Focusing on North Liberty: Strange Days Indeed

From Wednesday's Press-Citizen

"With a mayor now in place, North Liberty's government still faces an unpredictable future. A special election June 12, propelled by a petition signed by 327 residents, will decide if the city keeps its current form of government or adopts a council-manager-ward system.

The council currently has five at-large members and one non-voting mayor. If favored by a majority of voters, the city will be divided into four wards with a council made of one voting mayor and six council members. One council member would be elected from each ward, two would be voted at-large and one at-large mayor brings the total number of seats to seven."

But there is more to this story

If passed with a "yes" vote in June, it would mean that the 4 year terms of James Wozniak and Gerry Kuhl, set to end December 2009, would end this November, 2 years earlier than what the voters intended when they elected them in the 2005 election. Given current events, the only question is this punishment or reward?

It would also mean that James Moody and Matt Bahl, whose terms will end this December, may run for re-election and hope to be elected in their own wards rather than face the entire electorate, a prospect they may not relish given their support of the mayoral lawsuit and their no votes on transit and the Clear Creek-Amana school.

In the mean time, Tom Salm will have a couple months to try out being mayor and be in the unenviable role of trying to keep the canvass on this circus.

Who says there is no partisanship to non-partisan politics.

Salm Enchanted Evening

Tom Salm appointed by peers as new mayor of North Liberty

The Press-Citizen reports

The North Liberty City Council has selected one of its own to fill the mayoral seat left by former Mayor Dave Franker.

Councilor Tom Salm unanimously was approved to be the city's new mayor until the term ends in November. Salm, who will be sworn in today, will leave vacant a city council post. Salm abstained from the vote.

"I have the desire to do it, and I know I can do it," Salm said Tuesday at the City Council meeting. "I hope we can get excited and move forward."

Earlier at the meeting councilors voted 4-1, with Matt Bahl opposing, to appoint a mayor rather than handing the decision to voters in a special election.