“This is our neighborhood park,” Shawn Harmsen told the crowd gathered in Mercer Park Wednesday. He and his family had celebrated birthdays in the park, he’d coached Little League baseball there, and now Harmsen was at Mercer to kickoff his campaign for the open District B seat on the Iowa City Council. The event in […]
2021 Elections
Posted inCommunity/News
Mazahir Salih announces she is not running for reelection to the Iowa City Council
Iowa City Councilmember Mazahir Salih announced on Wednesday that she will not run for reelection. Salih, who was elected mayor pro tem by her fellow councilmembers in 2020, had told reporters earlier this year that she would run for the open seat in District B instead of seeking reelection to her current at-large seat. But […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Mayor Bruce Teague is running for reelection
Mayor Bruce Teague announced on Thursday he is running for reelection to his at-large seat on the Iowa City Council. “I hope the people of Iowa City have seen how hard I have worked to listen to all voices and will give me the opportunity to continue serving them as we move past this difficult […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Cedar Rapids mayoral candidates face questions on systemic racism in policing and increasing equity at forum
The three candidates vying to be mayor of Cedar Rapids participated in a forum on Saturday evening that focused on improving diversity, equity and inclusion in the city. The forum, organized by the African American Professions of the Iowa Corridor, and was held at Sinclair Auditorium on the Coe College campus. Individuals were able to […]
Posted inCommunity/News, Election Coverage
Linn County mayors urge residents to vote ‘yes’ to extending local option sales tax
Linn County mayors and other officials are asking voters to extend the local option sales tax used to fund street repair and construction, in addition to other infrastructure projects. Voters in Cedar Rapids, Marion, Hiawatha, Robins and Fairfax should expect to see the referendum on the ballot this November. A majority of residents in the […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Special election scheduled for June to fill vacancy on Johnson County Board of Supervisors
There will be a special election on Tuesday, June 8, to fill the vacancy on the Johnson County Board of Supervisors created by Janelle Rettig’s resignation. That was the decision reached at the Friday afternoon meeting of the committee of three county officials responsible for determining how to fill Rettig’s seat. Rettig announced her retirement, […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Tamara Marcus announces candidacy for Cedar Rapids City Council
Climate scientist and social justice advocate Tamara Marcus announced her candidacy on Monday for the Cedar Rapids City Council in District 3. Marcus will kick off her candidacy at Redmond Park, 1545 3rd Ave SE, on Thursday. The event, which coincides with Earth Day, is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. There will be music, […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Megan Alter kicks off her campaign for the Iowa City Council
Despite a cold wind, more than 30 people gathered in front of the brightly colored mural at Pepperwood Plaza on Friday evening for the kickoff of Megan Alter’s campaign for an at-large seat on the Iowa City Council. Alter, a resident of the South District and a board member of the South District Neighborhood Association […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Jake Brummer exits Cedar Rapids mayoral race, endorses Amara Andrews
Business owner Jake Brummer has exited the race for mayor of Cedar Rapids, and endorsed Amara Andrews for the office. Brummer, who is co-owner of the Red Frog in Czech Village, launched his campaign early last week and was running what he called a “normal guy campaign” that was completely self-funded. “I want to get […]
Posted inCommunity/News
‘I will bring a new vision to local government’: Amara Andrews begins her campaign for mayor of Cedar Rapids
Businesswoman and community leader Amara Andrews kicked off her campaign for mayor of Cedar Rapids on Thursday evening with a event that was livestreamed on her campaign’s Facebook page. “I will bring a new vision to local government,” Andrews said during her speech at the event. “I will be an advocate for labor unions. I […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Tiffany O’Donnell announces bid for mayor of Cedar Rapids
Tiffany O’Donnell kicked off her campaign for Cedar Rapids mayor on Tuesday. O’Donnell, CEO of Women Lead Change and a former news anchor, made the official announcement on her campaign’s Facebook page. She filed a statement of organization with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board on March 11. “I’m running for mayor because I […]
