City Council Coverage

City Council Coverage

P-C has reacts. Key paragraph:

Baker, an author and former city councilor, said he was disappointed but glad that Klein made it. Klein narrowly defeated Baker, who received 24.6 percent of the votes.

"Garry worked harder than anyone else in this campaign," Baker said. "He deserves to be in the final four."

Gazette coverage isn't bad; part of the Cedar Rapids council reorganization is a switch from an October primary to a December runoff, so we're not overshadowed. More praise for Klein from Baker here, too.

The Daily Iowan's big coup is actually tracking down Mitch Rotman for a quote.

Also, a little history. Since Iowa City went to primaries in the `70s, top two finishers in October have become losers in November five times.

1999: Charles Major was in second place in the at large primary for two seats, with Steven Kanner in third place. In the general election, Kanner finished in second place to win the council seat, two votes ahead of Major.

1993: Bob Hibbs was in first place in a primary for a two year term to fill an at large vacancy, and Jim Throgmorton finished second. In the general election, Throgmorton defeated Hibbs.

1981: Incumbent Glenn Roberts finished first in the at large primary for two seats, but fourth in the general election.

1979: Incumbent Carol DeProsse finished second in the at large primary for two seats, but third in the general election.

1977: Fredine Branson ran second in the at large primary for two seats, but fourth in the general election.

No one should coast; no one should give up.

The line up is clear on public power: Dobyns, O'Donnell no; Correia, Klein yes. But on 21 bars it's interesting. Dobyns yes; Correia, Klein, O'Donnell no. Do the bar owners get involved like they did with near-success in 2001? If so, who do they back?

And labor is not endorsing since no candidates meet their purity test. Do progressive groups like FAIR fill that void in backing Correia and Klein? Hope so.