Bob Elliott and Dee Vanderhoef's terms on the Iowa City Council are about to expire. Bob served for one term and Dee for three. Both of these councilors were dedicated to serving the citizen's of Iowa City and should be praised for their service.
Bob, perhaps the next council will build the 4th fire station that you tirelessly lobbied to achieve. I appreciated the respectful manner and energy that you put forth in serving on the council. We didn't agree on all things, but as you were apt to say, "we can disagree without being disagreeable."
Dee, the city council will miss your incredible mind for detail and the studious effort that you put into the tough decisions. Like Bob, I didn't always agree with your decisions, but I honor your service and your efforts for parks and trails. Your legacy is apparent.
Replacing them on the council are Matt Hayek and Mike Wright. With the changing of the guard is a change of ideology which should have a positive impact in selecting the next city manager and addressing affordable housing in a practicable way.
Good luck to Mike and Matt and the other members of the city council. It will an experience you will not forget, right Bob and Dee?
Showing posts with label Matthew Hayek. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Matthew Hayek. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 11
Tuesday, November 6
Wright, Hayek, Gross Win! Moody and 21-Only on the Short End
Mike Wright, with 35% of the vote, held his ground and won one of the two at-large seats on the Iowa City Council in a tough race over challenger Terry Smith and incumbent Dee Vanderhoef. Matt Hayek, as expected, won the other seat with 60% of the vote. Regenia Bailey and Ross Wilburn, who won the most votes of any candidate running unopposed, will both return to council for another term.
In an unusual turn of events story, the 21-only bar referendum failed as absentee ballots which had not been counted when all the polls had closed, were added up. The tipping point came after the last city precinct to report, City High, toppled the race to the "Yes" side by about 200 votes, after the "No" vote led all evening. At 9:50, the auditors office reported the margin had shifted dramatically back to the "no" side by a count of 8895 to 6,606.
The citizen's referendum to have a permanent Citizen Police Review Board passed handily with over 72% of the vote. The overall turnout was the highest since 2005 with 34% of voters turning out.
In Coralville, despite an underhanded whisper campaign aimed to sway and intimidate potential voters launched by a local Realtor within days of the election, Mitch Gross was elected to the city council there by a 39% margin replacing incumbent Jean Newlin Schnake. Mayor Jim Fausett was re-elected handily.
Finally, in North Liberty, incumbent council member James Moody was defeated for re-election by the triumvirate of Coleen Chipman, Jack Donahue, and Chris Hoffman. A hotel/motel tax referendum was also passed by a wide margin.
In an unusual turn of events story, the 21-only bar referendum failed as absentee ballots which had not been counted when all the polls had closed, were added up. The tipping point came after the last city precinct to report, City High, toppled the race to the "Yes" side by about 200 votes, after the "No" vote led all evening. At 9:50, the auditors office reported the margin had shifted dramatically back to the "no" side by a count of 8895 to 6,606.
The citizen's referendum to have a permanent Citizen Police Review Board passed handily with over 72% of the vote. The overall turnout was the highest since 2005 with 34% of voters turning out.
In Coralville, despite an underhanded whisper campaign aimed to sway and intimidate potential voters launched by a local Realtor within days of the election, Mitch Gross was elected to the city council there by a 39% margin replacing incumbent Jean Newlin Schnake. Mayor Jim Fausett was re-elected handily.
Finally, in North Liberty, incumbent council member James Moody was defeated for re-election by the triumvirate of Coleen Chipman, Jack Donahue, and Chris Hoffman. A hotel/motel tax referendum was also passed by a wide margin.
Monday, November 5
In Case You Have Been in a Coma--Welcome Back, You're Just in Time to Vote!
Iowa City Election- Voting Locations Tuesday 11/6
All Precinct Poll locations open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
(Your precinct number is located on your voter's registration card).
Precinct 1 — Roosevelt Elementary School, 611 Greenwood Dr.
Precinct 2 — Ernest Horn Elementary School, 600 Koser Ave.
Precinct 3 — Quadrangle Residence Hall, University of Iowa
Precinct 4 — Lincoln Elementary School, 300 Teeters Ct.
Precinct 5 — University of Iowa Main Library, 125 W. Washington St.
Precinct 6 — Mercer Park Recreation Center, 2701 Bradford Dr.
Precinct 7 — West High School, 2901 Melrose Ave.
Precinct 8 — Irving Weber Elementary School, 3850 Rohret Rd. SW
Precinct 9 — All Nations Baptist Church, 1715 Mormon Trek Blvd.
Precinct 10 — Goodwill Store, 985 Highway 6 East
Precinct 11 — Johnson County Courthouse, 417 S. Clinton St.
Precinct 12 — Grant Wood Elementary School, 1930 Lakeside Dr.
Precinct 13 — City Transit Building, 1200 S. Riverside Dr.
Precinct 14 — Mark Twain Elementary School, 1355 Deforest Ave.
Precinct 15 — Southeast Junior High School, 2501 Bradford Dr.
Precinct 16 — Robert Lucas Elementary School, 830 Southlawn Dr.
Precinct 17 — Hoover Elementary School, 2200 E. Court St.
Precinct 18 — Longfellow Elementary School, 1130 Seymour Ave.
Precinct 19 — Robert A. Lee Community Recreation Center (lower level, east entrance), 220 S. Gilbert St.
Precinct 20 — Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center, 28 S. Linn St.
Precinct 21 — Horace Mann Elementary School, 521 N. Dodge St.
Precinct 22 — Shimek Elementary School, 1400 Grissel Pl.
Precinct 23 — Regina High School, 2150 Rochester Ave.
Precinct 24 — City High School, 1900 Morningside Dr.
Precinct 25 — Helen Lemme Elementary School, 3100 E. Washington St.
******Vote for Mike Wright and Matt Hayek*******
All Precinct Poll locations open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
(Your precinct number is located on your voter's registration card).
Precinct 1 — Roosevelt Elementary School, 611 Greenwood Dr.
Precinct 2 — Ernest Horn Elementary School, 600 Koser Ave.
Precinct 3 — Quadrangle Residence Hall, University of Iowa
Precinct 4 — Lincoln Elementary School, 300 Teeters Ct.
Precinct 5 — University of Iowa Main Library, 125 W. Washington St.
Precinct 6 — Mercer Park Recreation Center, 2701 Bradford Dr.
Precinct 7 — West High School, 2901 Melrose Ave.
Precinct 8 — Irving Weber Elementary School, 3850 Rohret Rd. SW
Precinct 9 — All Nations Baptist Church, 1715 Mormon Trek Blvd.
Precinct 10 — Goodwill Store, 985 Highway 6 East
Precinct 11 — Johnson County Courthouse, 417 S. Clinton St.
Precinct 12 — Grant Wood Elementary School, 1930 Lakeside Dr.
Precinct 13 — City Transit Building, 1200 S. Riverside Dr.
Precinct 14 — Mark Twain Elementary School, 1355 Deforest Ave.
Precinct 15 — Southeast Junior High School, 2501 Bradford Dr.
Precinct 16 — Robert Lucas Elementary School, 830 Southlawn Dr.
Precinct 17 — Hoover Elementary School, 2200 E. Court St.
Precinct 18 — Longfellow Elementary School, 1130 Seymour Ave.
Precinct 19 — Robert A. Lee Community Recreation Center (lower level, east entrance), 220 S. Gilbert St.
Precinct 20 — Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center, 28 S. Linn St.
Precinct 21 — Horace Mann Elementary School, 521 N. Dodge St.
Precinct 22 — Shimek Elementary School, 1400 Grissel Pl.
Precinct 23 — Regina High School, 2150 Rochester Ave.
Precinct 24 — City High School, 1900 Morningside Dr.
Precinct 25 — Helen Lemme Elementary School, 3100 E. Washington St.
******Vote for Mike Wright and Matt Hayek*******
Sunday, November 4
Wright and Hayek Gain Gazette Endorsement
Mike Wright and Matt Hayek scored a rare coup, dual endorsements from both commercial newspapers in the Iowa City area, as the Gazette also endorsed them today.
If endorsements add up to votes, both these candidates should be in like Flynn.
If endorsements add up to votes, both these candidates should be in like Flynn.
Tuesday, October 30
On the Homefront: Who Wins the Horserace?
As the Iowa City Council race winds down, the question is how will the 21 ordinance vote impact the outcome of the at-large race. If history is any indication, it may not have the impact that some think.
In 2005, Amy Correia who was a pro-public power supporter was elected. I was also a public power supporter, and was not. In fairness, Amy also received the second highest amount of votes in the primary, while I came in fourth. In the general election, Amy received the most votes, and I stayed in 4th place.
Fast forward to this race, Matt Hayek received the most votes in the primary (by far) and Mike Wright and Terry Smith were about 200 votes apart for second and third. Dee Vanderhoef, the incumbent came in 4th place.
Given that Brandon Ross was eliminated and had 660 votes, it is likely that his primary votes will most likely go to Wright, as the only true progressive left in the race. Vanderhoef, Smith, and Hayek will likely fight three ways for two votes, which leaves one of them the odd person out--and at this point, it looks like it may be Vanderhoef.
The big unknown is how many students who are voting against the 21 ordinance are also voting for council candidates. The footage I saw from KCRG last week indicated that it is equally likely that a student voted only for the 21 as a student who voted for the 21 and at least one candidate. If half of the students who voted early voted for only the 21 issue at a satellite, that would mean that 1500 or so had also voted for a candidate. If the students only voted for candidates who did not support the 21, that would mean that Smith and Hayek would have at least a 1500 vote lead before polling on Tuesday.
What nobody is talking about is how many "yes" to 21-only voters will turn out to vote before or on Tuesday. If the number of "yes" voters mirrors the "no" voters in terms of selecting candidates based on their support of the 21 ordinance, it is anybody's guess how the race will turnout because more "yes" voters are likely to vote for candidates and the referendum items.
Not that you asked, but my crystal ball predicts with high voter turnout (30% or more):
1) Matt Hayek--by a metric mile
2) Mike Wright--by a tip of an eyelash
over
3) Terry Smith
4) Dee Vanderhoef
In any case, the crystal ball, while cloudy today, will be, well "crystal" clear somewhere around 8:30 Tuesday night. Good luck to all the candidates and your campaign teams--the hard slog is now.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The last forum?
John Deeth blogged Gary Sander's "No Baloney" City Council Forum
My as-it-happened take on the forum is here:http://jdeeth.blogspot.com/2007/10/no-baloney-4-candidates.html
In 2005, Amy Correia who was a pro-public power supporter was elected. I was also a public power supporter, and was not. In fairness, Amy also received the second highest amount of votes in the primary, while I came in fourth. In the general election, Amy received the most votes, and I stayed in 4th place.
Fast forward to this race, Matt Hayek received the most votes in the primary (by far) and Mike Wright and Terry Smith were about 200 votes apart for second and third. Dee Vanderhoef, the incumbent came in 4th place.
Given that Brandon Ross was eliminated and had 660 votes, it is likely that his primary votes will most likely go to Wright, as the only true progressive left in the race. Vanderhoef, Smith, and Hayek will likely fight three ways for two votes, which leaves one of them the odd person out--and at this point, it looks like it may be Vanderhoef.
The big unknown is how many students who are voting against the 21 ordinance are also voting for council candidates. The footage I saw from KCRG last week indicated that it is equally likely that a student voted only for the 21 as a student who voted for the 21 and at least one candidate. If half of the students who voted early voted for only the 21 issue at a satellite, that would mean that 1500 or so had also voted for a candidate. If the students only voted for candidates who did not support the 21, that would mean that Smith and Hayek would have at least a 1500 vote lead before polling on Tuesday.
What nobody is talking about is how many "yes" to 21-only voters will turn out to vote before or on Tuesday. If the number of "yes" voters mirrors the "no" voters in terms of selecting candidates based on their support of the 21 ordinance, it is anybody's guess how the race will turnout because more "yes" voters are likely to vote for candidates and the referendum items.
Not that you asked, but my crystal ball predicts with high voter turnout (30% or more):
1) Matt Hayek--by a metric mile
2) Mike Wright--by a tip of an eyelash
over
3) Terry Smith
4) Dee Vanderhoef
In any case, the crystal ball, while cloudy today, will be, well "crystal" clear somewhere around 8:30 Tuesday night. Good luck to all the candidates and your campaign teams--the hard slog is now.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The last forum?
John Deeth blogged Gary Sander's "No Baloney" City Council Forum
My as-it-happened take on the forum is here:http://jdeeth.blogspot.com/2007/10/no-baloney-4-candidates.html
Wednesday, October 10
Iowa City Primary Results : What Do They Mean?
Last night the tea leaves were read and Matt Hayek, Mike Wright, Terry Smith, and (barely) Dee Vanderhoef came through a voter-light Iowa City Council primary where an abysmal 7.7% of eligible voters (3,181 of 41,169 registered) turned out.
From the Press-Citizen
and Gazette
First the trends:
- Matt Hayek, with 70% of the vote is a force to be reckoned with. He was the hands down favorite in 22 of 25 precincts. With a centrist message, strong name recognition factor, and well-oiled campaign organization, it would be very surprising if he
wasn't elected next month.
- Mike Wright and Terry Smith's campaigns are going to have their work cut out. While it is clear that Hayek is "the force" -- Wright and Smith are on opposite ends of the spectrum, albeit both support more police officers and building and staffing a new firehouse. Past trends would favor Smith whose war chest (and potential "volunteer" corp) is likely to be higher than Wright's, but with the uncertainty of who will turn out to vote on November 6th and the Hayek Express moving fast and taking votes equally from the other candidates, Wright with focused effort could edge Smith out. Smith did well on the Southeast side of Iowa City, while Wright found his support among the more densely populated central district neighborhoods.
- Dee Vanderhoef is in serious trouble for her re-election bid. As the incumbent, Vanderhoef going into the primary had an edge over her challengers--she doesn't any more.
What Not to Conclude:
- The general election will yield the same conclusion: While it is very unlikely that the Hayek Express will be derailed, with two referendum items, one of which (the 21-only referendum) may highly impact the type of voter that turns out, it is anyone's guess who will be number two.
- Dee Vanderhoef is cooked: Mike O'Donnell in 2005 was in a similar situation and came in second. Vanderhoef, not known as a hard campaigner, will have to do more to earn the chance for another run on council.
- Brandon Ross is out of touch with voters. He got out of the gate later than the front-runners and almost made it through the primary with very limited campaign support and funds. He has a future, but will need to organize his efforts much better.
From the Press-Citizen
and Gazette
First the trends:
- Matt Hayek, with 70% of the vote is a force to be reckoned with. He was the hands down favorite in 22 of 25 precincts. With a centrist message, strong name recognition factor, and well-oiled campaign organization, it would be very surprising if he
wasn't elected next month.
- Mike Wright and Terry Smith's campaigns are going to have their work cut out. While it is clear that Hayek is "the force" -- Wright and Smith are on opposite ends of the spectrum, albeit both support more police officers and building and staffing a new firehouse. Past trends would favor Smith whose war chest (and potential "volunteer" corp) is likely to be higher than Wright's, but with the uncertainty of who will turn out to vote on November 6th and the Hayek Express moving fast and taking votes equally from the other candidates, Wright with focused effort could edge Smith out. Smith did well on the Southeast side of Iowa City, while Wright found his support among the more densely populated central district neighborhoods.
- Dee Vanderhoef is in serious trouble for her re-election bid. As the incumbent, Vanderhoef going into the primary had an edge over her challengers--she doesn't any more.
What Not to Conclude:
- The general election will yield the same conclusion: While it is very unlikely that the Hayek Express will be derailed, with two referendum items, one of which (the 21-only referendum) may highly impact the type of voter that turns out, it is anyone's guess who will be number two.
- Dee Vanderhoef is cooked: Mike O'Donnell in 2005 was in a similar situation and came in second. Vanderhoef, not known as a hard campaigner, will have to do more to earn the chance for another run on council.
- Brandon Ross is out of touch with voters. He got out of the gate later than the front-runners and almost made it through the primary with very limited campaign support and funds. He has a future, but will need to organize his efforts much better.
Wednesday, October 3
Press Citizen Makes Endorsements for City Council
The Press-Citizen's Editorial Board said "we don't think voters can go wrong by choosing from three of the five candidates Tuesday": Matt Hayek, Michael Wright and Terry Smith.
Actually, they chose Matt Hayek unanimously and offered a "tie" between one of my choices, Mike Wright, and Terry Smith. Support for incumbent Dee Vanderhoef and my other choice, Brandon Ross? Not so much. Fortunately for all the candidates, as I have learned first-hand, endorsements do not equal votes--so go out and vote. You can do so at Johnson County Administrative building today if you choose.
Actually, they chose Matt Hayek unanimously and offered a "tie" between one of my choices, Mike Wright, and Terry Smith. Support for incumbent Dee Vanderhoef and my other choice, Brandon Ross? Not so much. Fortunately for all the candidates, as I have learned first-hand, endorsements do not equal votes--so go out and vote. You can do so at Johnson County Administrative building today if you choose.
Thursday, September 27
After the Safe Streets Forum
Myself and around 90 other people were at last evening's forum that was moderated by Johnson County District Attorney Janet Lyness at the majestic Englert Theater. Panel members included both ICPD Chief Sam Hargadine and UIPD Chief Chuck Green, Ashley Peterson, and Iowa City Councilor Amy Correia. Current city councilors Bob Elliott and Regenia Bailey were in the audience. Also, candidates Matt Hayek and Mike Wright were there, puzzling were the absences of the other candidates.
A good deal of time was spent addressing audience questions and clearing up some miscommunications about safety. The university is starting up a van shuttle to bring home women who want to avail themselves of the service on Fridays and Saturday nights.
Kudos to the organizers of the event and to Chiefs Green and Hargadine for attending. Also, it was great to see a cross-section of the community at the forum, not ust students. Neighborhood leaders like Tim Weitzel were there, as well as bloggers like John Deeth who was liveblogging.
If you witness suspicious acts, do call the police 358-TIPS (8477). It is up to the community to make Iowa City safe, the police are doing the best they can.
A good deal of time was spent addressing audience questions and clearing up some miscommunications about safety. The university is starting up a van shuttle to bring home women who want to avail themselves of the service on Fridays and Saturday nights.
Kudos to the organizers of the event and to Chiefs Green and Hargadine for attending. Also, it was great to see a cross-section of the community at the forum, not ust students. Neighborhood leaders like Tim Weitzel were there, as well as bloggers like John Deeth who was liveblogging.
If you witness suspicious acts, do call the police 358-TIPS (8477). It is up to the community to make Iowa City safe, the police are doing the best they can.
Wednesday, September 26
Iowa City Council: Who I Am Endorsing
With the Iowa City Council primary two weeks away (Tuesday October 9th), it is becoming clearer to me about the differences between the at-large candidates in the pool. Since it is no secret that I am a Populist and a Progressive, some of what I say will reflect this perspective. The forum that was held Sunday by the organization I am chair of, FAIR! and Democracy for America and Sierra Club addressed many questions that I and others have (and sadly, many questions are left to be answered). The candidate pie can be sliced a number of ways, but here are three factors I use to gauge candidates:
1) Innovation v. Conservation: When a city has finite resources, how will the candidate favor spreading them furthest?
2) We (the People) Market v. Free Market: To accomplish the goals, will the candidate favor public or private sector solutions?
3) Forest v. Trees: In thinking about prioritizing needs of the community, is the candidate present problem focused or "big picture" focused.
For me, the ideal candidate would lean more to the conservation side, trying to reuse resources in a way to get more mileage from them. Innovation would stem from using public and private resources to creating efficiencies or new services. Also, the ideal candidate would use both private and public sector solutions, wielding the public policy stick firmly for goals like human services and affordable housing. Finally, I favor candidates that think of current problems through the big picture lens; placing band-aids on gaping wounds is not the way to go. Prioritizing needs (with public input) should be the first step that any city council should make.
Lastly, and this is a disclaimer, where a candidate seems to hang their hat, should matter. Not only where in the community they live, but also with whom they affiliate.
Based on these criteria (and each with a disclaimer), the candidates that stand out for me are:
Mike Wright, Brandon Ross:
Challenger Mike Wright, a first time candidate, comes from a neighborhood leadership perspective (He was the neighborhhood leader in Longfellow and now in the Northside Neighborhood), is serving on the Board of Adjustments (which is where zoning decisions go when there are exceptions to existing rules), and has been a long-time supporter of historic preservation. He is not flashy, but he is is thoughtful, articulate, and public-service oriented. He supports public processes and balances private and public needs well in his philosophy. Disclaimer: In fairness, I have known Mike a while because of our participation in the Neighborhood Council and have donated to his campaign and advised him.
Challenger Brandon Ross comes from a more progressive perspective than Mike and is more idealistic in his beliefs about sustainable community. However, as I look at the current council, I see Brandon as a good fit, because he would bring a different community-oriented perspective and is articulate and respectful in conveying his ideas. He would be one of three council candidates who does not live or work directly downtown, so he is more sensitive to other community needs, He has run twice before (once at-large, once in district B) so it is not possible to dismiss him as a "not serious" candidate, though his manner is admittedly more casual. He is principled in his approach and straight forward in speaking. Disclaimer: In fairness, I also have known him for a while. Brandon supported my candidacy and I did play on the Preemptive Strikes softball team with him this summer. I have offered advice to him.
Why Not Hayek, Smith, or Vanderhoef
Challenger Matt Hayek, a first time candidate, is a principled candidate. I appreciate Matt as a good listener and thoughtful about how he would represent the community. Where I hesitate to support him fully is on policy matters, as he is more middle of the road on important issues like affordable housing and downtown development. Matt has shown great community leadership, both with the Englert Theater and with the Housing and Community Development Commission, under which he headed the taskforce that looked at scattered site housing. Matt is more of a pragmatist than a progressive, but does believe in social justice, as he represents some non-profit organizations in the community. Disclaimer: In fairness, Matt and I are Unitarian Universalists, so I know him inside and outside the political realm and he is a highly likeable guy. I also offered him advice.
Challenger Terry Smith, a first time candidate, is involved and intelligent. I respect him as he has been with Mid-American Energy for 27 years and worked himself up the chain of command. He has been on both the Telecommunications and Planning and Zoning Commissions and is invested in the community with Junior Achievement, Goodwill Industries and other organizations. Unfortunately, for better or worse, Terry is connected to the development community in a way that is hard for him not to reflect their values over other community members. With Mike O'Donnell on the council acting as a voice of the Chamber of Commerce, Terry does not offer a different voice. With the need to meld public policy with private interests, Terry is unlikely to be dispassionate about how the council decides issues. Disclaimer: In fairness, I have not had a pure social interaction with Terry, although I did visit with him and his union foreman at Mid-American when I ran in 2005 and had a great conversation with him then.
Incumbent Dee Vanderhoef has been one of my favorite council members for one reason, she is a excellent source of information about issues in front of the council. On a personal level, I admire and respect her in part for being one of the few council members who asked good questions about the development that became the Plaza Towers. She does her homework and has a mind for detail, that is for sure. With regard to vision and ability to get her point across to other members of the council, I believe she has had a lack of success. Generally, I see her as supporting the status quo, but on issues like parks and recreation, she is more progressive. She has served the community well in her twelve years, but a more cooperative and effective voice is needed. Disclaimer: In fairness, I called on Dee when I ran for the council and have found her to be quite helpful in talking about issues.
1) Innovation v. Conservation: When a city has finite resources, how will the candidate favor spreading them furthest?
2) We (the People) Market v. Free Market: To accomplish the goals, will the candidate favor public or private sector solutions?
3) Forest v. Trees: In thinking about prioritizing needs of the community, is the candidate present problem focused or "big picture" focused.
For me, the ideal candidate would lean more to the conservation side, trying to reuse resources in a way to get more mileage from them. Innovation would stem from using public and private resources to creating efficiencies or new services. Also, the ideal candidate would use both private and public sector solutions, wielding the public policy stick firmly for goals like human services and affordable housing. Finally, I favor candidates that think of current problems through the big picture lens; placing band-aids on gaping wounds is not the way to go. Prioritizing needs (with public input) should be the first step that any city council should make.
Lastly, and this is a disclaimer, where a candidate seems to hang their hat, should matter. Not only where in the community they live, but also with whom they affiliate.
Based on these criteria (and each with a disclaimer), the candidates that stand out for me are:
Mike Wright, Brandon Ross:
Challenger Mike Wright, a first time candidate, comes from a neighborhood leadership perspective (He was the neighborhhood leader in Longfellow and now in the Northside Neighborhood), is serving on the Board of Adjustments (which is where zoning decisions go when there are exceptions to existing rules), and has been a long-time supporter of historic preservation. He is not flashy, but he is is thoughtful, articulate, and public-service oriented. He supports public processes and balances private and public needs well in his philosophy. Disclaimer: In fairness, I have known Mike a while because of our participation in the Neighborhood Council and have donated to his campaign and advised him.
Challenger Brandon Ross comes from a more progressive perspective than Mike and is more idealistic in his beliefs about sustainable community. However, as I look at the current council, I see Brandon as a good fit, because he would bring a different community-oriented perspective and is articulate and respectful in conveying his ideas. He would be one of three council candidates who does not live or work directly downtown, so he is more sensitive to other community needs, He has run twice before (once at-large, once in district B) so it is not possible to dismiss him as a "not serious" candidate, though his manner is admittedly more casual. He is principled in his approach and straight forward in speaking. Disclaimer: In fairness, I also have known him for a while. Brandon supported my candidacy and I did play on the Preemptive Strikes softball team with him this summer. I have offered advice to him.
Why Not Hayek, Smith, or Vanderhoef
Challenger Matt Hayek, a first time candidate, is a principled candidate. I appreciate Matt as a good listener and thoughtful about how he would represent the community. Where I hesitate to support him fully is on policy matters, as he is more middle of the road on important issues like affordable housing and downtown development. Matt has shown great community leadership, both with the Englert Theater and with the Housing and Community Development Commission, under which he headed the taskforce that looked at scattered site housing. Matt is more of a pragmatist than a progressive, but does believe in social justice, as he represents some non-profit organizations in the community. Disclaimer: In fairness, Matt and I are Unitarian Universalists, so I know him inside and outside the political realm and he is a highly likeable guy. I also offered him advice.
Challenger Terry Smith, a first time candidate, is involved and intelligent. I respect him as he has been with Mid-American Energy for 27 years and worked himself up the chain of command. He has been on both the Telecommunications and Planning and Zoning Commissions and is invested in the community with Junior Achievement, Goodwill Industries and other organizations. Unfortunately, for better or worse, Terry is connected to the development community in a way that is hard for him not to reflect their values over other community members. With Mike O'Donnell on the council acting as a voice of the Chamber of Commerce, Terry does not offer a different voice. With the need to meld public policy with private interests, Terry is unlikely to be dispassionate about how the council decides issues. Disclaimer: In fairness, I have not had a pure social interaction with Terry, although I did visit with him and his union foreman at Mid-American when I ran in 2005 and had a great conversation with him then.
Incumbent Dee Vanderhoef has been one of my favorite council members for one reason, she is a excellent source of information about issues in front of the council. On a personal level, I admire and respect her in part for being one of the few council members who asked good questions about the development that became the Plaza Towers. She does her homework and has a mind for detail, that is for sure. With regard to vision and ability to get her point across to other members of the council, I believe she has had a lack of success. Generally, I see her as supporting the status quo, but on issues like parks and recreation, she is more progressive. She has served the community well in her twelve years, but a more cooperative and effective voice is needed. Disclaimer: In fairness, I called on Dee when I ran for the council and have found her to be quite helpful in talking about issues.
Silent Running: Primary Season Iowa City
Generally, readers of my blog get a Whitman's Sampler of issues: locally, statewide, and nationally. Today, it is all about Iowa City.
Folks who live in Iowa City do not generally get terribly worked up over the city council primaries--and this is too bad. For instance, in 2005, there was an 8.5% turnout for the primary (compared with the general election, for which 29% turned out).
In this primary, the only contested race is for two at-large seats on the city council. Of the five candidates (Matt Hayek, Brandon Ross, Terry Smith, Dee Vanderhoef and Mike Wright), four will move ahead based on the primary outcome and appear on the November 6th ballot. At that point, the four remaining at-large candidates, uncontested District seats A and C candidates Reginia Bailey and Ross Wilburn, and Public Measures C and D which address bar admission age and amending the Home charter to change the responsibilities of the Police Citizens Review Board will be voted on.
On October 9th, all registered city voters may vote for two of the five candidates in the at large race. In the November 6 election, all Iowa City voters may vote in the at large and in the District A and C contests.
Early Voting
Early voting for the October 9 Iowa City Primary is now available at the Auditor's Office, 913 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City, weekdays 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Satellite voting sites:
Iowa City Public Library
123 S. Linn St., Iowa City, IA
Saturday, October 6, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday, October 7, noon - 5 p.m.
Monday, October 8, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics
200 Hawkins Dr., Iowa City, IA, First Floor, Fountain Lobby (inside the old main entrance with the circle drive).
Monday, October 8, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Folks who live in Iowa City do not generally get terribly worked up over the city council primaries--and this is too bad. For instance, in 2005, there was an 8.5% turnout for the primary (compared with the general election, for which 29% turned out).
In this primary, the only contested race is for two at-large seats on the city council. Of the five candidates (Matt Hayek, Brandon Ross, Terry Smith, Dee Vanderhoef and Mike Wright), four will move ahead based on the primary outcome and appear on the November 6th ballot. At that point, the four remaining at-large candidates, uncontested District seats A and C candidates Reginia Bailey and Ross Wilburn, and Public Measures C and D which address bar admission age and amending the Home charter to change the responsibilities of the Police Citizens Review Board will be voted on.
On October 9th, all registered city voters may vote for two of the five candidates in the at large race. In the November 6 election, all Iowa City voters may vote in the at large and in the District A and C contests.
Early Voting
Early voting for the October 9 Iowa City Primary is now available at the Auditor's Office, 913 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City, weekdays 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Satellite voting sites:
Iowa City Public Library
123 S. Linn St., Iowa City, IA
Saturday, October 6, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday, October 7, noon - 5 p.m.
Monday, October 8, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics
200 Hawkins Dr., Iowa City, IA, First Floor, Fountain Lobby (inside the old main entrance with the circle drive).
Monday, October 8, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday, August 25
Wright and Hayek at Farmer's Market
Want to know who's working for your vote in the Fall for Iowa City Council? Matt Hayek and Mike Wright have set up shop in front of the Farmer's Market which is a great place to meet voters of all stripes.
Wright also has a campaign kickoff tomorrow night at his home at 225 N. Lucas with former State Representative and Gubernatorial candidate, Ed Fallon from 6:30 to 8 pm. Go check him out, if you don't know where he stands on your issues or if you like good old accordion music.
Wright also has a campaign kickoff tomorrow night at his home at 225 N. Lucas with former State Representative and Gubernatorial candidate, Ed Fallon from 6:30 to 8 pm. Go check him out, if you don't know where he stands on your issues or if you like good old accordion music.
Wednesday, August 8
One More in the Race for Iowa City Council
Two time City Council candidate, Brandon Ross, is planning to throw his hat in the City Council at-large race. He is collecting his final signatures to be on the ballotHe with Mike Wright, Terry Smith, Dee VanderHoef, Matt Hayek, and Tim Judd who have all previously declared their candidacy. Ross, who has done well in the past, will have significant hurdles to overcome to get his message out in this field.
As our mutual friend Julie Spears once said of Brandon, "He believes strongly in walkable neighborhoods, where people have safe sidewalks, crosswalks, bike lanes, and access to affordable housing, transportation, and grocery stores. He cares about people being able to find a place to live, work, play, and get around town safely without throwing the city's tax dollars away on wasteful high-end projects calling it economic development."
As our mutual friend Julie Spears once said of Brandon, "He believes strongly in walkable neighborhoods, where people have safe sidewalks, crosswalks, bike lanes, and access to affordable housing, transportation, and grocery stores. He cares about people being able to find a place to live, work, play, and get around town safely without throwing the city's tax dollars away on wasteful high-end projects calling it economic development."
Monday, July 9
Wednesday, July 4
Hayek Files with State
In an effort to keep faithful readers up to date with the candidates for city council and their teammates, here is a link to the state filing that Matt Hayek made to set up his council campaign. His website is being built, so check back.
Tuesday, June 5
It's Official: Matt Hayek In
According to the P-C Matt Hayek is actively stumping for an at-large seat on the city council.
Local attorney Matt Hayek announced today that he will run for one of two at-large seats on the Iowa City Council.The Iowa City native is a partner at the Hayek, Brown, Moreland & Hayek law firm. He has served on the Iowa City Housing and Community Development Commission for four years, and was chairman for two years. In 2004, he was appointed by the council to chair a special taskforce to study housing issues in the city.
Hayek, 37, lives with his wife, Mary Kate, in the historic Goosetown neighborhood with their infant daughter. Active in the community, Hayek is board president of the Englert Theatre. He led restoration efforts and helped secure $2 million for the project.
Hayek will be competing with at least one council hopeful and three incumbents for the four available seats on City Council in November. Iowa City Mayor Ross Wilburn, council members Regenia Bailey and Dee Vanderhoef, and city planning and zoning commissioner Terry Smith have announced their plans to run.
The Gazette adds that Hayek is not running on a particular agenda.
Local attorney Matt Hayek announced today that he will run for one of two at-large seats on the Iowa City Council.The Iowa City native is a partner at the Hayek, Brown, Moreland & Hayek law firm. He has served on the Iowa City Housing and Community Development Commission for four years, and was chairman for two years. In 2004, he was appointed by the council to chair a special taskforce to study housing issues in the city.
Hayek, 37, lives with his wife, Mary Kate, in the historic Goosetown neighborhood with their infant daughter. Active in the community, Hayek is board president of the Englert Theatre. He led restoration efforts and helped secure $2 million for the project.
Hayek will be competing with at least one council hopeful and three incumbents for the four available seats on City Council in November. Iowa City Mayor Ross Wilburn, council members Regenia Bailey and Dee Vanderhoef, and city planning and zoning commissioner Terry Smith have announced their plans to run.
The Gazette adds that Hayek is not running on a particular agenda.
Sunday, May 27
And Then There Were Four?
With Michael Wright set to announce his candidacy for an at-large seat on the Iowa City Council and Dee Vanderhoef and Terry Smith already in the running, the burning question is are there any other candidates in the running? The grapevine suggests that there is at least one more candidate lurking out there. Former Housing and Community Development Commission Chair and President of the Englert Theater Board, Matt Hayak is likely to announce his bid for the council soon. Hayak, an attorney and recent new Dad was responsible for leading the "scattered site" housing task group while on the HCDC.
At this time both Regenia Bailey and Ross Wilburn are seeking re-election in their districts without opponents.
This could be the first city council election without a primary since 1991 when Susan Horowitz, Randy Larson, Karen Kubby and Bill Ambrisco were elected to fill the A and C districts and two at-large seats.
At this time both Regenia Bailey and Ross Wilburn are seeking re-election in their districts without opponents.
This could be the first city council election without a primary since 1991 when Susan Horowitz, Randy Larson, Karen Kubby and Bill Ambrisco were elected to fill the A and C districts and two at-large seats.
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