district. I have been a substitute teacher in the Marion/Florence school district since moving to Marion in 1996. I also have been employed at Bearly Makin-It Antiques for the past seven years. I am a member of the Gilbert-Poppe American Legion Auxiliary."
Martin Tice
1) Why do you want to be re-elected as mayor of Marion City Council?
Tice: "I have been a part of this community for more than 30 years and consider it to be home. I want to see the community remain viable and grow. For this to happen, we must all be willing to work together. The city has several projects that are in the process and planning stages that will benefit the city and I would like to see them completed and feel I can help in this area. I would like to see a continuation of the positive progress that recently has been displayed."
2) What do you envision as a five-year plan for the City of Marion? How could those goals be accomplished?
Tice: "I would like to see existing businesses continue to be viable and grow as possible, several new businesses in the business park, an occupant for the speculative building plus additional businesses in the industrial park, completion of the water plant upgrade, continued upgrade of the electrical service, city street reconstruction, and the downtown business district revitalized. All of these will require planning and cooperation of various groups within the community plus the work of the city council, the employees of the city, and the members of the community at-large. At the same time, the positive progress that we recently have seen must continue within the community. All of this is in addition to the day-to-day operation, which is necessary to carry-on the basic functions of the city."
3) Are you satisfied/dissatisfied with the current council and city operations?
Tice: "With the change to a five-member council, there has been the need for a time of learning and adjustment. At present, I feel we are moving forward in a positive and productive manner. As in any organization there is always room for improvement. Therefore, the council will need to be open and willing to make adjustments, from time to time, in the focus and operation of the city."
4) What is your background and/or qualifications for the position of mayor?
Tice: "I have served as mayor for two terms (1986-1989 and 2004-2007). I have served on governmental boards and held administrative positions. I also have been in private business. This varied background, I feel, provides me with a unique perspective for serving as mayor and working for the improvement and advancement of the Marion community and all individuals within the community."
5) Please provide personal information.
Tice: "I was born in 1943 in Iola. I graduated in 1966 from the University of Kansas with a BSE degree in math and science, and master's and specialist degrees in educational administration from Wichita State University. I taught math and science from 1966 to 1970 at Allison Junior High School of Wichita, was principal of Florence High School from 1970 to 1971, principal of Florence Junior High School from 1971 to 1973, and principal of Marion High School from 1973 to 1979. I owned and operated a private accounting, tax consulting, and real estate business in Marion from 1979 to 1989. From 1989 to 2005, I was the business manager and board of education clerk of USD 408, retiring in November 2005. I currently work part-time for the school district as payroll and accounting clerk.
"I was president of Marion Chamber of Commerce in 1985, and served as mayor of Marion from 1986 to 1989 and at the present time, 2004 to 2007. I am a member of Marion Christian Church where I serve as an elder, trustee, and Sunday school teacher. I am a member of the board of directors of Marion County Hospital District #1.
"My wife, Margaret, is a nurse at Memorial Hospital of McPherson. We have three children who were raised in the Marion community and graduated from Marion High School. We have seven grandchildren."
Editor's Note: Candidate David Colburn did not submit his responses before the required deadline.
