SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
October 11, 2026
Sullivan’s Salvos 10/15/26
In this edition:
*RIP Pat Jensen
*Harvest
*Iowa City Book Festival
*Protesting the Jail
*Early Voting Begins!
*Now is the Time!
*You Have Another Job!
*Consequential – Hiring Great People!
*Salvos Salutes – 2023
*Did You Know?
*RIP Pat Jensen
Some obituaries just “get” me a little more than others. That happened recently when I read the obituary of Pat Jensen of Iowa City.
For one, I have admired Pat since I first got involved in local politics. She was a lovely lady – smart and thoughtful, but also determined and tough. She and her husband Dwight have been unfailingly kind to me for the better part of 40 years. Pat and Dwight are members of the Democratic Party Hall of Fame, and as deserving as anyone! Both could tell great stories of their time with Governor-then-Senator Harold Hughes. Those were tumultuous but glorious days in Iowa and in the US, when we made huge improvements to our democracy and our quality of life. Pat played an important role in all of that.
Pat had quite a resume! From her obituary: “As a young wife and mother living in Des Moines, she joined the League of Women Voters there, launching a life-long volunteer career working for voter education, free and fair elections and equal rights for women.
During nearly six decades with the League, Pat served in leadership positions at the local, state, regional and national levels. At various times, she was president of her local Johnson County, Iowa, League; Iowa State President; Virginia State President; National Capital Area League President; and a member of the National League board of directors in Washington, D.C.”
The other piece that “got” me was the last line of Pat’s obituary: “Pat asks that you vote.”
I will vote. And this year, I am dedicating that vote to Pat Jensen. RIP, my friend.
*Harvest
Fall in Iowa means the harvesting of crops, and that means large machinery is out in the roadways. Please enjoy the fall beauty, but exercise caution as you navigate our roads!
*Iowa City Book Festival
The 18th annual Iowa City Book Festival will be held Oct. 18-25, 2026, at locations throughout downtown and beyond. It will showcase a dynamic mix of original events and collaborative programs with partner organizations, all celebrating the power of the written word and the exchange of ideas.
The Iowa City Book Festival is organized by the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature, a nonprofit 501(c)3 that manages the Iowa City area’s designation as a UNESCO City of Literature. The City of Literature works to advance its mission of celebrating and supporting literature on a local, regional, national, and international level, connecting readers and writers through the power of story.
For more info, see: https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/icbf/
*Protesting the Jail
I wish all the folks – especially elected officials – who were using their time protesting a new Jail and Sheriff’s Office spent a bit of that time knocking on doors for Democrats. We have such an opportunity right now with Turek, Bohannan, Sand, and the other statewide candidates… I wish we had that energy going toward getting them elected.
*Early Voting Begins!
Below is the early voting schedule for the 2026 General Election.
Johnson County Administration Building, 913 S. Dubuque St.
Weekday Voting
Oct 14–Nov 2: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Hours are extended Oct 26-28.
Voting After Dark
- Oct 26: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Oct 27: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Oct 28: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
Weekend Voting
- Oct 24-Oct 25: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Oct 31: 7:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Nov 1: 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Drive-Thru: Health & Human Parking Ramp, 855 S. Dubuque St.
Weekday Voting
- Oct 14–30: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Nov 2: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Weekend Voting
- Oct 24-25: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Oct 31: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Nov 1: 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Satellite Voting
Iowa Memorial Union
125 N. Madison St, Iowa City
- Oct 14-Oct 15: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Iowa City Public Library
123 S. Linn St, Iowa City
- Oct 17: 10 am – 6:00 pm
- Oct 18: 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
- Oct 26-Oct 27: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Oct 28: 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Dream City
611 Southgate Ave.
- Oct 17: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
UIHC - Iowa River Landing Clinic
920 E 2nd Ave, Coralville in Suite 201 A-B
- Oct 19: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
UIHC - Health Care Support Services Building
3281 Ridgeway Dr, Coralville
- Oct 20: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
UIHC - North Liberty Campus
701 W. Forevergreen Rd, North Liberty, 2nd Floor Conference Rooms
- Oct 21: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Solon High School
600 W 5th St, Solon
- Oct 23: 2:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Coralville Public Library
1401 5th St, Coralville
- Oct 24: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Oct 25: 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Hy-Vee Center at Centennial Park
1565 St Andrews Dr, North Liberty
- Oct 24: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Oct 25: 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
University of Iowa Health Care
200 Hawkins Dr, Iowa City in the Fountain Lobby
- Oct 29-Oct 30: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
*Now is the Time!
Are you worried about the future of democracy in the US? (You should be!) Worried about the future of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid? (You should be!) Worried that the rich will just keep on getting richer and the middle class will keep getting screwed? (You should be!)
If you care about these issues or any others, now is the time to get to work. Voters are casting ballots soon. Volunteers are needed. Can you find some time to volunteer? If not now, when?
*You Have Another Job!
We just talked about voting. That is great, but it is NOT going to be enough! If you really care about this election, you NEED to put in the extra effort to ensure at least one extra person votes.
Here is my advice: Don’t assume people are voting, especially young people. Also, don’t assume they have a workable plan. Talk to them NOW to get a voting plan in place. I am doing this now with a former foster daughter and her husband. It is a long and complicated process. So get started!
*Consequential – Hiring Great People!
When people think of the job of a County Supervisor, they think budgets, zoning decisions, and policies. And while that is certainly all part of the job, it is nowhere near the most important thing Supervisors do. There is one thing Supervisors do that is far more important than anything else, and that is hire Department Heads.
Having served longer than any other Supervisor ever, I have had several opportunities to hire Department Heads. 20, as a matter of fact. (This does not count positions like Assessors, where I had a vote, but it was one of many. It also does not count County Departments with separate Boards or Commissions.) I have had a vote in hiring every current Johnson County Department Head.
How has the Board done on those 20 hires? Pretty darn well, I would say. As a matter of fact, I would say 15 were undisputed home runs. 4 were solid hires. Only once did we make a mistake. So the record is not perfect, but it is pretty darn good!
I really do not think you could find a better group of Department Heads anywhere in the country. I feel that strongly. These people are smart, hardworking, committed, passionate experts who serve us well every single day. I truly could not be more proud! And I am proud of my role in hiring them all.
*Salvos Salutes – 2023
What I wrote about some of the honorees from Salvos Salutes in 2023:
Carrie Watson: Ms. Watson taught almost everyone we put through City High – Rachel, Jordan, Loshika, BJ, and Marie. In every case, Ms. Watson seemed to know exactly what each kid needed. In every case, she went above and beyond the call of duty. In every case, the kids were better people because they had her as a teacher. The quality of educators my kids enjoyed is truly amazing! And while it might be impossible to choose a single BEST teacher, Carrie Watson is definitely in the mix! Carrie retired last May, and is most deserving of a Salvos Salute!
Barbara Vinograde: The Iowa City Free Medical and Dental Clinic Executive Director Barbara Vinograde stepped down back in June after 31 years with the organization. Barbara Vinograde has given much of her adult life to this noble pursuit. In addition, Barbara is one of the kindest, gentlest, humblest, fairest, most caring people I have ever met. You can look far and wide, and you will not find a better human being. Congratulation, Barbara! You are the best!
New unions: Brand new bargaining units won recognition at United Natural Foods and the Englert Theatre. Workers also voted to form a union at the downtown Starbucks, although the corporate bosses refuse to come to the table. Local union activism is growing, and that is a great thing for Johnson County!
Older unions: School bus drivers (Teamsters), city and county AFSCME employees, and several other local unions scored nice wins. In addition, memberships are up, and existing unions are ready, willing, and able to work with groups who seek representation. The union movement is strong in Johnson County!
Mitch Gross: My friend Mitch is stepping down after 16 years on the Coralville Council. He already has one of the most difficult jobs imaginable as the Principal at West High, so I understand the decision. Mitch is a great guy, and Coralville is definitely a better place due to his service. Thanks, Mitch!
IC Transit: Free bus service has been a big hit! Great for people and great for the environment! Thanks to the IC Council for their vision! (And yes, I am contractually obligated to mention that Gary Sanders campaigned on this in his 1981 run for Council.)
Ron Schneider: Retiring from SEATS after 34+ years, Ron epitomizes the steady, solid public employees we have here in Johnson County. Ron just does the job and does it well, day in and day out. Thank you for your service!
Dave Gould: The UI has some real gems. None shine brighter than Dave Gould, he of the Life Design class. Gould’s classes delve into the very deepest things that connect us all as humans, then put those findings to work within the community. Want to learn a lot about the world, yourself, and how they fit together? Take a class with Dave Gould. He’s one of the nicest folks you’ll ever meet.
Bob Welsh (second time): We lost Bob late in 2023. He was doing advocacy work up until that time. Please see last week’s Salvos for more on this great man.
As you can see, 2023 was a year full of people worthy of our admiration!
*DID YOU KNOW? The first steamboat arrived in Iowa City in 1851.
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 @ 11:05 AM
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