Anyone else in Cedar Rapids? Any details re who are the Dems running

[Pirate Smile]

for the new City Government?

Names with no party affiliation - if you didn't vote for John Kerry, you don't have the judgment to be in government.

[CornField]

1. Some information which might help

All of the Cedar Rapids City Council and Mayoral candidates will be available at a Community Open House on Sunday, Nov. 6, from 1-4 p.m., at Kirkwood Community College on the 3rd floor of Iowa Hall.

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The CR Area Chamber of Commerce posed questions to the candidates and have posted the responses on their site: http://www.cedarrapids.org/news_details.asp?News_Id=176

Only five candidates chose not to respond. Here are the questions:

What do you see as the role of the city manager and the role of the elected city council in governing the city?

Do you support the completion of Hwy 100 in its current IDOT alignment? If no, please explain.

How will you support the effort to increase diversity in the Cedar Rapids area?

Will you support the city's continued financial contribution to Priority One at current levels?

The "Fifteen in 5" initiative was launched as a community planning process. What is the role of the elected officials in this effort?

What is your one big idea to promote collaboration as a region?

Do you have a plan to redevelop the downtown area?

[Pirate Smile]

2. Thanks, CornField!

:hi:

[IA_Seth]

3. Candidates for CR City Council

Hello.

As far as the candidates go, I am not positive on several of the candidate's party affiliation, but I will tell you what I know:

Mayor:
Kay Halloran is definitely a Dem

At Large:
Can't hardly say.

Fagan has done a lot of work helping Shields (District 5 candidate) and is an independent. I don't THINK he voted for Bush? I can't verify. He was endorsed by the Hawkey Labor Council (AFL-CIO). He has my vote.

Podzimek may be registered as an independent - not quite sure. He is very environmentally conscious and sounds pretty intelligent. He came to speak out our Central Committee meeting and impressed me. He has my vote.

McElmeel was endorsed by the Hawkeye Labor Council as well. I am not real sure that I will vote for him. He is reported as a republican here: http://election.kcrg.com/article.aspx?id=98286

District 1:
DJ Arnold - Dem - Active Central Committee member.
Tara Yoells - Dem - Endorsed by Hawkeye Labor Council

District 2:
Randy Nading - Dem - Endorsed by Hawkeye Labor Council

District 3:
Jerry McGrane - Independent - Endorsed by Hawkeye Labor Council
Sherry Cherry - I believe she is a dem - unable to verify.

District 4:
Chuck Swore - Dem - Endorsed by Hawkeye Labor Council. This is my district and I will probably vote for him, but I am not overly impressed with him. Not much choice in my district.

District 5:
Justin Shields - Dem - Endorsed by none other than Mr Kerry. President of Hawkeye Labor Council. Hell of a guy and a personal friend of Kerry's.

If you want to read up on the candidates and their positions on the issues you should check out: http://election.kcrg.com/stories.aspx

Plenty of stories, and in the right hand side bar there is a "10 questions" article that is pretty cool.

[IA_Seth]

4. Forgot one...

At Large:

Dave Hogan - Dem - Endorsed by Hawkeye Labor Council, Union Carpenter. I have never met him or heard him speak, but his ideas on the above websites sound good.

[Pirate Smile]

5. Thank you very much!

[pstans]

6. Sherry Cherry?

District 3:
Jerry McGrane - Independent - Endorsed by Hawkeye Labor Council
Sherry Cherry - I believe she is a dem - unable to verify.

Sherry Cherry? Hey that rhymes!

[IA_Seth]

7. Election Day!

Just a kick to remind everyone to vote today!