Scattershooting About Johnson County Politics

So the two parties have had their conventions and (D) Janelle Rettig and (R) Lori Cardella are their parties' candidates. If there is any drama to unfold it would have to involve a brave soul gathering 250 signatures to be placed on the ballot to run a third person for the controversial seat. It would actually be a more compelling race if that would happen. Failing that, it will rely on the candidates to turnout their bases.

And what will happen come June? The seat that will be decided by special election will be up for grabs again. Is this an effort to turn out the base for the Senatorial and House primaries? I would hate to think that people would have ulterior motives--I'd be "shocked."

You never know who you'll run into at a pizza place. Mike O'Donnell may be leaving the Iowa City Council, but his longer term aspirations may involve being the next County Recorder. He was notably absent from the Democratic special county convention.

And what was the Iowa City Council thinking when they approved a 2% franchise fee acknowledging that they might be able to do without half of it? They have deferred action in the past, why not wait until they have more information? As it stands most of us would not feel the pinch of a 1% hike, but the University of Iowa and other tax-exempt entities will in April--unless the council brings it up after the new members are seated.

Question for Sheriff Pulkrabek and JC County Attorney Lyness--what, if anything, have you decided to do about John Bohnenkamp? You may recall that he disregarded a public safety officer's order last July (and his own wife's pleas) to clear out of the crime scene which may have contributed to the shooting death of John Deng. I seem to recall that there was a continuing investigation about this point that has not been reported.


And area State Legislators--why not look at taxing non-residential uses of condominiums for rental property? Clearly it is disadvantaging those communities like Iowa City that have large numbers of absentee landlords. $2 million dollars can help a city keep it's budget balanced without the residents taking it fully on the chin. Also, it probably is keeping apartments from being built which in less supply.

And Then There Were Five - Iowa City Manager Candidates

The Iowa City Council has narrowed the list of qualified candidates from twelve to five after one candidate was unable to visit on February 15th for a public meet and greet at the public library in meeting room A from 4:30 to 6:30. The candidates include:

M.A. “Art” Chaudry, executive vice president and chief financial of Union Station in Kansas City, Mo.

Lawrence M. Delo, city administrator of De Pere, Wis., population 22,495.

Michael E. Matthes, assistant city manager in Des Moines, population 198,000.

Marketa G. Oliver, city administrator in Windsor Heights, population 4,000.

Susan A. Stanton, former city manager of Largo, Fla., population 78,000.

More later.

Election Reflection

The city elections in Iowa City, Coralville, and North Liberty reflected that (some) change is good. With changes in leadership, there is the hope that more regional cooperation will occur from emergency communications and mass transportation decisions are made to planning for more affordable workforce housing.

As Iowa City is in the process of selecting a new city manager, citizens had an opportunity yesterday to meet with recruiter Bob Beezat from PAR Group who is the firm that is screening candidates for the job. At the session I attended, there were a number of thematics addressed but a common thread was that the next city manager should be customer-focused, helpful to prioritize community needs so that resources can be best used, that will work to increase cooperation between the city and the University, and will improve the transparency and accountability of Iowa City governance.

With Matt Hayek and Mike Wright being seated both of whom live and/or work in the central business district, it can be expected that downtown will be a focus of this council. The council will lose a fount of information with both Dee Vanderhoef leaving the council (although I imagine her phone will be ringing) and the amiable Bob Elliott. However, based on the issues that this campaign focused on (and one's that Bob and Dee championed), it is expected that a fourth fire station will be funded and staffed, that the police department will increase its staff, that historic preservation districts will be strengthened. Also, as the business environment of Iowa City is favorable, economic development efforts will be redoubled. It is also expected that affordable housing will continue to be prioritized and that finding funding for low-income rental housing, as well as seed money for 50 to 80% of median income homes will need to be found.

With regard to bars in downtown Iowa City, there will be a greater pressure to police themselves better, as the Que Bar recently learned. The referendum, while not close, did reflect in polling precincts that there is a tale of two cities and that many residents believe that enforcing the legal drinking age is important. Time will tell as to how this will go.

Finally with a permanent Police Citizen Review Board being approved, the next issue will be who serves on it and how do they earn their keep. Some politicking no doubt will occur and, again, time will tell how it goes.

What will be most interesting will be the wrestling match between popular vote topping current mayor Ross Wilburn and mayor pro tem Regenia Bailey, who has made it clear she would like to be the next mayor. A change in leadership in the city council would likely push the agenda in a different direction. As the mayor is selected by the council, it is anybody's guess how this will go.

In Coralville, newcomer Mitch Gross will join a council that is knee-deep in experience and with a mayor who is deeply entrenched. It will be interesting to see if the ideas that Gross proposed during his campaign will gain traction.

Finally, in North Liberty, James Moody, who has been in the center of controversy over governance there leaves the council and three new members join with moderate Mayor Tom Salm continuing in that position. Given the rapid growth in North Liberty and the newly passed hotel/motel tax, some of the infrastructural problems can be addressed.

Green Space or Dining Space?

Often local politics is about individual core values, and sometimes its about protectionism that is played out on a small stage. A good example is the controversy surrounding whether or not to allow (and have him pay to do it) a local business person to put a outdoor seating area in what is now a public green space (albeit, a public planter bed that has not been well maintained).

In question is whether one business owner can do something that other businesses have not--based on a novel idea to use a space in a new and different way, the artistic rendering of which I have not seen, and therefore have no feeling about. Secondly, should a widely used public space be given up at the expense of pedestrian traffic and, perhaps, aesthetics? Lastly, should the Ped Mall, which is where the project would take place, have a more strategic view of how to accommodate both the public concern and the business concerns that co-exist there? If so, who would do it?

The City Council will consider changes to ordinances to proceed in a special session tomorrow. If you have concerns, call Regenia Bailey or any of the council members and let them know.

Burlington Mayor Resigns After Run-in with Resident

Mike Edwards, mayor of Burlington resigned to city officials Wednesday afternoon after a shouting match during a City Council meeting earlier this week. A resident confronted the police chief on an issue and the chief replied that the resident should take up the matter with Edwards. The resident replied, "I don't take advice from alcoholics." Edwards was upset at the comment and, according to witnesses was visibly upset. According to fellow council member Tim Scott, "He stood up, walked away, walked back ... and said the meeting was over three times."

Edwards, who has a history of alcohol abuse, was arrested for drunken driving in 1998, 1981 and 1979. He was convicted of second-offense drunken driving in 1985.

He also was found passed out behind the wheel of his car after a night of drinking in 2005.

Mayor Pro Tem Bill Ell will serve as interim mayor.