SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
October 1, 2015
Sullivan’s
Salvos 10/6/15
In this edition:
*Happy Homecoming!
*Iowa City Council History
*Iowa City Council Endorsements
*Did You Know?
*Happy Homecoming!
Happy
Homecoming! I love the traditions of Homecoming; the parade, the pomp and
circumstance, alumni returning from afar. Homecoming is one of the real
benefits of living in a University town.
I
hope you enjoy Homecoming as much as I do. Either way, have a great week and Go
Hawks!
*Iowa City Council History
Iowa
City is an interesting place. The very words “Iowa City” conjure up images for
everyone in the state. If I had to pick the single most common misperception
about Iowa City, it would be the idea that the Iowa City Council is a
progressive institution.
I
was speaking with a few old timers recently, and we were debating how many
times Iowa City has had a progressive majority on the Council. There was arguably
a progressive majority for two years in the mid-to-late ‘70s, but they never
really came together around a progressive agenda. In theory, there was what
should have been a progressive majority in ’08 and ’09. But that group lacked
cohesion and leadership, and was dealt the bad hand of dealing with the flood.
That
is pretty much it. Progressives have been in charge just 4 years out of the
past 40. So much for Iowa City being this “liberal enclave.” In reality, the
candidates backed by the Chamber of Commerce win 90% of the time. NINETY
PERCENT!
So
why is this? For one thing, turnout is terrible. Almost 11,000 people voted in
2013, and folks were raving about the great turnout. That “great” turnout was
23%. (Turnout was 14% in ’11, and 10% in ’09, so relatively speaking, it was
up.)
Why
is turnout so low? I see several reasons: First, the University community tends
to be quite myopic. These are people with advanced degrees who are used to
specializing. They have grants to get and papers to publish. While these folks
lean a bit to the liberal side, they cannot be bothered with local politics. UI
faculty and staff are often conversant on national politics but cannot name the
Mayor of Iowa City.
Secondly,
almost everyone in Iowa City is “from” somewhere else. Heck, I voted absentee
back home for several years before finally registering in Iowa City. This is
not uncommon. People see Iowa City as a temporary stopping place, and they do
not bother to get invested in local politics.
Thirdly, the Democrats that get elected to State and County
offices tend to take a VERY hands-off approach when it comes to City politics.
A perfect example: Minnette Doderer was perhaps the most liberal individual
ever elected to the Iowa Legislature. Yet she routinely supported Republican
businesspeople as City Council candidates. (Minnette’s husband Fred had been the
Mayor of Iowa City in the early ‘60s. I always got a sense that she felt
Council politics were his area, not hers.) I wish folks who hold other offices
would work for progressive Council candidates, but they just don’t. It is not
in their own political best interests, so they pretty much stay out of it.
Fourthly,
organized labor, people of color, and other traditionally Democratic groups
have not been very involved in local politics. The one exception has been the
local LGBTQ community, who were extremely politically active in the 70s and
beyond. Look what you have as a result – one of the most gay-friendly cities in
the US. Other groups could have a similar impact if they organized and voted.
So,
you have the strange situation where Iowa City has over 80% voter turnout in
Presidential elections, and elects very progressive folks to office. Then local
elections roll around, 15% of the voters turn out, and conservatives control
the Council.
The
typical Iowa City Council of the past 40 years consists primarily of registered
Democrats who bear little resemblance to the Democrats that Iowa City voters
send to the Statehouse. City Councilors could not tell you the first thing
about the Democratic Party platform. If you were to ask them about it, they
would simply say those “aren’t local issues.” In fact, ALL issues are local
issues.
Obviously,
not all progressive Councilors have been good, and not all conservative
Councilors have been bad. But most folks easily slip into the agenda that has
been set for them by the staff. This agenda is fine for the local Chamber, but
does not reflect the desires of the community as a whole.
These
Councils have had basically the same agenda for 40 years: defer to landlords;
support developers; and maintain a police force whose focus is keeping students
and people of color in their respective places. Most importantly, do what the staff
says. Throw some money at SOTA events and the library, and you have adequate
bread and circuses to distract the masses.
Since 2009, the Iowa City agenda has changed. Since ’09 Iowa City has
been laser focused on Coralville. Imagine the University of Iowa spending all
its time worrying about Kirkwood, or Hy-Vee spending all its time worrying
about New Pi. But that is how Iowa City has decided to spend the past 6 years.
Look, things aren’t bad in Iowa City… so long as you are older,
wealthier, and white. But we can do so much better. We need to do so much
better.
I
wish the Iowa City Council reflected the people of Iowa City. We have yet
another opportunity this fall. I hope you will do your part!
*Iowa City Council Endorsements
We
just talked about the history of the Iowa City Council. But what about this
year? Elections are November 3, and early voting begins Monday, October 5!
Below
are my endorsements in this year’s Council races:
District A:
Incumbent Rick Dobbyns is a very nice man. I like him a lot. But his opponent
Pauline Taylor is a legend in local progressive circles. Pauline was one of the
leaders of the SEIU campaign to organize nurses at UIHC, which has improved
patient outcomes at that institution. Pauline has been involved in many
progressive causes over the years. She is campaigning on affordable housing,
historic preservation, and being a more welcoming city. Most importantly, she
is willing to question staff. We have a male doctor versus a female nurse. I’m
voting for Pauline.
District C:
Scott McDonough is a local contractor and affordable housing advocate. I have
only known Scott about two years, but he has completely won me over. He is a
great guy! That said, I have known John Thomas longer. John has an amazing
record as a neighborhood organizer. His accomplishments in the Mann area are
impressive. John’s whole career prepared him for a seat on Council. And the
current Council threw him off the P&Z Commission. What better
recommendation can you get? While I firmly believe you cannot go wrong with
either choice, I’m voting for John.
At Large: I
watch Council meetings, and I often feel Jim Throgmorton is the only person
asking the right questions. Jim has been a steady progressive voice, often in
the face of harsh criticism. I know Jim pretty well, and I can assure you he is
honest, ethical, smart, thoughtful, compassionate, kind, and caring. If you
cast only one vote, Jim deserves it.
My other vote
will be for Rockne Cole. A local attorney, Rockne is bright, passionate, and
full of new ideas. Rockne will not sit back and allow staff to keep the same
agenda in place. He will also give the Council a dose of energy it badly needs.
Vote Rockne!
Now
get out there and cast your ballot!
*DID YOU KNOW?
Former Iowa City Councilor and liberal icon Karen Kubby ran and lost
twice before finally getting elected to the Iowa City Council in 1991.
Anyone
interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the
County website-
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---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 9:42 PM
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