SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
February 8, 2026
Sullivan’s Salvos 2/12/26
In this edition:
*RIP Torun Choudhury
*RIP Gary Smith
*Happy Ramadan!
*Happy Valentine’s Day!
*Pitchers and Catchers Report!
*Happy Mardis Gras!
*DVIP/RVAP Souper Bowl
*Big Brothers Big Sisters
*An Unprecedented Ask
*Across the Board Cuts?
*Sullivan for Supervisor Event
*Did You Know?
*RIP Torun Choudhury
I was sad to learn of the passing of Torun Choudhury of Iowa City. He was a good guy and bit of a man-about-town, and he leaves us far too soon. RIP.
*RIP Gary Smith
I wrote about my longtime friend Gary just two weeks ago. Unfortunately, Gary passed away this morning. So I am rerunning the piece from two weeks ago.
I have had the immense good fortune of having my friend Gary Smith serve as my campaign Treasurer from day one. In case you are not aware, serving as the Treasurer for a campaign can be a lot of work. You have to track every expenditure and every bit of income, paper and electronic, down to the literal penny. Mistakes can be met with fines, and if egregious enough, prison time! So it is serious business! It requires a person with a great eye for detail and patience with bureaucracy. That description fits Gary to a “T”!
Gary and I go back to somewhere in the early 1990s, when I met Gary, his wife Sarah Swisher, and their children, Sally and Riley. Gary, Sarah, Sally, and I worked on many, many campaigns together, and Riley became friends with my children.
We fought some good fights. We helped elect 3 Democratic Presidents (maybe even 4?). We helped elect Senator Harkin 4 times. We helped elect the first Democratic Governor in 24 years, then helped elect his replacement. We helped elect a Democratic majority in the Iowa House and Senate. We helped elect lots of progressive local candidates. We passed a huge school bond that built Tate High, Northwest Junior High, and Van Allen Elementary. And, we helped win the election that brought SEIU 199 and bargaining rights to nurses and other staff at the UI. It has been a great run!
Besides the politics, Gary has been such a good friend. He is smart, funny, and reliable. I really enjoy him!
I have such tremendous appreciation for all Gary has done for me over the past 21+ years - and frankly, way before that. He has been a great Treasurer and an even better friend. Thanks, Gary!
*Happy Ramadan!
Happy Ramadan to all who celebrate it! This year, Ramadan runs from the evening of Tuesday, Feb 17, 2026 until Thursday, Mar 19, 2026. Ramadan Mubarak!
*Happy Valentine’s Day!
For some folks out there, Valentine’s Day will result in flowers, a nice meal, or some other show of affection. I also recognize that for many folks, Valentine’s Day is a very difficult day.
Go ahead and dote on a loved one – they deserve it! But please use this day to also check in with someone who needs some company.
*Pitchers and Catchers Report!
That’s right! A sure sign of spring! Pitchers and catchers report on February 11! Opening Day 2024 is only a few weeks away!
We are all granted a fresh start every spring. We are all starting 0-0. Best of luck to you all! I hope some of you will join me in a game of catch this summer!
*Happy Mardis Gras!
Tuesday, February 17th is Fat Tuesday, the 18th is Ash Wednesday, and Easter is 40 days after that. Sounds like a reason to celebrate! Laissez les bons temps rouler!
*DVIP/RVAP Souper Bowl
DVIP & RVAP’s 29th Annual Souper Bowl fundraiser will be on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at Big Grove Iowa City from 5pm-7:30pm.
Dine-in or delivery options available. To-go soup is not an option this year.
Pre-sale tickets are only available until February 13th!
Our delivery option allows all of our supporters to participate in our annual fundraising event, please select delivery if you would like us to bring the soup to you!
Your support is vital to the work we do to protect and support survivors of intimate partner violence, sexual violence, domestic abuse, dating abuse, and human trafficking.
Through the generous support of our sponsors, 100% of your ticket purchase will go directly to soup-porting victim-survivors!
In honor of our 29th year, we aim to raise $29,000 to continue providing confidential and free crisis intervention services to over 3,000 individuals annually.
*Big Brothers Big Sisters
The Sullivan for Supervisor team is once again raising money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County by Bowling For Kids’ Sake. It is our 22nd consecutive year of doing so!
BBBS is REALLY important! Statistics show that having a trusted adult mentor makes an unbelievable difference in the life of a child. Kids with BBBS matches do better academically, are less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, and are less likely to be involved in the criminal justice system. This simple idea WORKS.
Please contribute to the Sullivan for Supervisor team at:
https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/2217839/campaign/
An Unprecedented Ask
Just a couple of weeks ago, the Board got a letter from all our Department Heads and Elected Officials. In that letter, they PLEADED with the Board to avoid any new projects. This is unprecedented. This is the governmental equivalent of the kids asking Dad to stop drinking. Everybody sees the problem but Dad.
In that same letter, Department Heads and Elected Officials PLEADED with the Board to stop spending unbudgeted money. All the Supervisors stated that they understood and appreciated these concerns.
We are about to enter a very difficult budget process. And we know with certainty that Kim Reynolds and Republicans in the Iowa Legislature are going to make things worse. To spend any money on new projects, at this time, in this place, is simply foolish. And bringing it up AT ALL does not inspire confidence in our Department Heads and Elected Officials.
Department Heads and Elected Officials are being asked to make very difficult budget decisions. They need to know that the Board of Supervisors takes the budget as seriously as they do.
Then there is the public. How can I tell the public we are serious about the budget when new initiatives get proposed? This is the type of thing that gives Johnson County a bad reputation. It is tone deaf.
Look, I am more than willing to spend money on feeding our hungry and unhoused neighbors. No one has ever proposed greater funding for food insecurity or affordable housing than I have. I always propose the most. But we owe it to everyone to spend these resources wisely.
*Across the Board Cuts?
At our February 3rd budget meeting, Supervisor Fixmer-Oraiz suggested that the Board might need to do an across the board cut of some type.
I objected. I think across the board cuts are lazy, and I said so. We are paid to make difficult decisions. We are paid to make the best possible decisions for Johnson County. That requires the ability to prioritize spending. Across the board cuts fail to do that.
V responded that across the board cuts are equal. I pointed out that I was not seeking equal, but equitable. They are very different concepts.
The dictionary definition of equity is: “The quality of being fair and just, especially in a way that takes account of and seeks to address existing inequalities.”
You have probably all seen the great visual depiction of equity. There are three kids trying to watch a ballgame over a fence. Each has a wooden box to stand on. The tallest two kids can see over; the shortest cannot.
In the second panel, the tallest kid has given their box to the shortest, who now has two boxes. Because of this, all three kids can see over the fence.
A tax system based on being equal could just say, “Everyone pays $5000 in taxes.” I prefer a system based upon equity – in this case, ability to pay. In that scenario, one person might pay $9500 in taxes while another pays $500. That is equity.
The same philosophy applies to a tight budget. It is simply foolish to cut everything by the same amount. That puts life-saving Ambulance care on a par with landscaping. An elected official would be irresponsible in weighing those two things equally. And that is just one example.
I do not want to do an across the board cut. It does not result in the best outcomes for the people of Johnson County.
*Sullivan for Supervisor Event
Sullivan for Supervisor Campaign Kickoff!
Wednesday, February 25 at the James Theater, 213 N. Gilbert Street
5:00 until 6:30 pm; remarks at 5:40.
Please join Rod Sullivan as he kicks off his 2026 campaign
for Johnson County Supervisor District 4.
There will be snacks, a cash bar, and lots of great conversation.
Cannot make it but still want to contribute?
Please send a check to:
Sullivan for Supervisor
514 N. Linn St.
Iowa City, IA 52245
Or visit the website at:
https://www.rodsullivansupervisor.com
paid for by Sullivan for Supervisor. Melissa Fath, Treasurer.
*DID YOU KNOW? Johnson County has over 600 full time, permanent employees.
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!
---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 8:38 PM
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