By David Sterling, Iowa City
I am writing to voice my strong support for Mandi Remington in the upcoming Johnson County Supervisor election. It’s high time our county’s support for real change on the national level is applied to the local as well.
Mandi’s commitment to truly affordable housing, making our cities more accessible, and ensuring everyone can participate in civic life makes her the candidate we desperately need.
Mandi’s track record speaks volumes. As the director of Corridor Community Action Network (CCAN) for the past five years, she’s shown what dedication to community looks like. Under her leadership, CCAN has helped local organizations work together more effectively, cutting down on redundant efforts and boosting impact. CCAN has also made consistent efforts to provide free food and clothing to struggling members of the community. The annual CCAN-con in downtown Iowa City, which brings together multiple local organizations for a massive visibility and volunteer engagement boost, is just one example of her knack for community building.
Mandi isn’t just a professional powerhouse; she’s a single mother of three and a survivor of domestic violence. She’s known for making personal sacrifices to help others in our community, often putting their needs above her own despite facing economic hardships. This is the kind of empathy and dedication we need in our local government. This is the kind of focus we need from our elected officials.
In stark contrast, Lisa Green-Douglass has shown time and again that she’s out of touch with our community’s needs. Her recent refusal to attend a candidate’s forum last Tuesday, calling the hosting organizations and their questions “irrelevant,” is a prime example of her disconnect. This refusal, shared via email to the press, has backfired as screenshots spread through various communities, often being the first introduction people’ve had to her as a candidate. While she claims to support unionized workers, her greater support for businesses that suck their wages dry via housing, food, and medical scarcity speaks volumes about her priorities. Green-Douglass’s actions show she’s more aligned with business interests than with the working people she claims to champion.
Royceann Porter’s tenure has been a series of embarrassments and insensitivity. Her infamous defense of the Iowa City police having a mine-resistant armored vehicle with the remark about “schizophrenics or whatever” is almost legendary in the community. Her dismissive attitude towards transgender individuals, referring to them as “transgenders,” and confusing them with gay men borders on the absurd.
What has upset me most however, has been her repeated, long-term harassment of a local Black activist for disagreeing on Black issues by targeting her status as an immigrant. Further, the incident with a local indigenous woman who was receiving a proclamation for her work on Missing Murdered Indigenous Women. Royceann, in her role as a county supervisor giving the proclamation, told this woman that her work should be about “everybody” instead. Unforgivable. This is not the humble, selfless community organizer I knew before she took office.
Bob Conrad also exists. His rhetoric in debate forums is extremely unpopular among the state troopers he serves as a union director to. State troopers serve as the sword of Kim Reynolds, so not only is Bob’s background deeply unpopular with voters, the people he serves show that his progressive rhetoric isn’t trustworthy. In fact, financial reports from his campaign show he has a number of wealthy donors that include UIPD officer Ian Mallory. Mallory has recently become visible for his online stalking and harassment of local peaceful (primarily trans) activists so he can arrest them for nonviolent offenses well after the fact. I don’t consider Bob a serious candidate.
Electing Mandi Remington is crucial for ensuring our community’s needs are prioritized over business interests. With her on the Board of Supervisors, we’d have a majority committed to practical, people-focused solutions like expanding public transportation and prioritizing affordable housing before anything else. These steps are essential for addressing the challenges of our expensive rental market and making Johnson County a place where everyone can thrive.
Mandi has broad support, particularly among trans, economically disadvantaged, unionized, and anti-establishment voters, but her vision for a fairer and more inclusive Johnson County should resonate with everyone. You can see this manifest in the campaign finances; Mandi’s raised more than Royceann and Lisa combined, trailing just behind Rod. Her pragmatic approach to solving real issues stands in stark contrast to the stagnation we’ve seen from the current board.
We cannot afford to dismiss candidates like Mandi Remington. The status quo is killing us. I’ve lived in Johnson County nearly my whole 31 years, have a union job, and can barely afford rent. I urge my fellow residents to support her in the upcoming election. Her leadership and vision are exactly what Johnson County needs to foster a more equitable and inclusive community.
