Bailey won’t seek reelection in Iowa City; Hayek running

IOWA CITY – Iowa City's Regenia Bailey, a two-term City Council member who served as mayor during the 2008 flood, will not run for re-election this fall.

“I think the timing is really good,” Bailey, who has served on the council since 2004 and was mayor in 2008 and 2009, said earlier this week. “I feel a great sense of accomplishment about the things that I've seen as I've been on council.”

Bailey's decision leaves this fall's City Council race wide open. Four seats are up for election, and three will not have an incumbent. Ross Wilburn and Mike Wright have already said they will not run. Mayor Matt Hayek said Wednesday he will seek re-election to his at-large seat.

Bailey may not be done with politics, however. In early 2010, after former state Rep. Ed Fallon said Bailey was the type of Democrat he'd like to see challenge then Gov. Chet Culver in a primary, Bailey told The Gazette she was a Culver supporter but indicated she'd have  interest in the post when the timing was better.

This week she kept the door open for a run at a higher office.

“I have a very deep love not only for this community, but for the state of Iowa. … I don't know what exactly the future will bring in that arena, but I anticipate that opportunities are out there,” she said.

Bailey, 51, represents Iowa City's District C, which covers middle and northern parts of the city. She cited as highlights of her more than seven years on council the planning for and opening of the joint emergency communications center, the soon-to-open fourth fire station in Iowa City and economic development projects like the Towncrest neighborhood redevelopment.

The City Council picks the mayor in Iowa City, and Bailey's term as mayor coincided with the 2008 flood.

As floodwaters rose, the council changed city law to give the mayor the power to order evacuations of neighborhoods during a civil emergency. Bailey said the vote was an indication of how quickly conditions were deteriorating, and she exercised the power within hours.

“I remember it with a lot of clarity,” Bailey said. “Not every other part do I remember with a lot of clarity because things moved fast and none of us got very much sleep for a while.”

She said she's proud of the community's response to the flood and the work of city staff and leaders in getting state and federal funds for flood-related projects.

Bailey has her own business, the Bailey Leadership Initiative, offering consulting and coaching services to small businesses and nonprofit agencies. She also teaches business classes at Kirkwood Community College and is chairwoman of the state's Vision Iowa board.

Hayek, 41, who is in his first term on council, said his goals include continuing to focus on economic development, a strong downtown, crime prevention and neighborhood cohesion.

“The city has made progress in multiple areas and I am excited about its direction,” he said in an email message. “Our new management team is off to a strong start and I want to do what I can to help it succeed.

Hayek is a partner in a downtown Iowa City law firm.

Council members serve four-year terms.