We have outgrown our current form of city government. Lawrence has had the ceremonial mayor and at-large commissioner form of government since 1950, when our population was 18,600. More than 50 years later and 60,000 more residents, this form of government is antiquated.

Our current form has served us well for the last 54 years and some of Lawrence’s most outstanding residents are former mayors and commissioners.

However, with today’s competitive business climate, the city’s large staff, budget concerns, terrorism and a host of other important issues, we are in need of one person to provide leadership and accountability to the citizens of Lawrence. When it comes to collaboration, all the other entities of the city (Kansas University, the Lawrence Convention & Visitors Bureau, Chamber of Commerce, school district, etc.) have full-time leadership and we have only a part-time, one-year mayor to represent us.

We need a full-time elected mayor, who can articulate his/her vision for our city, promote that vision, craft a plan and be allotted a four-year term to implement the plan. The city could be partitioned into four equally populated districts with one person elected from each district and two at-large commissioners to form our governing board. Each of the six commissioners would have one vote and the mayor would only vote in case of a tie. The commissioners would continue to be part-time.

Take a look down Interstate 70 at what Kansas City, Kan., has done since it adopted this form of government in 1997. Racing and retail may not be the industries you would support, but that is not the issue. The lesson to be learned is that a person with leadership and accountability had a vision and implemented the vision. As a result, jobs have been created, tax revenue has been generated without raising taxes, and their economy has been remarkably transformed.

Our great city deserves the benefits that only visionary long-term leadership and equal representation can provide. Let’s encourage our current commissioners to create a task force to envision a new type of government and then take their recommendation to the people for approval.

Dee Bisel is a Lawrence resident.