Initiatives could be deciding factor in Highland race

HIGHLAND — Three citizens' initiatives could end up as the deciding factor in a hard-fought electoral race in Highland.

The initiatives would democratize the city's water board (members are currently appointed by the City Council), require the city to install grass on certain areas designated as open space, and allow for different types of fences that are required on land that borders open space.

The City Council declined to implement the initiatives when they were introduced in August, citing legal concerns over the creation of a second elected body in the city and financial concerns for the open space initiatives. Supporters said council officials failed to understand what the initiatives are trying to do.

Council members were more or less neutral on the fence initiative, which they said was a matter of preference.

When rejected by the City Council, the initiatives were placed on the upcoming ballot, and have since become a dividing issue in the race.

Randy Graham, a council candidate, said it was his work in collecting signatures for the initiatives that made him want to run.

"As I went door to door and spoke to people, I was absolutely appalled at the sentiment of the people," he said. "A huge majority of the people had concerns about the way the city has been run and about how it could be run."

At that point, Graham said, he decided to stop pointing fingers at the city and become active.

Graham is joined on the ticket by mayoral candidate Blake Buhler and write-in council candidate David Beck. Both men also helped create the initiatives and strongly support them.

Beck said the initiatives are important, but the election is just as much about improving the way the city conducts business and making the government more responsive to citizens. He said the City Council was unresponsive when the initiative issues were first brought up and alienated a number of residents.

"We want to give the city back to the people," he said. "We'll return the city government to the people, because we will represent the people. That doesn't mean everything is going to happen the way everyone wants, but it will be representative of the citizenry."

Buhler could not be reached for comment.

Jay Franson, a mayoral candidate who opposes the initiatives, said the issues behind the initiatives are important and will still need to be dealt with regardless of the election's outcome.