In the last installment, I provided background information on all of the candidates. In this posting, I want to provide some analysis and a way to consider who is the "best" candidate in this cycle for you. Let's begin with the current make up of the council:
The current make-up of the council is 50% men and 50% women; 1 person of color; No self-identified members of LGBTQ community; Median age +/- 59 (4 members age 60 or above, other two in their 40s); four located in northside neighborhoods, one in a westside neighborhood, and one in an eastside enclave.
Jim Throgmorton (Mayor): Professor Emeritus/Urban Regional Planning, (Retired) - Near Northside
John Thomas: Landscape Architect, (Retired) - Near Northside
Rockne Cole: Attorney-at-Law (Self-employed; Private sector) - Eastside
Pauline Taylor (Mayor Pro-Tem): Registered Nurse, UIHC (Employed; Public Sector) - Westside
Mazahir Salih: Community Organizer at the Center for Worker Justice (Employed; Non-Profit) - Far Northside
Susan Mims: Financial Advisor (Self-employed; Private sector) - Far Northside
With a special election, it is worthwhile to consider the issues that are important to you--and to consider the "special sauce"--what the person brings to the council that is currently absent from it. In considering overall representation and demographics alone (and not including gender as the council is currently equally split), the ideal candidate would be a person from a differing vocational field; a person of color; a LGBTQ community member; in the less than 39 age range; and living in either the Center; Far Eastside; or Westside. Issues
The Candidates
40% men and 60% women; 1 person of color; 1 self-identified members of LGBTQ community; Median age +/- 40 (3 candidates age 40 or above, one 39 and the last 25).
Ann Freerks: Creative Coordinator - (Employed; Public Sector)- South Center
Ryan Hall: University of Iowa Student - Center - (Not Employed) - LGBTQ (self-identified)
Christine Ralston: Director of Career Services - (Employed; Public Sector) - Near Eastside
Bruce Teague: Owner of multiple healthcare/real estate businesses - (Self-employed; Private sector) - Westside - LGBTQ (Self-identified)
Brianna Wills:Excutive Director - Old Brick - (Employed; Non-Profit) - North Eastside
With a special election, it is worthwhile to consider the issues that are important to you--and to consider the "special sauce"--what the person brings to the council that is currently absent from it. In considering overall representation and demographics alone (and not including gender as the council is currently equally split), the ideal candidate would be a person of color, a LGBTQ community member; in the less than 39 age range; living in either the Center; Far Eastside; or Westside. Besides issus that matter to you, the candidates that you might consider are:
Ryan Hall: 4 factors Student status; LGBTQ, under 30, Central resident
Bruce Teague: 3 factors: Person of color; LGBTQ; Westside resident
Ann Freerks: 1 factor: Central resident
Christine Ralston: 1 factor: Under 40
I won't tell you how you should vote. I'm hoping that if you took the time to read both of my postings, you have enough insights to form your own opinion. I'm heading off to early vote this afternoon. I hope, if you haven't voted yet, that you will take the time to do so. As a note: this particular election is a great example why instant runoff voting (IRV) should be considered. With a short run-up to the primary, I think it is tough to be a newcomer and be successful. If the candidates had until October 2nd to run their race and voters had the chance to vote for their first and second choice, it is likely that the "best" candidate would win. Sadly, if the turnout is very low on September 3rd, we'll never really know. With IRV, you have a longer window to run a campaign and the voters only have to show up once. A win/win, if there ever was one! Happy Voting, everyone!
The current make-up of the council is 50% men and 50% women; 1 person of color; No self-identified members of LGBTQ community; Median age +/- 59 (4 members age 60 or above, other two in their 40s); four located in northside neighborhoods, one in a westside neighborhood, and one in an eastside enclave.
Jim Throgmorton (Mayor): Professor Emeritus/Urban Regional Planning, (Retired) - Near Northside
John Thomas: Landscape Architect, (Retired) - Near Northside
Rockne Cole: Attorney-at-Law (Self-employed; Private sector) - Eastside
Pauline Taylor (Mayor Pro-Tem): Registered Nurse, UIHC (Employed; Public Sector) - Westside
Mazahir Salih: Community Organizer at the Center for Worker Justice (Employed; Non-Profit) - Far Northside
Susan Mims: Financial Advisor (Self-employed; Private sector) - Far Northside
With a special election, it is worthwhile to consider the issues that are important to you--and to consider the "special sauce"--what the person brings to the council that is currently absent from it. In considering overall representation and demographics alone (and not including gender as the council is currently equally split), the ideal candidate would be a person from a differing vocational field; a person of color; a LGBTQ community member; in the less than 39 age range; and living in either the Center; Far Eastside; or Westside. Issues
The Candidates
40% men and 60% women; 1 person of color; 1 self-identified members of LGBTQ community; Median age +/- 40 (3 candidates age 40 or above, one 39 and the last 25).
Ryan Hall: University of Iowa Student - Center - (Not Employed) - LGBTQ (self-identified)
Christine Ralston: Director of Career Services - (Employed; Public Sector) - Near Eastside
Bruce Teague: Owner of multiple healthcare/real estate businesses - (Self-employed; Private sector) - Westside - LGBTQ (Self-identified)
Brianna Wills:Excutive Director - Old Brick - (Employed; Non-Profit) - North Eastside
With a special election, it is worthwhile to consider the issues that are important to you--and to consider the "special sauce"--what the person brings to the council that is currently absent from it. In considering overall representation and demographics alone (and not including gender as the council is currently equally split), the ideal candidate would be a person of color, a LGBTQ community member; in the less than 39 age range; living in either the Center; Far Eastside; or Westside. Besides issus that matter to you, the candidates that you might consider are:
Ryan Hall: 4 factors Student status; LGBTQ, under 30, Central resident
Bruce Teague: 3 factors: Person of color; LGBTQ; Westside resident
Ann Freerks: 1 factor: Central resident
Christine Ralston: 1 factor: Under 40
I won't tell you how you should vote. I'm hoping that if you took the time to read both of my postings, you have enough insights to form your own opinion. I'm heading off to early vote this afternoon. I hope, if you haven't voted yet, that you will take the time to do so. As a note: this particular election is a great example why instant runoff voting (IRV) should be considered. With a short run-up to the primary, I think it is tough to be a newcomer and be successful. If the candidates had until October 2nd to run their race and voters had the chance to vote for their first and second choice, it is likely that the "best" candidate would win. Sadly, if the turnout is very low on September 3rd, we'll never really know. With IRV, you have a longer window to run a campaign and the voters only have to show up once. A win/win, if there ever was one! Happy Voting, everyone!
If you don't know where to vote, the Johnson County Auditor has this nifty poll locator which can tell you when and where to vote.
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