SULLIVAN'S SALVOS

July 26, 2023

Sullivan’s Salvos 8/1/23

In this edition:

*Happy 25th Anniversary!

*RIP Ernie Lehman

*Netroots Nation

*Did You Know?

*Happy 25th Anniversary!

Happy 25^th Anniversary on August 1 to my wonderful wife, Dr. Melissa Fath. I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but I know I got a great deal here! Melissa is the best wife and mother a person could ever hope for!

Happy Anniversary, Honey! It has been a great ride! I hope we celebrate many more!

*RIP Ernie Lehman

Former Iowa City Mayor Ernie Lehman passed away recently. Ernie and I undoubtably disagreed more than agreed when it came to politics. He was a master of explaining why progressive politics were “not the City’s job,” while explaining why conservative politics were important to “maintain our way of life.” But it was easy to see why so many people liked Ernie – he was friendly, funny, and smart. He also ran a great business that I really miss! My condolences to all the many people who care about him. RIP, Ernie.

*Netroots Nation

I attended the annual Netroots Nation conference July 13-15 in Chicago. This was my second Netroots, having attended in Philadelphia in 2019.

For those of you who are unfamiliar, Netroots is an offspring of the Daily Kos website. Daily Kos was founded in 2002 by Markos Moulitsas as a way for progressive Democrats to push back not only against Republicans, but also against the “Blue Dog” wing of the Democratic Party.

The makeup of Netroots Nation breaks down something like this: people from nonprofits (think ACLU, Sierra Club, League of Women Voters, etc.), groups like Act Blue and Move On, labor, political consultants, tech specialists, journalists, and elected officials. Over the last few years, they have made a strong effort to include more local activists, and this conference had a VERY strong Chicago feel.

I mentioned the “techie” aspect of Netroots Nation. In reality, they could just as easily be running two separate conferences. Each breakout session has about 10 trainings from which you can choose. But three are very specific to people with tech knowledge; seven are more general interest. I tended to focus on labor/economics/poverty in the sessions I attended. Much of the discussion was a perfect fit for the issues that I work on every day as a County Supervisor. A few highlights: affordable housing; what we can learn from recent populist economic victories; gun violence prevention; and local responses to recent Supreme Court decisions.

The number of “celebrities” at the conference was significantly lower than in 2019. Interestingly, my Facebook memory on Saturday was from this conference 4 years ago, and showed me chatting with Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren. I did have an opportunity to chat briefly with Randi Weingarten, President of my union (AFT), which was cool. But it was only because I recognized her.

In 2019 there seemed to be more Iowa folks present. This time, I only found one fellow Iowan – my friend Kate Revaux, who was there with some fellow NARAL employees. It was great to see Kate, but we didn’t get to hang out much during the conference.

The conference itself was younger and more diverse than in 2019, which is saying something. Only about 10% of presenters at the conference were white men. (They were not missed, FWIW!) The labor presence was lower than in 2019, and I think that helped to add to the disunity I will describe later.

Markos Moulitas spoke during one of the General Sessions, and noted how much progress has been made since the 2000 election. He noted that today there are over 100 members of the House Progressive Caucus; only 6 Blue Dogs remain. Rather than Joe Liebermann as a VP candidate, we had Kamala Harris. The Democratic Party has flipped the script when it comes to the issues of choice, LGBTQ+, labor, healthcare, drugs, and so much more. The late 90s and early 2000s were NOT good times for progressives! And yes, we have done much better since. (Here is where I insert the obligatory “But we have much more work to do.”)

Now for the tough part. There were some bad moments at this conference. Both highlight, to me, the challenges of maintaining the Democratic Party “Big Tent” coalition we currently enjoy. Here are two of the biggest issues that arose:

First instance - I was in a session on Universal Basic Income (UBI) that had three panelists – a African American (AA) man from Chicago, a AA woman from Chicago, and a Latina from New Mexico. There were a lot of questions in the audience – How is it funded? How much per month? Who is eligible? How does it work (or not) with other benefits programs? What have been the results so far? How are results measured?

Instead, the AA woman really wanted to focus on the narrative. She said something to the effect of: “They keep asking you questions. It doesn’t matter what the question is. You have to tell the story. You explain that before UBI, this was Keisha’s situation. After UBI, here is how life improved for Keisha and her kids.”

I totally get this. Controlling the narrative is critical. I understand why this was her focus. You need to do this with the media, where you often only get 30 seconds. But then the two Chicagoans stuck to that. So none of the questions above got answered.

Then at one point, the issue of race was brought up. The AA woman replied, “You have to do this without white people! No white people out there are going to save you! Black women did this work! Quit worshipping white billionaires and get behind some black women!”

The comment drew some applause, some groans, and mostly silence. I understand where she is coming from. When we talk about UBI there is a tendency to focus on Libertarian Silicon Valley tech bros rather than the black women who are doing a lot of the grunt work implementing these programs. She’s totally correct there.

But then, a young AA organizer from Portland spoke up. She said, “Look, I live in Portland. I have to have white allies.” The AA woman from Chicago stuck to her guns – “You need to do this without white people!”

Again there was some applause, some groans, and some silence. There was also pretty obvious discomfort from the Latina panelist. I felt pretty discouraged, being from a place just as white as Portland.

The session soon ended, and while a couple of people appeared to be very energized, most sulked away. I am guessing that they, like me, felt as though an opportunity was missed.

I think it is important to note that the presenter had some really good and really important points. But it felt as though the focus remained on those points too long. Granted, that is the opinion of an old, white, straight, middle class man. I could be wrong. But it just didn’t work for me, and apparently didn’t work for several others.

Second instance – Moulitos was doing an interview with 3 members of Congress: Pamila Jayrapal of Seattle, Chair of the Progressive Caucus; Chuy Garcia, Congressman from Chicago; and Jan Schakowsky, Congresswoman from the Chicago area. They were going to speak about the more progressive direction the Democratic Party has taken over the past 20-25 years, how it happened, why it has been good, and what the future holds. Again, I was REALLY looking forward to this session.

Then, suddenly, the session was interrupted. A large group of mostly young, mostly Muslim conference participants began protesting Schakowsy’s record on Israel and Palestine. No one could see, and no one could hear. The conference was at a standstill.

Moulitas tried to intervene, and I thought he did so very poorly. Schakowsky addressed the group, and said, “I promise to talk to you after the session.” She got booed so loudly that no one could hear, anyway. She said to Jayrapal, “I’ll just leave,” but Jayrapal asked her to stay.

Jayrapal then started speaking, and explained the Progressive Caucus stance on the topic. During this, she called Israel “a racist state.” The next day, she walked that back, saying that she meant Netanyahu and his party were racist, rather than all the people of Israel.

This has always been a third rail in American politics. I don’t actually think it is all that difficult: Israel has a right to exist. There should be a two-state solution. And the Netanyahu government is absolutely racist. But just like I didn’t want to be defined by Donald Trump when he was our President, many Israelis do not feel represented by Netanyahu.

And the politics are changing. Americans (including American Jews) used to have a much different attitude on the plight of Palestinians. It reminds me a bit of when I was in college in the early 80s. There was a lot of protesting the government of South Africa. Soon attitudes shifted. Before long, Apartheid was over.

Meanwhile, the crowd began breaking down along lines of “identity.” There were some Jewish attendees who came to Schakowksy’s defense. A number of Latinx attendees got agitated because they felt Garcia (who said nothing) had been disrespected. This led to loud and angry shouting between some Muslim folks and Latinx folks that actually had to be broken up.

A large AA gentleman named Reggie who is on the Netroots Board came out and attempted to calm everyone. He told the protesters, “You have been heard.” He encouraged everyone to follow the lead of MLK, and “Give the respect you seek.” It fell on deaf ears.

The session ended – it never actually occurred, but time was up. A large group continued to chant after the session; a few people expressed their displeasure as they walked out.

The amount of irony here was almost too much to comprehend. Earlier that same day, crowds cheered as Tennessee State Rep Justin Jones talked about how he failed to follow the rules of protest in the Tennessee House. Many people noted, rightfully so, that protesters are always policed as to where and when they can protest.

And perhaps my biggest concern is that the deepest divide in the room was probably age. People under 30 tended to join with the protesters. Young people do not feel that our system works, and for good reason. It is easy for them to just disengage, and say, “A pox on all your houses.” Democrats cannot afford to lose young people, and they must deliver something for them.

The three members of Congress on stage that day are all minorities. They are also three of the most progressive members of Congress. I looked at Schakowsky’s record on Israel and Palestine – I found it to be remarkably progressive for an older Jew whose district is home to tens of thousands of Jews. Her stance is in agreement with Jayrapal about 80%. And Schakowsky herself has been a target of hateful rhetoric by the Oath Keepers and other hate groups. It can be scary to be a Jew in the US in 2023!

Do the young folks have a right to demand more from her? Of course! Do they owe her a certain amount of respect? Definitely. More than she received that day? I think so. Is protest of this sort OK? Yes. How much is too much, and who gets to decide that? I obviously have no answer.

Unfortunately, this incident reminded me of several local incidents. It is indicative of the challenges we face as part of a big, diverse coalition. I do not have the answers here. I simply know we cannot allow ourselves to be torn asunder.

A friend of mine noted that Republicans understand that you need to first have power; then you can debate the policy you want. Democrats divide over policy differences, but rarely seize power. It is definitely easier to hypothetically say what you would do rather than getting elected and doing it.

Later that day, a meme began making the rounds at the conference. It goes like this: “If you put black ants and red ants together in a terrarium, they leave each other alone. If you shake the terrarium, the ants begin to kill each other. But the other ants aren’t the enemy. It is someone else who is shaking the terrarium. As humans, we do the same thing. We turn on each other, when we need to be thinking about who is shaking the terrarium.” Amen to that!

*DID YOU KNOW? Netroots 2024 is in Baltimore, Maryland in mid-July.

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

www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov.

"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.

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As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan29@gmail.com. I look forward to serving you!

---Rod

July 19, 2023

I was sad to hear of the passing of Randy Larson of Iowa City. Randy was probably best known in the Johnson County area for his involvement in various levels of basketball, but he played many additional roles in our community.

Randy was a lifelong Democrat, and worked for and with former State Senator Joe Johnston. Whether you liked his techniques or not, Randy was a defense attorney who pushed back against the “get tough on crime” era of the 1980s. Randy was also a member of the Iowa City Council during that time.

To top it off, Randy ran several successful local businesses, including the Airliner, Bob’s Your Uncle, and Monica’s. I liked Randy, and I hope he is already playing hoops in the afterlife. RIP, Randy.

I have been out of town, and have not had time to write. So you are getting content that has been presented previously in Salvos. I hope you find it interesting!

One thing that is extremely cool in my individual circumstance is that I can track the history of the seat I hold on the Board of Supervisors. This cannot always be done exactly, because sometimes multiple Supervisors choose to retire at the same time. For example, in 2000, both Charlie Duffy and Johnathon Jordahl chose not to run for reelection. Both Pat Harney and Terrence Neuzil were elected to open seats. So you cannot really say who replaced whom.

*In 2004, I was elected to replace Carol Thompson, who chose not to seek reelection.

*In 1998, Carol Thompson was elected to replace Joe Bolkcom, who had been elected to the Iowa Senate.

*In 1992, Joe Bolkcom was elected to replace Dick Myers, who chose not to seek reelection.

*In 1982, Dick Myers was elected to replace Mike Cilek, who chose not to seek election.

*In 1982, Mike Cilek was appointed to fill the last 4 months of his mother’s term after she passed away.

*In 1972, Lorada Cilek was elected to replace Ralph Prybil, who chose not to seek reelection. (It gets a little hinky here, because the Board changed the terms of Supervisors. Cilek was not seated until ’74.)

*In 1968, Ralph Prybil was elected to replace Emil Novy, who chose not to seek reelection.

*In 1958, Emil Novy was elected to replace Robert Mahoney, who chose not to seek reelection. Mahoney was first elected in 1947.

Robert Mahoney goes WAY back – he was born near Oxford in 1876! He served as a Supervisor until almost 80, lived until age 88, and still has a lot of family in the Oxford area. A relative of his (Clayton Mahoney) served on the Board in the late ‘60s.

Emil Novy was born in 1904 and lived until 1998. He farmed near North Liberty, and later lived near Shueyville. A Google search did lead me to a story about the large walnut cross at the North Liberty Methodist Church, which he crafted. He owned land near the area where Penn Street turns into North Liberty Road. While I don’t know much about him, I’m sure he would be amazed to see that area now!

Prybil passed away in 2004. He had farmed near Lone Tree, and volunteered on many boards and commissions, including the Lone Tree School Board, Johnson County Board of Health, Johnson County Planning and Zoning Commission, and the Board of the Mental Health Center. He came into office with one heck of a resume! In a small world twist, I always buy sweet corn from his stepson, Marv Hotz!

Lorada Cilek was the first woman elected to countywide office. What an honor to sit in her seat! And interestingly, Lorada Cilek was an important person in my young life!

You see, I grew up near Sutliff. In the 1970s, the state required Johnson County to close the old one lane bridge. There was a great debate over whether to build a new structure. Without a bridge, people in my area would have to drive into Lisbon, over to Mt. Vernon, and down Highway 1 to Solon. It turned a 5-mile drive into a 17-mile drive. This was terrible for area commuters, and would have been tragic for area farmers. It only affected a few hundred county residents, but it really affected them a lot!

Cilek came to Sutliff and listened, and became the biggest supporter of building a new bridge. The modern concrete structure that now crosses the Cedar River north of the old bridge even bears her name: The Lorada Cilek Memorial Bridge.

Mike Cilek was appointed to the Board in mid-June following his mother’s death. Mike served until the results of the 1982 election were certified in mid-November. To keep the small world stuff going, Mike was the Hawkeye quarterback in the late 1960s – and I am a Hawkeye fanatic. Even closer to home, I worked with Mike’s daughter Carrie when I served as the Executive Director of The Arc. Mike also later became my realtor! He and his wife Judy are absolutely wonderful people that I respect deeply.

Dick Myers is a local legend. From running the Hawk-I Truck Stop, to serving as Mayor of Coralville, to the Board of Supervisors, to the Democratic Leader in the Iowa House of Representatives – everyone knows Dick, and most people have a Myers story. I can tell you that Dick was a great help to me when I ran for the Chair of the Johnson County Democratic Party, and has been there for me ever since. I am very lucky to have enjoyed a relationship with this incredible leader.

Joe Bolkcom: In a way, I feel like I have been following Joe around his whole career. I remember back in 1989, when our mutual friend Dave Leshtz told me I needed to get involved in local politics. He suggested that I start with supporting a candidate for Iowa City Council named Joe Bolkcom. I was impressed by Joe, and pitched in on the campaign. Luckily, Joe lost that race. Luckily, because two and a half years later he was elected to the Board of Supervisors!

Joe Bolkcom was almost certainly the most transformative Supervisor in the modern history of the Board. Before Joe, technology and transparency were afterthoughts. Joe took environmental concerns to the next level. Joe supported people with disabilities living in the community. Before Joe, the Board was generally run by a very conservative group of Democrats. Joe led the way for a different type of Democrat to serve. Joe also recognized that Johnson County had become urban, and many urban residents were going unserved.

Joe has been a fantastic State Senator for a long time now, and over the years we have become good friends. I cannot express how honored I am to sit in Joe’s seat!

Carol Thompson had a long career in human services prior to being elected to the Board. She came to Iowa City from Chicago in the 60s, and ran the local Iowa Department of Human Services Office for many years. As a young social worker, I worked at an agency that contracted with DHS. Carol often referred families and individuals to our agency, and often helped me to understand the people I was serving. From there Carol went to the local Juvenile Court Office, before replacing Bolkcom in a Special Election.

In addition to helping me as a young professional, Carol showed me that my background was a good one for a County Supervisor. A lot of time was (and is) spent on human services related matters. When Carol decided not to seek reelection, I figured I had a shot.

I am so privileged to be in this group of people. They are an amazing group of Supervisors, and it is an honor to appear in a list with them. And it was fun researching the history!

*Janet Shipton (D), 1979-1980 (Elected to 2 year term. Did not seek re-election.)

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 rodsullivan29@gmail.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.

As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan29@gmail.com. I look forward to serving you!

July 11, 2023

The 52nd annual Solon Beef Days runs Friday and Saturday July 21 & 22 in Solon. Steaks, rides, entertainment, a parade, and the now-legendary hay bale toss are just a few of the items on tap.

I say this every year, and it is because it comes from a place of pride: I can honestly say that I have been to roughly 46 of the 52 Beef Days. I wear it like a badge of honor! Make this the year to start your own streak!

For all the details, including a full schedule of events, see: http://beefdays.com/

The Johnson County Fair runs from Sunday, July 23 through Wednesday, July 26. This is a great opportunity for the whole family to take a step back toward our agricultural roots!

I enjoy the fair. Yes, it is typically hot out there. But that is why they sell ice cream! So, please stop out and enjoy the Fair. You’ll be glad you did!

For the full daily lineup of events, see: http://www.johnsoncofair.com/entertainment.html

You have probably seen these types of things before, but they continue to amaze me. So get this:

1980 is as far away from today as 1937 was from 1980. 1937! So what do we know about 1937?

The world is in the middle of the Great Depression. John Steinbeck just published The Grapes of Wrath. FDR is in the second of his 4 terms. Social Security just started. It is four years prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. It is two years before the debuts of The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind. Jackie Robinson will not break baseball’s color barrier for another 4 years.

I used to sit on the Board of the East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG). I have mentioned ECICOG in Salvos previously, but I recognize that it probably deserves another explanation.

The East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG) is an intergovernmental council established in 1973. Governed by a board of directors comprised of elected officials and private citizens, ECICOG was created to promote regional cooperation and to provide professional planning services to local governments in Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn, Tama, and Washington Counties (all services are not offered in all counties). A portion of the operations are supported by a per capita assessment paid by these counties.

One recent undertaking of ECICOG is the 380 Express. This is regular, fixed route bus service between Iowa City and Cedar Rapids. Stops include the Ground Transportation Center in downtown CR; Kirkwood; the Coralville Intermodal facility at the Iowa River Landing; University Hospitals; and Iowa City’s Court Street Transportation Center.

A one-way ride costs $3.50. Children under 6 are free, and Seniors (60+) and people with disabilities ride for $1.75. Ten-punch passes sell for $32.50, and a monthly unlimited pass is available for $125. All tickets can be purchased online.

The busses are full of amenities: All coaches in the 380 Express service are equipped with free WIFI, 110V power outlets and USB ports, restroom, and reclining seats with 3-point seat belts. There is also a wheelchair lift with two wheelchair securement areas on each coach.

380 Express provided about 4,000 rides per month in the first 8 months of its existence. 74% of the rides originated in Cedar Rapids and ended in Iowa City. 66% of the riders were travelling for work and 12% for education. Interestingly, 67% of the riders have been female.

I have not yet ridden the 380 Express, but I plan on doing so sometime soon. I hope you will do it, too. More importantly, spread the word! This is an important step in the fight against climate change!

Conservatives and liberals don’t agree on much. One thing they tend to agree upon is the claim that education is the cure for poverty. This is a universally accepted truth. I push my own kids to continue their educations.

But does education really work? There are several studies that show a worker with a college degree is likely to earn much more money over her lifetime than a worker without. I am not going to dispute those studies. But I found this interesting data set while reading Ezra Klein:

In 1970, the educational attainment of the poor broke down like this: 56% had not finished high school. 31% had a high school diploma. 8% had some college, up to and including an AA. And 6% were college grads.

That same look at the educational attainment of the poor today looks like this: 23% have no high school diploma. 34% have a high school diploma. 28% have some college. And 15% have a college degree.

Obviously, today’s poor are MUCH more educated than the poor of 45 years ago. Yet by almost every measure, the poor today have deeper struggles than the poor 45 years ago. How do we explain this?

I think the answer is pretty simple, really. While education is a huge help to many people, it is not enough. We need to return to the values of the New Deal, and adequately fund the social safety net.

Your Neoliberal types will reluctantly support educational funding – they like the idea that with education, a motivated young person can pull herself up by her bootstraps. Heck, I like that idea, too.

But we need to acknowledge that our motivated young woman is unlikely to “pull herself up” without adequate shelter, food, medical care, etc. Education is great, but education alone is not enough.

The Board recently had a discussion that riled me up! We were talking about something that went wrong, and whether the Board shared in any of the blame. My answer is an unambiguous YES! The buck stops with the Board. Whatever happens – good or bad – the Board has some responsibility.

Obviously, the level of responsibility can vary greatly depending upon what specific thing we are talking about. Say one person on an Ambulance crew punches the other in the nose. On one hand, there isn’t very much I could have done to prevent it. I wasn’t there. I might not even have met both of the employees. So how could I possibly be responsible? Lots of ways!

Was the hiring process good? Was something missed in a background check? Was adequate training in place? Is the use of physical violence covered in the employee handbook and/or union contract? Was the response by management swift and appropriate? What discipline, if any, was handed out, and was it appropriate? What follow up will be necessary? Do either or both employees need something additional? These are just a few of the ways in which I can be responsible for what happens in that scenario.

I guess the part that gets under my skin is when we are hypocritical about our role. We pose for pictures when departments win awards. We get certificates when they achieve accreditation. We get compliments when county employees do their usual great work.

We can’t rightly bask in the glow of all the achievements without taking at least some of the blame when things go wrong. That is simply unfair. You can’t have it both ways.

I stand by our employees. And I stand 100% ready to accept responsibility for whatever happens in Johnson County. You should expect nothing less.

*DID YOU KNOW? The Clay County Fair is held every September in Spencer, Iowa, United States. It is the largest county fair in the state of Iowa. It has the largest agricultural exposition in North America. Bringing in over 310,000 visitors a year, the Clay County Fair is one of the largest county fairs in the United States.

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 rodsullivan29@gmail.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.

As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan29@gmail.com. I look forward to serving you!

July 5, 2023

The 15^th annual North Liberty Blues and BBQ is Saturday, July 8, with a little something for everyone. Check out the details at: https://northlibertyblues.org.

The Clear Creek Amana School District (CCA) continues to boom, as evidenced by a new 600-person elementary school being constructed in western Coralville.

This gives CCA schools in Oxford, Tiffin, North Liberty, and Coralville in Johnson County, and Amana in Iowa County. (They also used to have an elementary school in Cosgrove, which closed in the 1980s.) CCA expects to be at over 4000 students in five years or so, and is already one of the 30 largest school districts in Iowa.

Despite a bit of spotty recent rain, Johnson County continues to suffer from drought conditions. We are only at about half our normal precipitation for the year, and we are hitting a key stretch for area farmers. Please join me in doing a little rain dance and hoping for some nice, gentle rain.

The Roberts Court of 2022-3 will go down in history as the worst Supreme Court in the history of this country, surpassing the Taney Court that upheld Dred Scott.

Undoing the 50-year-old right to bodily autonomy. Undoing Affirmative Action. Allowing discrimination against LGBTQ+ people. Denying student loan relief. Gutting the Clean Water Act. Those are just the decisions; that does not even get into all the ethical abuses.

This is the worst and most damaging Court in American history. It is truly sad. And there is only one thing the American people can do… keep voting for Democrats. We’ll need a steady stream of Democratic Presidents and Senators for the next 25 years to undo this damage. So get ready.

One important characteristic to have as a County Supervisor is thick skin. There are some folks in the community who publicly treat elected officials quite poorly. We all see that. But these public displays are not what I am talking about when I say try to have a thick skin. It is the smaller slights and perceived slights.

There are people who directly and indirectly accuse you of lying, stealing, and taking bribes. There are people who directly and indirectly accuse you of being lazy, stupid, and ignorant. There are people who directly and indirectly accuse you of playing favorites, playing politics, and acting only in your own self-interest.

These types of accusations sting. And sometimes they need to be called out. But more often than not, you are better served by simply moving on. Because here is what happens when you don’t:

I have seen Supervisors hold grudges. Sometimes because they were treated very badly. Sometimes over very small perceived slights. But I have seen it happen. More than it should. And it isn’t pretty. Those Supervisors always end up looking like fools. Nothing looks worse than a Supervisor treating a member of the public poorly. The skin needs to be a little thicker. Supervisors need to reach a higher standard.

But it is not always easy. I was leaving the office on a recent Friday afternoon. It had been a regular 8-hour day; I arrived at 8am, took a 15-minute-long lunch at about 12:30, and left the building at about 3:45pm. But it had been a LONG day emotionally. I was VERY ready to forget about work for a while.

On the way out, I ran into a guy I know. He is a Republican, and a regular critic of the Board. I greeted him heartily, and he called me a name.

Part of me thought about going back in the building and giving him an earful. But I decided it was neither the time nor the place. And you know what is the most frustrating thing there? I have never been anything other than kind to this man. We obviously have some disagreements. But I have always bent over backwards to treat him with respect.

I just kept heading home. And I thought about my next encounter with this guy. And I knew what I had to do. I had to treat him the same way I would treat anybody else who appeared in front of the Board. It is the only way to do the job right.

So, thinking about running for public office? Work on developing a nice thick skin!

I had the privilege of serving on the Board of the UNESCO City Of Literature at its inception. One of the best parts of being on that Board was the opportunity to discuss what people enjoy reading.

The City of Literature designation is certainly due to the presence of the UI Writer’s Workshop and UI International Writing Program, but there are other factors that are less discussed but also important.

The fantastic libraries and booksellers we have are also a key component, as are the citizens who do all the reading. Our literate citizenry played a big part in the UNESCO designation.

So, citizens… I would like to run a short and decidedly unscientific poll of Salvos readers. What is your favorite book? If a few titles outpoll all the rest, I’ll let readers know.

Personally, I have to divide it into genres. I read a lot as a child. Add that to being a father of three+ and a foster parent, and I have to acknowledge children’s lit separately.

People who know me well know that I could be described as a softy, a hopeless romantic, a sap – choose your term. This side of me is demonstrated in my favorite children’s book – “I’ll Love You Forever” by Robert Munsch. I can hardly get through it without tearing up!

Nonfiction? I am a huge David Sedaris fan. I have everything he has ever written. “The Warmth of Other Suns” by Isabel Wilkerson is another favorite.

My favorite work of fiction is “A Confederacy of Dunces” by John Kennedy Toole. I love a book that makes you laugh out loud!

*DID YOU KNOW? On November 20, 2008, UNESCO designated Iowa City, Iowa, the world’s third City of Literature, making the community part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

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 rodsullivan29@gmail.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.

As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan29@gmail.com. I look forward to serving you!

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