Rod Sullivan, Supervisor, Johnson County, Iowa

Previous Posts

Archives


rodsullivan.org

SULLIVAN'S SALVOS

June 30, 2016

Sullivan’s Salvos     7/5/16



In this edition:


*RIP Francine Jacobs
*Brexit – Here and Abroad
*Calling Out the Corridor Business Journal
*Bernie Sanders
*Did You Know?



*RIP Francine Jacobs
         Johnson County lost a labor leader recently with the passing of Francine Jacobs.

         You heard that right! Most folks knew Francine as a great mother, grandmother, aunt, and an all-around wonderful person. She was a caregiver to many, and should be remembered as such.

         But while many folks know Francine’s husband Tom Jacobs for his decades of service to organized labor and the Democratic Party, many of those same folks do not realize the important roles Francine filled in AFSCME, local labor organizations, and the local Democratic Party. She was a true blue activist and leader!

         It would be difficult to find a kinder, gentler, more caring, more giving, more selfless couple than Tom and Francine Jacobs. RIP, Francine!



*Brexit – Here and Abroad
         There was a very disturbing vote across the Atlantic – Great Britain voted to leave the European Union.

         The website Vox put this forward: A comment on the Financial Times website from a commenter named “Nicholas” said the following:

“A quick note on the first three tragedies. Firstly, it was the working classes who voted for us to leave because they were economically disregarded, and it is they who will suffer the most in the short term. They have merely swapped one distant and unreachable elite for another.
Secondly, the younger generation has lost the right to live and work in 27 other countries. We will never know the full extent of the lost opportunities, friendships, marriages and experiences we will be denied. Freedom of movement was taken away by our parents, uncles, and grandparents in a parting blow to a generation that was already drowning in the debts of our predecessors.
Thirdly and perhaps most significantly, we now live in a post-factual democracy. When the facts met the myths they were as useless as bullets bouncing off the bodies of aliens in a HG Wells novel. When Michael Gove said, ‘The British people are sick of experts,’ he was right. But can anybody tell me the last time a prevailing culture of anti-intellectualism has led to anything other than bigotry?”

         First, what an amazing piece of writing, especially for someone just commenting on a news site!

Secondly, I feel so sad for our British brothers and sisters. Fear and hate won out in a national election; I can think of few things sadder.

Finally, Americans should be afraid – very afraid. What just happened in Great Britain can DEFINITELY happen here! When people feel disaffected, they go one of three routes: they drop out, they vote Bernie, or they vote Trump. Our challenge is to convince the dropouts and the Bernies that we MUST not elect President Trump! The problem is, they got to this point because politics has not worked for them. We have a job in front of us!



*Calling Out the Corridor Business Journal
         There is a small local newspaper in Coralville called the Corridor Business Journal (CBJ). Don’t feel bad if you have not heard of it – Salvos has almost as many subscribers. The CBJ loves to take shots at the Johnson County Board of Supervisors. The main reason for their dislike of the Sups is that the CBJ believes politicians are too timid on the minimum wage.

         Confused? Didn’t Johnson County take bold action to raise the minimum wage? We certainly did. You see, the CBJ feels politicians should be pushing to ABOLISH the minimum wage! (If you do not believe me, check out the editorial their June 27-July 3 issue.)

         You heard me correctly – the CBJ believes businesses are weighed down by unnecessary regulations, including the minimum wage, and they want politicians to boldly call for its repeal.

         Are local conservative politicians too timid? Yeah, I think we would agree on that. Too many conservatives masquerade as Democrats in the hopes of getting elected in Johnson County. I’d rather they stayed proud conservatives; I think it would be better for both parties.

         To his credit, CBJ Publisher John Lohman ran for office once. He finished 6th out of 8 candidates in the 1997 At-Large Iowa City Council Primary. So he put his ideas out there. The public apparently didn’t care for Mr. Lohman’s ideas, as he only received 8% of the vote, almost twenty percentage points behind the fifth place finisher. (The top four advanced to the General Election.)

         But back to the issue of the minimum wage…The CBJ trots out the same tired arguments FDR heard when the first Federal minimum wage was passed in 1938. I find it comical that the CBJ thinks their discredited ideas amount to good economic policy when they have been so thoroughly rejected by mainstream economists.

         So, CBJ – here is a challenge: I hereby challenge CBJ Publisher John Lohman to a debate on the local economics of the minimum wage. Time and place are negotiable, but the debate must be recorded and unedited. (I called Mr. Lohman and discussed this challenge.)

         So, John… are you going to continue to sit behind your computer and call names, or are you willing to show some of the courage you claim elected officials are lacking?



*Bernie Sanders
         As you know, I was a Bernie guy. I’m proud of that – there are lots of problems out there that require progressive solutions. I am VERY proud to have been on the side of progressive solutions. I have fought for progressive policies my whole life; I’m not going to stop now.

         And in some ways, our side won! I have recently heard two candidates for federal office speak. Both talked about an increased minimum wage; more affordable college; and Wall Street reforms. The Sanders agenda has become the Democratic Party agenda! And it should! We can argue over details, but we  are now fighting for the right things.

That said, in my opinion, it is time for Bernie to call it quits. It was a great run, but it is time to begin working on behalf of our nominee. I was relieved to see Bernie endorse Secretary Clinton. I hope he goes even further in expressing his support for her, and urges his followers to do the same. Then he can get back to work pushing our politics toward the needs of the people.



*DID YOU KNOW?  Despite a minimum wage of $9.15/hour, Johnson County has the lowest unemployment rate in the region at 2.5%. That is a figure many economists refer to as “full employment”.



Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-

"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.

These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.

If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.

As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!

---Rod





June 23, 2016

Sullivan’s Salvos     6/28/16



In this edition:


*Happy Independence Day!
*An Apology…
*Guns
*Celebration of Community Partners
*Did You Know?



*Happy Independence Day!
         Happy Birthday to the USA! 240 years old and going strong! I hope you and yours enjoy a great Independence Day!

         Looking for ways to celebrate? The Jazz Festival is in downtown Iowa City, and the 4th has parades in Coralville, Sharon Center, Oxford, and Hills.



*An Apology…
         I ran into local politico John Balmer the other day. For those of you that might not know, John is a local business owner, a former Mayor of Iowa City, and a man once known locally as “Mr. Republican” in Johnson County.

         John was disappointed in something I had written in a previous edition of Salvos. I wrote, “GOP stalwarts like John Dane, John Balmer, and the rest are trying to steal a Democratic Party Primary.”

         John objected – and rightfully so – to the idea that he was somehow “stealing” an election. Getting Republicans to register and vote as Democrats is perfectly legal, and the only way John can have any influence in a local election.

         It is also perfectly legal for John to recruit his fellow conservatives to run in Democratic primaries. I get frustrated by it, but it is legal (and smart) for him to do so if he can. He had an excellent candidate this time around; he often does.

         My point – inartfully made – was that Democrats should turn out, lest Republicans decide our primary for us. While I stand by that sentiment, it was wrong of me to insinuate that John had attempted to “steal” something. All of his actions were legal and logical. I apologize if I made it seem otherwise.



*Guns
         The recent mass shooting in Orlando cut many ways. It laid bare our homophobia problem. It called into question the efficacy of the terrorist watch list. And it once again brought to the fore the issue of guns in America.

         According to Politifact: There have been 1,516,863 gun-related deaths since 1968, compared to 1,396,733 cumulative war deaths since the American Revolution. That’s 120,130 more gun deaths than war deaths -- about 9 percent more, or nearly four typical years worth of gun deaths. And that’s using the most generous scholarly estimate of Civil War deaths, the biggest component of American war deaths.

         Are we really OK with this? Do we really feel satisfied shrugging our shoulders and saying, “There is nothing we can do.” I, for one, am not OK with the status quo.

         I can read, so I understand full well that the Constitution says the Second Amendment, “shall not be infringed.” But it IS infringed. It has been infringed since the day it was written. Every part of the Bill of Rights has been infringed in some way. That is how our form of government – with the Judiciary a coequal branch – was designed to work.

         Allow me to cite some examples. Even back in the 1700s, prison inmates were not allowed to have arms. Why not? Because it would be stupid! Prisoners with arms would not work. So our founders did not allow it. They purposely infringed upon the Second Amendment.

         Then there is the issue of age. Should two year olds be able to own/operate guns without adult supervision? Of course not! But isn’t requiring adult supervision an infringement? Of course it is!

         How about the type of arms? That is not spelled out in the Constitution. Can every person reasonably expect to own a nuclear weapon? Of course not! But isn’t limiting nukes an infringement? Of course it is! (Noted liberal Antonin Scalia actually made this argument!)

         We infringe upon the Second Amendment already, and 99% of all Americans agree. Now we need to go a bit further, and infringe a bit more.

         Specifically, I support the following changes:

1.   Allow the Center for Disease Control and other scientific organizations to thoroughly study gun injuries and gun deaths.

2.   Require thorough background checks for all gun purchases – even between family members. Close EVERY loophole. (87% of NRA members agree!)

3.   People with histories of violence in their backgrounds do not get permits – period. Neither do people with histories of serious mental illness. Yes, there should be due process; but let’s do this! (75% of NRA members agree!)

4.   Ban sales to people on the terrorist watch list. Again, with due process. (74% of NRA members agree!)

5.   All guns should be registered with the federal government.

6.   Ban “cop-killer” ammunition and hollow point bullets.

7.   Repeal the protection from liability laws that currently cover gun manufacturers. This will undoubtedly push manufacturers to produce safer products.

Would these changes solve every problem? No. But just because you cannot solve every problem does not mean you do nothing! Would these laws be “infringements”? Yes. Would they save lives? Yes. Are they common sense? Yes.



*Celebration of Community Partners
On Wednesday, June 29, 2016, the Johnson County Board of Supervisors will host the event “Enhancing Quality of Life in Johnson County: A Celebration of Community Partners,” at the Johnson County Health and Human Services Building, 855 South Dubuque Street, Iowa City, in second floor conference room 203. A reception catered by Shelter House’s Culinary Starts program begins at 4:30 pm; a brief program will start at 5:00 pm.

The event is an opportunity for the Johnson County Board of Supervisors to recognize and thank community organizations that receive county funds. Those organizations’ staff, volunteers, boards of directors and individuals who have benefited from the programs are invited to attend. The public is also welcome.

For fiscal year 2017, the Johnson County Board of Supervisors allocated more than $2 million through various grant and fund allocation processes to more than three dozen community partners, including social services organizations, libraries, and economic development groups. In fiscal year 2017 the Board will also direct $600,000 to address critical affordable housing needs.

The Board of Supervisors has awarded additional funding to social service agencies to meet emergency needs and implement innovative programming.

Unlike many grant programs, county funding can be used by organizations for critical operating expenses, helping build financial stability. In addition, county funds can be used to leverage additional money from federal, state or private resources.



*DID YOU KNOW?  Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley opposes a ban on terrorist suspects buying guns. WTF, Chuck? Iowa Senator Joni Ernst said, ”gun control takes our attention away from our top threat – radical Islamic extremism.” Yet Muslims have killed less than 5,000 people in the US dating back to our country’s origin; Christians have killed over 1.5 million – mostly with guns. So is it really our “top threat”?



Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-

"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.

These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.

If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.

As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!

---Rod






June 16, 2016

Sullivan’s Salvos     6/21/16



In this edition:


*Juneteenth
*We’re Having A Party!
*More Dad Stuff
*More on That $400…
*Unity Picnic
*Did You Know?



*Juneteenth
Join us for a day of family fun, free entertainment, health and information fair, free food (while supplies last) and more! We are celebrating Juneteenth and the civil rights movements past and present. You won't want to miss this!

Juneteenth will be celebrated Saturday, June 25 from 12-6 PM at Mercer Park in Iowa City.



*We’re Having A Party!
         Anybody know the old Sam Cooke song by that title? I love Sam Cooke! But that is not the point…

2015 was a difficult year for us. Melissa turned 50, but had breast cancer surgery just a few days later. Fast forward a few months, and things are looking good.

So 2016 is the year we celebrate all the blessings in our lives! Melissa is 50. Rod turns 50. The kids are grown. The mortgage is paid. In the words of Barry Manilow, "Looks like we made it!" So we are going to celebrate!

If you know us, you are invited! If you don't know us, come by and introduce yourself! We really want all our friends, family, and acquaintances to be a part of the celebration!

Please join us for food, drink, music, karaoke, dancing, volleyball, and more! Bring your singing voices, costumes, instruments... the show must go on!

We have reserved the rustic Club 76 in rural North Liberty, so there is plenty of room to shig it up! There will be something for everyone!

No presents, please - your attendance is your gift. Call us at 319-354-7199 if you have any questions.

Saturday, June 25, 4pm – 12am
Club 76 The Lodge
2349 Mehaffey Bridge Road, rural North Liberty



*More Dad Stuff
         The weekend of June 17-19 is an emotional one for me, as I move my middle daughter Jordan to Memphis, Tennessee to begin her professional life. (That is why your Salvos showed up a bit early this week.)

         This occasion makes me want to reminisce: In case you did not know, Jordan was adopted. She first came to our house as a 5-year-old little girl – but those first 5 years were eventful. She dealt with problems that most of us can never dream of.

         Her bravery in the face of danger inspired me. At age 5, Jordan took it upon herself to protect her brother and herself. She demonstrated more courage as a little girl than most adults I have ever met.

         Our time together has not always been easy. Jordan has had to work, and work hard. We have been through a lot. She has done what she needed to do, and the results are fantastic!

As time went on, Jordan grew into a wonderful young lady. She is bright, hard working, and believes strongly in fairness and justice. She is honest, trustworthy, and follows the rules. She really cares about those who are less fortunate. She is a good girl!

Jordan had a great career at City High. She served as a mentor for CCIA; she participated in basketball and track; she was a member of the Spirit Club; she worked two jobs; she attended church and church youth groups; and her grades were solid.

At Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois, she earned a scholarship to study psychology and participated in Division I track for four years, along with the Glam Club. She earned her BS in Psychology about a month ago.

         We fight – sometimes loud and long! But I cannot imagine loving someone more. And I admire her – so deeply. I am so very proud. I really don’t have the words.

It is really neat to be able to say that one of the people I admire the most is my own daughter. I am a very lucky man!

Selfishly, I wish she was going to be closer. I have already shed a few tears, and I know there are more to come. But hopefully she will spread her wings for a while, then decide to come back closer to home. Meanwhile, Memphis is an AWESOME city to visit! It is home to great BBQ and some of the best music in the world! I can live with that!

         Congratulations, Honey! I am proud of you and I love you!



*More on That $400…
         Hopefully you are aware of the recent study that showed that 50% of all Americans could not access $400 if they needed it for an emergency. $400 is NOT much money!

         I was reminded of this during Jordan’s move. Jordan has done everything you could expect a young person to do. She is a model young college grad, who got a “real job” immediately following graduation. While the job won’t make her rich, it is a decent rate of pay for a first job. She has worked hard and played by the rules. But man, did she ever need her parents!

         We rented a van to move her belongings. We put a deposit on the apartment. We paid the first month’s rent. We put a deposit on utilities. We bought her groceries to get started. Trust me, we are in for way over $400!

         But what is a young person to do? Jordan was a D-I athlete in college, which paid for school but limited her ability to work. She worked every summer, but at a very low wage job. She has a little bit in savings, but not nearly enough to make this move on her own.

         We are very fortunate. Jordan is very fortunate. We can afford to cover these expenses for her and get her started in life. But more than 50% of all Americans could NOT help their child in this way. What do those young adults do? Where do they turn? Every American should be very concerned about this!

         More importantly, what about people who need $400 not to move cities, but because their lease was not renewed? Their car won’t start? They had a medical bill? They had to miss work because their child was sick? What do these people do?

         We have work to do, friends. Until everyone in our society has a stronger safety net, we have work to do.



*Unity Picnic
         The Johnson County Democratic Party has a nice tradition – after each primary election, winners and losers alike come together and hold a unity picnic in support of the slate of nominees.

         That event was held last Friday, and most of the candidates and a few of the elected officials showed up. I never miss this event – it is important. I’m glad the Party does this. I look forward to working with our whole slate as we move to the fall elections.



*DID YOU KNOW?  Memphis is home to the National Civil Rights Museum, which encompasses the Lorraine Motel, where the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Junior was assassinated in 1968.



Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-

"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.

These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.

If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.

As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!

---Rod



June 9, 2016

Sullivan’s Salvos     6/14/16



In this edition:


*Thank You!
*Election Results
*Election Thoughts
*City-County Relations
*Pride Events
*Did You Know?



*Thank You!
         I was reelected on Tuesday with 62% of the vote. Boy, does that ever feel good! Needless to say, I have several people to thank:

1.   My wife, Melissa Fath. It is not easy to be the spouse of an elected official. I am SO blessed to have Melissa as my partner!
2.   My mother, Susan Sullivan Smith. Mom handed out a gazillion brochures. She worked her tail off, plain and simple.
3.   My kids. They march in parades and do all sorts of other tasks they do not enjoy doing. They are troopers!
4.   The voters. I have worked really hard. I think we’ve accomplished some great things. It feels great to know the voters approve!
5.   My Treasurer, Gary Smith. Keeping track of the money and filing the official reports is tedious, thankless work. I could not serve without Gary’s dedicated behind-the-scenes service!
6.   The other candidates. There are some strong differences of opinion, but every candidate treated me with nothing but kindness and respect.
7.   The Iowa City Federation of Labor. City Fed is not only a source of funds and volunteers; it is a source of friends. I am so proud to be a delegate to Iowa City Fed!

There are plenty of other people I could thank, but readers would grow weary of the whole list. Please allow me to just offer a big THANK YOU! to everyone who helped with this election. I promise to do my best to make you proud!



*Election Results
         The top of the ticket featured a race for the Democratic nomination for the US Senate. Former Lieutenant Governor Patty Judge defeated Rob Hogg by a comfortable margin, 48-39%, even though Hogg got 60% here in Johnson County. Candidates Tom Fiegen and Bob Krause trailed with and 6.8 and 6.7%, respectively.

Another important race was in House District 77, where two Democrats and two Republicans squared off for the right to face each other in the fall. On the GOP side, former Tiffin Mayor Royce Phillips defeated Paula Dreeszen of Iowa City handily, 72-28%. On the Democratic side, North Liberty Mayor Amy Nielsen defeated Tiffin resident Abby Weipert by a count of 63-36%.

You know I was interested in the Supervisor race! This race saw 6 candidates running for 3 seats, and when the dust cleared, I was the top vote getter with 5077 votes (62%). Fellow incumbent Lisa Green Douglass finished second with 4344 votes (53%), and Kurt Friese took the final seat with 4032 votes (49%).

         There were also uncontested races for Sheriff and Auditor, with incumbents Lonny Pulkrabek and Travis Weipert cruising to victory.



*Election Thoughts
         Those of us who are intimately involved in elections are often guilty of thinking that everyone cares as much as we do. Fact is, no one cares as much as we do.

         This election was a classic case of something being a really big deal to a really small group of people. There was lots of noise on social media, but turnout was a pathetic 11%. So while there were definitely several small groups of people causing a fuss, the emphasis there is that they were small groups.

         You hear many people talk about the upcoming Presidential election as a choice between the lesser of two evils. (Polls show these are the two least popular candidates in the history of the polls.) The County Supervisor race had a hint of this as well: who made you angrier? The local “activist” whose efforts have done a great deal to hurt Democrats over the past few cycles? Or the GOP stalwarts like John Dane, John Balmer, and the rest trying to steal a Democratic Party Primary? Whichever chaps you most, there were reasons to be angry.

         The big winner? Organized labor. Once again, the Iowa City Federation of Labor put a great deal of time and money into the election, and once again their endorsed candidates won.

         The local Democratic Party needs to have a couple difficult conversations. Once that gets done, I am going to go to work and attempt to build upon the many great things that have happened over the past ten years. I hope others will join me.



*County-City Relations
         There were several letters to the editor (almost all for one particular candidate) that claimed we needed to elect that candidate “to improve City/County relations.”

         The letter writers are stuck in the past! I’ve been following City and County politics closely for 25 years (at least). The relationship between Iowa City and Johnson County has never been better. Period. The relationship between Coralville and Johnson County is the best it has been in 20 years.

         The letter writers could not be more incorrect. Johnson County currently has a very good relationship with both Iowa City and Coralville.



*Pride Events
         The annual IC Pride events run all throughout the month of June. I love the annual Pride Festival, and I marvel at how far we have come. I remember Pride in the early ‘90s, being one of only a few people marching with the Johnson County Democratic Party, and being videotaped for participating. Things have sure changed!

Some upcoming Pride events: Friday night June 17, join us for a laid back evening in Upper City Park with free food till it's gone (over 200 servings). We will be serving Pizza Pit, and a vegetarian option will be available.

On Saturday, June 18, the Pride parade is at noon, followed by Pride Fest events on the Ped Mall. Everything is free and open to the public.

I am really bummed; I have a family event, and I will miss Pride for the first time in several years. All my best to all my IC Pride friends!



*DID YOU KNOW?  The record for most votes in a Democratic Supervisor Primary is Joe Bolkcom, with 5368 in 1996. I am actually serving in that exact same seat; it went from Joe to Carol Thompson in 1998, and from Carol to me in 2004. (Source: Johnson County Auditor’s Office.)



Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-

"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.

These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.

If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.

As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!

---Rod






June 3, 2016

Sullivan’s Salvos     6/7/16




In this edition:


*RIP Tom Wall
*Sullivan for Supervisor!
*Election Night Party!
*Bullet Voting
*Clinton vs. Sanders
*Did You Know?



*RIP Tom Wall
         I was stunned to hear about the untimely passing of Morse area farmer Tom Wall.

         Tom ran the family farm near Morse, and we had many great conversations over the years. We talked Johnson County history, especially the Nolan Settlement; soybeans, livestock, 4H, the Fairgrounds, the Morse Village Plan, and sports. Tom knew a lot about many topics, and rather than just complain about things, he liked to try to solve problems.

         Tom was very smart, kind, funny, and willing to pitch in way beyond his share. Tom was a gentle giant, a family man, and just a great guy. He will be missed. RIP, Tom.



*Sullivan for Supervisor!
         As you (hopefully) know, I am running for reelection. Early voting has already begun for the June 7 Democratic Party Primary; I thought I should take a moment to make my case to Salvos readers!

I grew up on a Heritage farm (150 years in the same family) near Sutliff, and attended K-12 in the Lisbon school system. I attended the University of Iowa, earning a BA in 1988. I have held several positions in the field of human services, including 6 years with the Department of Human Services and 6 years as Executive Director of the Arc of Johnson County.

I am married to Dr. Melissa Fath, a Research Scientist at the UI and a volunteer Pharmacist at the Free Medical Clinic. We have 3 adult children-Rachel, Jordan, and BJ, and have served as foster parents for another 40+ children.

I have been active in many local organizations, including volunteering for the Shelter Overflow, Furniture Project, United Way, Community Foundation of Johnson County, Affordable Homes Coalition, Coalition for Racial Justice, UI Center for Disabilities and Development, Hoover PTA, City High Little Hawks Club, Yes for Kids Steering Committee, and the Batterer’s Education Program.

I am a member of several community organizations, including: St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, Iowa Foster & Adoptive Parent Association, Sierra Club, Burr Oak Land Trust, Johnson County Historical Society, Johnson County Ag Association, Center for Worker Justice, ACLU Hawkeye Chapter, AFT Local 716, and NAMI. I also served 4 years as Chair of the Johnson County Democratic Party.

Some of the accomplishments of which I am proud:

Leadership during ’08 floods.
Human Rights Ordinance.
Sensitive Areas Ordinance.
Conservation Bond Initiative.
Started 1105 Project with gift of old Public Health building.
Saved Sutliff Bridge.
Trails funding.
Community ID.
Free Tax Help project.
Livable Community Successful Aging.
Outdoor warning sirens to unincorporated Johnson County.
Local Foods Policy Council.
“A” in local government transparency from Sunshine Institute.
Heritage AAA Outstanding Elected Official – 2009.
Raising the minimum wage.
Funding affordable housing.

         I respectfully request your vote on or before June 7. Thanks!



*Election Night Party!
         We are holding an Election Night Returns Party Tuesday, June 7 at 8PM at Boyd’s (formerly Bob’s Your Uncle). Come by for free pizza and a cash bar, and join us as we watch the results roll in.



*Bullet Voting
         As is the case with any election, some folks are trying to decide what strategy they should use as they go into the voting booth. I heard a few people debating whether or not to “bullet vote.” I was surprised to find a few people who had no idea what this term meant. So, a brief explanation:

         We will use this year’s election as an example. There are 6 candidates for 3 seats. Imagine that you have 2 candidates that you REALLY like, and you are pretty indifferent about the third seat.

         If you cast all 3 votes, you are giving the exact same weight to the third person as you did to the two you really like. Imagine a scenario where one of your top 2 lost to your third choice by ONE vote – and you cast that vote!

         In this scenario, many savvy voters will only cast two votes. That type of under-voting is also known as “bullet voting”.

         There are some out there who feel bullet voting is somehow inappropriate; they feel you should use every vote you are given. On the other hand, many see it as the only sensible thing to do.

         Personally, I often bullet vote. What are your thoughts?



*Clinton vs. Sanders
         There is a great deal of gnashing of teeth as pundits speculate whether or not supporters of Bernie Sanders will get on board with the campaign of Hillary Clinton.

         Please allow me to take you back to 2008… it was June 7, 2008 when Hillary Clinton suspended her campaign and threw her support to Barack Obama. Sound familiar?

         Additionally, a CNN poll from July 5, 2008 showed that only 54% of Clinton supporters would support Obama. That was 120 days before the election! Again, sound familiar?

         Yes, there is a concern about party unity. Both sides have a lot of work to do in this area. But the sky is not falling.



*DID YOU KNOW?  Turnout in Democratic Primaries during Presidential years have been very low when there is no open seat. (’12 saw 5329 voters; ’08 saw 5130.) When there is an open seat, turnout is much higher. (’04 was 9305 voters; ‘00 was 7400.)  Source: Johnson County Auditor’s Office.



Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-

"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.

These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.

If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.

As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!

---Rod