Coralville mayor to seek re-election

CORALVILLE – Jim Fausett doesn't want to relinquish the mayor's gavel just yet.

Fausett said in an interview Monday that he will run for another two-year term as Coralville's mayor. It's a position he's held since 1996.

“Carol and I both consider Coralville to be our fifth child almost,” he said, referring to his wife.

Fausett said it's an exciting time for Coralville and there are a lot of projects he'd like to see completed.

Chief among those is the Iowa River Landing, a commercial and entertainment district southeast of the Interstate 80-First Avenue interchange. A hospital outpatient clinic is under construction and scheduled to open next year, a brewery broke ground last week and city officials are working to attract a retail anchor store to the area.

Also, Fausett said Costco Wholesale Warehouse has indicated it may have a store open next spring north of Interstate 80 in an area that is home to a Wal-Mart and other retailers.

Fausett, who is 79 years old, had a heart attack in October 2009 during his last re-election bid, in which he ran unopposed and easily won re-election. He said he checked with his cardiologist before deciding to run this year and was told his health was good.

Fausett has lived at 814 14th Ave. for more than 50 years. He is a retired administrator at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry.

In Coralville, the mayor does not have a vote on the five-member City Council but does have veto power. The mayor is elected at large.

Before serving as mayor, Fausett was a member of the City Council for 18 years.

No one else had filed for the mayoral race as of Monday afternoon, City Administrator Kelly Hayworth said.

City Council and mayoral candidates have until 5 p.m. Sept. 22 to file nomination papers for the Nov. 8 election.