Iowa City Council Forum

Terry Smith: Expulsion for Underage Drinking? "Potentially"
Iowa City Council Forum

Iowa City Council Candidate Terry Smith suggested Wednesday that the University of Iowa needs a student ethics code to deal with law enforcement issues – one that could potentially include expulsion for underage drinking offenses.

Smith joined three other council candidates at Connections, a candidate forum sponsored by local LBGT group Queer Connections at the Hotel Vetro in downtown Iowa City.

(Connections, however, did not have a wifi connection, thus the slight delay in coverage.)

Twice during the forum, Smith said consequences for underage drinking were not high enough, repeating the phrase: “We need collective consequences with the University.” As he had begged the question, I asked.

Deeth: So that that mean expulsion for underage drinking?
Smith: Potentially.

Smith noted the issue of legal drinking age is complex – he said has a 19 year old son in military service who can’t get a beer – but said that law is the responsibility of the legislature not the city council, and the city’s role is to enforce the law as is.


Terry Smith, first time candidate.

Smith, an at large candidate, joined district incumbents Mayor Ross Wilburn (District A) and Regenia Bailey (District C), and at large incumbent Dee Vanderhoef, who had not yet announced her candidacy before the forum but said “I’d like a fourth term” in her conclusion. Another potential candidate cancelled out late; despite severe threats moderator Carlton Blackburn did not violate the omerta and reveal the name.

It’s three months until the filing period - why a forum so soon? Blackburn says we’re a lot closer to the city elections then the caucuses, yet the presidential candidates are debating. “This forum starts the conversation and starts people thinking.”

Rick Dobyns, `05 candidate and leader of the Iowa City 21 bar referendum, was present, but despite kidding did not take a seat on stage. Doctor Rick reports the referendum petition has 2,600 signatures of the required 3,333. Also spotted: Councilor Amy Correia (not up this time), Supervisor Rod Sullivan, and staffers for Obama, Edwards and Richardson.

Before the forum proper, organizers took a victory lap for the civil rights bill. Attorney Ed Krug:

“Instead of a hodgepodge of municipalities and cities, now across the state all GLBT people will be protected. For the very first time in Iowa, you do not need to be afraid, you now have protection.”

Robin Butler noted Iowa City passed its civil rights ordinance 30 years and one month before the state and credited activists and allies with a great late-session effort. Blackburn offered the good advice that “an activist’s job is to be annoying.”

In prepped bios of all the candidates, Bailey emphasized her nonprofit work, while Vanderhoef focused on her work on state, regional and national committees. As candidates introduced themselves, Smith said the Council is a natural transition after eight years on city commissions including Planning and Zoning. “I see good parallels with what the city faces and my job” (safety and compliance with Mid-American Energy); “We had a lot of experience with public safety and disaster recovery” in the 2006 tornado. Bailey said it was important for the city to “do projects with people not to people.” Vanderhoef’s opening remarks lasted 14 minutes (of a 2 hour forum); she said when she first was on the council she often heard “no one wants to do business in Iowa City” but she hasn’t heard that in four years.


Ross Wilburn, incumbent, seeking 3rd term.

Wilburn, interestingly, sported an Obama pin next to his own button at the debate. His endorsement has been high profile but here he brings it into his own re-election race, even working a brief mention of “looking forward to working with Barack Obama in the White House” into the closing remarks.

Some blatant copying of the Dem presidential debate as Carlton asked The Elephant In The Room question (candidates were, however, clued in ahead of time). And Wilburn even more blatantly ripped Joe Biden with a one-word “No” answer. More important was the question: whether working with fellow council member – and ex-wife – Amy Correia was ever a conflict. It was insulting when the Press-Citizen asked it the day after Amy’s election in 2005, and didn’t need to be repeated as Ross’s “no” answer has been illustrated well over the last 18 months on both their parts.

Other Elephant questions: Dee, is 12 years on the council too long? “No limit if you have the desire and passion to do the job.”

Regenia, how do we pay for your proposals and balance the budget? “Financially, I’m less risk averse than my colleagues – part of that’s coming from a non-profit perspective. I’m also less inclined to collect taxes to build fund balances than to provide services.”

Terry, is there a conflict with your Mid American job and serving on the council? “I’ve proven on commissions that I can separate issues and do my job.” At this point he made things interesting, noting that he would have to recuse himself from a vote on a Mid American franchise, and if he had an agenda he’s be supporting another candidate who could be a Yes vote on the franchise rather than running himself. He then challenged the other candidates to “support the democracy of the last election” in which public power lost 2-1. (He didn’t mention the $600,000+ in Mid American corporate in-kind contributions that maybe sorta helped a little.)

Addressing low-income housing, Wilburn noted the disconnect with low-income workers: “We want you here working certain types of job but don’t want you living here.”
Smith was concerned about the cost of entry level housing and dropped a line that was clear code for the development community:

“With all the requirements we put on builders and developers it’s no wonder the cost is so high.”

Dee Vanderhoef, incumbent, seeking 4th term.

As for the 21 bar referendum, Wilburn and Vanderhoef are in support, with Vanderhoef emphasizing that she personally had signed the petition: “Where does it say in the city code that I am to baby-sit underage drinkers? I’m here to uphold state law.” Bailey is opposed and said the city has a huge gap in talking to young people. All three incumbents said they would vote to place the issue on the ballot, rather than simply passing the ordinance without a vote (as is an option under the city charter).

Bailey referred to downtown Iowa City as a “cultural district” and along with Wilburn discussed the ongoing market mix study. Vanderhoef noted that “throughout the state everyone wants to come to Iowa City for a meeting and they want to be based downtown” to shop. “We’ve got malls where we came from – we want unique places.” Whitey’s Ice Cream seemed to be an especially popular downtown destination for candidates.

The candidates showed remarkable restraint when asked about the use and Abuse of tax increment finance (TIF) districts, a hot inter-governmental issue in Johnson County. No one bashed any other city by name. Bailey: “We look at wages and benefits when we look at these breaks. We use rebates, so we get the taxes paid then we check the outcomes.” Vanderhoef said “we’re very judicious with how we use it in Iowa City. It isn’t all one sided.” Smith said the Sycamore Mall re-development was a good use of the TIF incentive, with Wilburn concurring and noting the $9.8 million in increased valuation and 95% occupancy.


Regenia Bailey, incumbent, seeking 2nd term.

Discussing “responsible and equitable growth,” Bailey suggested housing density bonuses so we grow with infill, rather than out. “We need to consider growing UP (vertical) rather than at the fringes where we have transit challenges.” She verbally backed away from the word “sprawl.” Vanderhoef said the re-use of Sycamore Mall was preferable to building a new strip mall further out.

Wilburn said the city’s funding for human services was an important symbolic gesture as many cities just let the county do it. Bailey said her nonprofit experience shows her that the city human services budget is greatly needed and appreciated. Vanderhoef emphasized education and charity in addressing poverty. Smith noted his work on the Goodwill board and prefers a Teach A Man To Fish approach: “The city should not provide support for programs that just provide handouts.”

The recent wave of assaults on UI students prompted a three bullet point answer from Terry Smith: 1) Lighting (an obvious answer from the electric guy, but in this case appropriate) 2) more patrols 3) awareness. Ross Wilburn had the very good answer of challenging men to step forward and say assault is unacceptable – a better answer that Vanderhoef’s “we can do all the training in the world with these young people, and they still decide to walk alone” (uhh, shouldn’t they be able to?)

The big question in building a fourth fire station is funding a staff of 8 to 10 firefighters. Wilburn suggested the possibility of a transitional phase of a part-volunteer staff, and noted Bettendorf did just that and is now fading the volunteer out for full-time paid people. He also mentioned the local option sales tax.

Bailey and Wilburn agreed the Shelter House needs to grow; the city is stalled until the Supreme Court issues a ruling and it’s likely that wherever the shelter is sited, neighbors will sue contending that the shelter lowers their property values.

All candidates agreed the budget is Issue Number One, but the twists were revealing. Bailey emphasized pushing for changes at the state level “as state is reluctant to do property tax reform.” Smith spoke of fiscal responsibility and reserves, while Vanderhoef, in her firmest tone of the night, said, “The one new revenue that is available to us is the sales tax.”

In closing remarks Smith offered the challenger answer of “I don’t have all the answers, I have the ability to listen to your concerns.” Wilburn noted he would like to not only return to the council, but also serve as mayor again. (Note for non-Iowa Citians: the mayor is elected by and from among the council, not directly.) Bailey has the volunteer sign up sheet handy and works in the URL baileyforiowacity.com so she gets the link love.

For some reason, Iowa City Council (or, as it’s officially officially known Iowa City City Council, or perhaps Iowa City, Iowa, City Council) is the office that above all others in Johnson County draws the largest pool of candidates – some of whom are, well, interesting. Several have dropped out after ballots were printed, one got stuck by a train on voter registration deadline and missed turning in a large pile of registrations, one failed to register to vote himself until late in the afternoon of deadline day. Then there was the late Ollie Habhab, who ran despite his homelessness (he listed Pizza On Dubuque as his address and his picture is still on the wall there.) He got much love but few votes.

But there were no Mike Gravels at this forum. These four are all main-chance contenders.