Cedar Rapids Vote Jun-14

[IA_Seth]

Don't forget to vote Home Rule today if you live in Cedar Rapids...

[Debi]

1. I should be paying more attention....can you tell us the difference?

And keep us updated on the results?

[IA_Seth]

2. Link to Info

Certainly...

Here is a link to the KCRG.COM site that details both positions and has an ballot example:

http://www.kcrg.com/article.aspx?art_id=96903&cat_id=123

For more information on the Home Rule point of view (the part-time council/city manager form) visit here:

www.bettercr.org

I am hard pressed for time right now, but basically the commission form of government that we currently have is an out-dated, inefficient way of doing things that creates 5 governments, each headed by a commissioner, that have been known to duplicate efforts and generally mis-lead our community. The new part-time council/city manager form will allow for greater representation of the people by creating a nine-person citizens council with legislative/policy-type role with a professional city manager reporting to the council and handling the day-to-day administration of the city.

You can tell which way I voted, right?

The Home Rule position (council/city manager) is supported by the Hawkeye Labor Council, the Chamber of Commerce, and numerous citizen's groups.

[Debi]

3. Thanks for the info and the link

Please post the results tonight or tomorrow (and good luck).

[IA_Seth]

4. We Won!

I am happy to report that the Home Rule option for city government won in a landslide victory over the commission form of government.

There are detailed articles at kcrg.com and crgazette.com if anyone is interested.

Woo hoo!

[Debi]

5. Congrats Seth - you were victorious!

Now, take all that organizational skill and beat the republicans out of CR!!!!

Did your group do an organized absentee ballot program? Door to door? telephone calls? What is your secret?

[IA_Seth]

6. I can't take any credit

It wasn't me!

I was supporting the effort 100% and helped deliver lawn signs, talked up everyone I could, etc. but the real credit goes to Citizens for a Better Cedar Rapids. They were a mix of supporters and original Charter Commission members that really organized the whole thing.

I think a lot of the outcome was due to the overwhelming desire for change and effeciency and this vote was mostly a no-brainer. It wasn't real partisan.

[Debi]

7. Congrats all the same, will be paying attention to the transition. n/t

[leQ]

8. it was you, and people like you, obviously a lot of people like you

who are instrumental in securing a win. you deserve a pat on the back. and i, along with many in here i'm sure, pat you. gently :)

[Blue Gardener]

9. This is great news

A change is long overdue. I've been to a CR city council meeting before. What an arrogant bunch of pricks.

[IA_Seth]

10. Hallelujah!

While I would firmly concur with your ever-so-humble assessment of our current council (arrogant pricks!)...I have to say there have been SOME good council members over the years. (Dale Todd in particular is a great guy and was a great Parks Commissioner)

I think this victory was more due to the change in type of government than it was a re-call of our current commissioners...this new form will allow for more "regular" citizens to run for the council seats, instead of the country-club types we currently (and most often) have running our city.

Of course, the arrogant pricks sure did make it easy to convince people!