SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
February 22, 2026
Sullivan’s Salvos 2/26/26
In this edition:
*RIP Paul Wilson
*RIP Jesse Jackson
*DVIP/RVAP Souper Bowl
*Night of 1000 Dinners
*Illegal Vote!
*Sullivan for Supervisor Event
*Did You Know?
*RIP Paul Wilson
I was sad to see the passing of Paul Wilson of Iowa City. Paul worked at Pizza Hut for many years. He loved his Hawkeyes, and was just a great guy. RIP, Paul.
*RIP Jesse Jackson
The Reverend Jesse Jackson passed away recently. Jackson was one of the giants of the Civil Rights movement in America. He was on the march from Selma to Montgomery. He joined the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and worked alongside MLK full time. He drew praise from King as a young man running the SCLC’s economic development and empowerment program, Operation Breadbasket — “We knew he was going to do a good job, but he’s done better than a good job,” King said. And of course, Jackson stood next to MLK on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel when he was assassinated in 1968.
Jackson’s passing brings back a lot of memories for me. You all know how the Iowa Caucuses work; you do not really “vote.” You stand in a corner to express your preference. That said, my first ever Presidential “vote” was for Jesse Jackson in 1984. I caucused for him again in 1988. It was on the ’88 Jackson campaign that I met a couple folks who have remained great friends to this day.
A lot of people forget that Jackson won 11 states in 1988. His Operation PUSH and Rainbow Coalition (now Rainbow/PUSH) were effective organizations that were very centered on economic disparity. I remember several astute political observers pointing out that Jackson really never lost a debate. Instead, the question was always, “Is America ready for a black President?” The questions were always about our readiness, not his. It is interesting to see the ways in which Jackson’s campaigns cleared some paths for Barack Obama 20 years later.
Few remember his post-Presidential candidate life, but Jackson went on to achieve some great diplomatic victories. He secured the release of American prisoners from the former Yugoslavia, Syria, Cuba, Iraq, and Gambia. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his efforts.
I am sure that somewhere in my subconscious, my appreciation for Jesse Jackson helped prepare me for parenting African American children. There are undoubtedly many Americans whose lives were positively touched by Reverend Jackson and his many efforts to make the world a better place.
RIP, Reverend Jackson.
*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/
*Night of 1000 Dinners
The Night of 1,000 Dinners, a long-standing community celebration of International Women’s Day that has been hosted by the Johnson County United Nations Chapter for more than 25 years, will take place from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, March 6th at Saint Andrew Presbyterian Church, 140 Gathering Place Lane.
The event will feature an international buffet, entertainment, a silent auction, and a program recognizing local organizations advancing United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. This year’s honorees include Shelter House, The Housing Fellowship, and the Immigrant Welcome Network of Johnson County.
Proceeds from the event will benefit these organizations, as well as UN-Habitat, which promotes sustainable urban development, safe, resilient communities worldwide, and the educational work of the Johnson County United Nations Association.
Tickets are on sale now through March 1st for $50; Student or limited income tickets are available for $20. Tickets can be purchased at the Eventbrite page.
*Illegal Vote!
A strange and unfortunate thing happened at our February 19 Board Meeting. I believe the Board broke the law, deciding to spend $1000 without a public vote, and without that expenditure noticed on the meeting agenda.
A bit of background: Johnson County is involved in a strategic planning process with Berry Dunn. Berry Dunn is a relatively large national company that has helped governments across the country with their strategic planning.
Johnson County set up an ad-hoc Strategic Planning Committee of 12 county employees to help determine the scope of services, etc. There are two Supervisors on the committee – Lisa Green Douglass and me.
During our last committee meeting, we discussed how we are going to get community input. We only paid Berry Dunn so much, so we have to be judicious as to how that input is collected. Berry Dunn made some recommendations (with prices attached). The methods we are going to use include dozens of one-on-one interviews, several targeted focus groups, email and online surveys, and community forums. They suggested a couple community forums; the committee suggested three. We agreed to three.
County staff started scheduling these sessions. It was decided to hold one in the northern part of the county (recently held in Solon) and one in the southern part of the county (recently held in Hills). There was also a plan to do one in the metro area. After some searching, larger, free locations in Iowa City were not very available. One of the committee members checked on her phone, and noted that the Coralville Library was open on one of the dates we needed. So the committee voted to use the CVPL.
I noted during this discussion that Iowa City is half the population of the county, and that we should probably hold something there. But time and money were short, and the committee argued that the CVPL was still quite accessible to people in Iowa City. (Plus online options exist.)
I was outvoted, but I understood and appreciated the committee’s reasoning. I accepted the plan.
Then, at our February 19 meeting, Supervisor Fixmer-Oraiz announced that there needs to be a public input session in Iowa City. Understand, the sessions were set. They had been advertised. Berry Dunn could add another, but they would need to make a special trip back to Iowa City at an additional cost of $1000. And an already-overburdened staff gets more work.
This was not on the Board agenda. Yet for some reason, we discussed it. I mentioned my discomfort with the process, and my discomfort with voting to spend $1000 in this way. (I noted that I would NOT do so.) I was also uncomfortable with a single Board Member undercutting the decision of the whole 12-person committee.
Yet somehow, we magically are now setting up an Iowa City session and paying Berry Dunn an extra $1000. I still do not understand how. Who voted for this? When? Where is the record? How can this happen? How can public money be spent in this way? How can we violate open meeting laws like this?
This was not good. It is an example of the knee-jerk way in which too many things happen in Johnson County. Department Heads and Elected Officials are sick of this off-the-cuff style of governance. They want the Board to stop spending money willy-nilly. They want the Board to respect their time and their staff’s time. The want the Board to quit undermining their decisions. I agree with them. More importantly, I think this was illegal.
I know what a couple of my colleagues are going to say. They will double down on the idea that having a feedback session in Iowa City is *SO* critical compared to having one in Coralville. Interestingly, Iowa City recently held a very similar session for their own plan. I know, because I attended. I was the only Supervisor there, by the way. So it is really important – but not important enough for you to have attended in the city you hope to represent. Got it.
I know what a couple of my colleagues are going to say. They will note that $1000 is not much in the overall County budget. That is true. So exactly how much money is ok to spend without a Board vote? Is $5000 ok? $10,000? I imagine Department Heads would like to know, because each could spend $1000 pretty quickly on something.
I know what a couple of my colleagues are going to say. “It is no big deal. We voted on it the next week.” That is not how the law works. The same people would be livid if ICE simply said, “We’ll get the warrant next week,” or “We are taking you into custody. We will charge you with something next week.” Disregard for rules, laws, and norms is how America got to this place. We must do better.
If a bunch of Republicans did this, Johnson County voters would be irate. I think they should be irate here, too. We rail about Trump and Reynolds failing to follow the law. But when our side does it? Do we simply pretend it did not happen?
I hope the Johnson County Strategic Plan addresses some of these basics of good governance. This Board needs it.
*Sullivan for Supervisor Event
Sullivan for Supervisor Campaign Kickoff! With Special guest legendary Iowa City singer/songwriter Dave Moore!
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? The cardiac arrest survival rate in Johnson County is 19.8%, nearly double the national average! Thank you Johnson County Ambulance!
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 @ 7:15 PM
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