While demand for food distribution in Indiana and around the country has risen dramatically with the suspension of SNAP benefits last Saturday, public officials respond in a variety of ways.

Many are allocating reserve funds to help food pantries weather the sudden storm of demand. As of yesterday, roughly half the SNAP benefits are being reinstated, but that still leaves many children, disabled and retired people at risk as the holidays near.

Shouldn't we expect our elected officials to do something in response at the local level? 

The answer is yes, but the expectation for Logansport Mayor Chris Martin has sunk so low, that the expectation is he will not know what to do, what he can do or what he should do. Consequently, he's done nothing to help the situation. Meanwhile, restaurants and benefactors do their fair share to step up to do what government is not usually doing for people who depend on it. Couldn't the mayor at least have a canned food drive?

These situations are among many that beg for Logansport to have someone in charge who knows what to do and how to do it -- someone who governs in the moment and doesn't just wait until the next pay day to show up for work.

If you expect more from your city government, join more than 35 dozen voters in signing our petition demanding that Chris Martin resign, and be replaced with a non-partisan, professionally trained city manager who will run Logansport like a business. Our community deserves better and our city administration has to do better for all of us.

Thank you for caring for our community.