Change of Government on the Ballot for Union Gap

Union Gap voters will have a chance to change the form of government on the November ballot.

The city currently has a strong mayoral form of government, but if approved by voters, the city would run like Yakima. A seven-member council will hire a city manager to run the government.

The change would put Mayor Jim Lemon in a temporary eighth council seat for the remaining three years of his term. The ballot issue was brought by a petition with 115 signatures collected by current councilman Dan Olson. Olson was vocal about the mayor's use of reserve funds creating a stressful atmosphere in city hall.