Driving around town, you might’ve seen a political sign with the name of one of your professors on it.  David Sturrock, who teaches political science here at SMSU, is running for Marshall City Council in Ward 2.  Sturrock has been involved in politics since 1996, and has served as chairman of the Marshall Area Transportation Group.

Running against him is David Bero, who is an energy manager for Davisco foods, and has lived in Marshall since 2000.  This is his first run for office.  He says that the most important thing to him is hearing the voice of the voters, and helping Marshall grow and expand.

One of the main issues with regards to the city of Marshall for these two is the intersection of Highway 23 and Saratoga Street.  It has been the site of several accidents, four or five this past spring alone, and is in need of change.

Bero is in favor of putting in a stoplight at this intersection in order to reduce the risk of accidents.  This project would cost about $400,000, and he hopes that this, in addition to reduced speed limits in the immediate area, would be a successful approach to this problem.  However, one issue with this solution is that the intersection technically doesn’t get enough traffic to qualify for stoplights.

Sturrock favors the plan put forward by the Marshall Area Transportation Group (MATG), which includes creating a “J-Turn” intersection as well as building a pedestrian bridge.  This option, a “Reduced-Conflict” intersection, would lower fatalities by 70% and injury crashes by 42%, according to a study by the Federal Highway Administration.

However, Bero was opposed to this plan, citing the costs: an estimated $1.5 million to construct the J-Turn intersection and another $3.5 million to build the pedestrian bridge that would accompany it.  The construction of the pedestrian overpass would also compromise the nearby retention pond,  and the trees that have been growing there for nearly half a century would have to be removed.

The pond and the surrounding area has become a peaceful sort of park, located next to the intersection in question as well as being adjacent to the neighborhood of both Bero and Sturrock.  The area is now home to wildlife, is a popular place for neighbors to walk their dogs.  The trees provide a visual block to the highway as well as reducing noise coming into the neighborhood. Building the overpass would mean uprooting some of the ash trees that have been there for decades and exposing the retention pond to the highway.

Both candidates are very passionate about the issue of reducing accidents along this stretch of highway, but have different approaches to it.  Bero would prefer the use of stoplights and lower speed limits, while Sturrock is in favor of the J-Turn and pedestrian overpass.

Some other options that are being discussed are a roundabout, a vehicle overpass, or a pedestrian underpass like the one between SMSU and the High School.  However, the last possibility has been shot down due to claims that it would interfere with the gravity sewer line beneath the road.

Because this race is taking place in Marshall’s Ward 2, most students will not be able to vote for either Sturrock or Bero, as the SMSU campus and dorms are located in Ward 1.  However, for those located in Ward 2, especially those whose lives are affected by this particular issue, it is imperative to get out and vote.