Star-Journbal Editor
Shane Marler, 31, might be the first-ever Hillsboro City Council candidate from the Digital Age.
His biography and campaign platform are posted on a web site he created himself, at Error! Bookmark not defined.
While he has no experience in city government, Marler believes that if he's smart enough to teach himself the complex formatting code needed to create a web site, he can learn how to represent the citizens of the east ward at city hall.
"About eight years ago, I thought it would be interesting to research how web sites are made," Marler said. "I'm a firm believer that if you set your mind to it, a person can accomplish anything. You just have to set your mind to it."
Marler wants his web site to become forum where Hillsboro citizens can log-on to ask him questions, like at a town meeting. He'll post his answers online.
While futuristic in his campaign approach, Marler's old-school when it comes to his choice of music. He's a professional guitar player in a swing band.
Because Marler is media-savvy, the Star-Journal asked him to respond to interview questions via e-mail. Here are the questions he was asked, and his digital responses.
Q: Tell us about yourself.
A: I was born in Winfield in 1976 and graduated from Winfield High in 1994. After graduating, I began playing professionally and toured the Midwest and West Coast for about eight years. My wife [Morgan] and I have been together for 11 years. We moved to Marion County in 1998. I've been studying swing music for the past four years and joined the Nouveau Quintette, a swing band based in Wichita, in 2005. We perform two or three times per month. Most days I can be found at Quick Flick/Radio Shack in downtown Hillsboro, where I am the assistant manager.
Q: Can you share some musical highlights?
A: I've played with many wonderful musicians. I recently got to play with John Jorgenson, who is Elton John's guitar player. My wife and I took a trip to Europe last summer, and attended a wonderful jazz festival in France.
Q: You have a unique background. Have you been accepted here in Hillsboro?
A: The people of Hillsboro have been very welcoming to me. We all have the same basic concerns. We want to make Hillsboro the best it can be, without sacrificing our integrity.
Q: What are your impressions of Hillsboro?
A: Hillsboro sets itself apart from other towns by its aggressive approach to progress. From the Main Street project, to the water plant upgrades, to the aquatic center, it sends a signal to the rest of the state that it intends to be the best, regardless of size. There's always room for improvement when it comes to soliciting of new business and new people. The diversity of Hillsboro has grown since I've been here, and that's a good thing. Fresh people equal fresh ideas.
Q: Why do you want to get involved in city government?
A: Hillsboro has been very good to me and my wife. When we first moved here we didn't have much of anything. As the years have gone by, we've been able to really thrive and grow here. I feel that this is an opportunity for me to give something back to a town that has given so much to us.
Q: Do you have any experience in city government?
A: I have no previous experience in city government, but I consider myself a quick study. I have exceptional communication and people skills. I don't have a personal agenda for becoming a councilman. I feel I can be a good representative for the east ward because I'm approachable and not afraid to ask questions. Hillsboro is a small town, so it's easy to follow the goings-on. I think in a town this size, the state of the city is probably a dinner table conversation in most homes. When you live in a small town, it is easier to feel the effects of the decisions that are being made.
Q: Can you give us a few platform ideas that you might consider your stump speech?
A: "Putting People First!" is my motto. A councilman is a representative for the ward, to represent the people, not to represent themselves.
Q: Your wife, Morgan, is the director of the city water plant. How does she feel about you running for city council?
A: Morgan is exceptionally supportive. She has been very encouraging from the beginning. There was a concern on my part that I'd be stepping on her toes. But, she assured me that her toes could take it!
Q: Mayor Delores Dalke said that there wouldn't be a conflict with you being on the city council and your wife being a department head because council members don't deal with personnel issues, which are the city administrator's responsibility. At the same time, how will you answer the nod-nod, wink-wink crowd?
A: I knew as soon as I decided to run for office that that would be a concern. As Mayor Dalke said, I wouldn't be dealing with personnel issues. I don't see it as a concern. That's why we have a city administrator. The "wink-wink, nod-nod" crowd bases their winks on assumptions, instead of asking questions, and finding out what's really going on. My wife and I try to leave our work out of our personal lives. We are generally positive people that don't have many complaints to hash over at the dinner table.
Q: You have two jobs. Will you have time to be a city council member?
A: Fortunately, my two jobs leave plenty of time to be a council member. I only perform two or three times per month, and I'm a part-time employee at Quick Flick/Radio Shack.
Q: Tell us something about yourself that people on the street should know about you? We understand you went to Europe this past summer on a music-related vacation, can you tell us about that?
A: During our trip to Europe we camped in a forest in Samois, France, for a week with hundreds of other musicians from all over the world. It was very interesting to discuss world politics and to hear their perceptions of Americans (all of which were positive). The festival was in a small town about the size of Hillsboro, made famous by Django Reinhardt, an innovator of jazz guitar who died there in 1953. It was a wonderful experience to witness gypsy culture first hand. There was no language barrier; music is the international language.
Q: Did you do anything else in France?
A: We spent several days in Paris seeing the sights, and then traveled to the Normandy coast to tour the D-Day beaches. The American cemetery was a very sobering experience. We stayed in the region for five days and rented a small cabin on the beach. Most of our time there was spent learning about the liberation of the French by the Allied troops.
Q: Are you planning to campaign? What do you plan to do to introduce yourself to the people of the east side? Are there issues in your district that you feel need to be addressed?
A: The people of Hillsboro should know that I'm very approachable. I love meeting and getting to know people. I'm eager to hear the east ward constituents' concerns and invite anyone to visit my web site, e-mail Error! Bookmark not defined., or just stop me on the street. I plan on meeting as many people as possible before the election."
