Official, community leader in North Liberty mayoral race

NORTH LIBERTY - Two candidates will face off in North Liberty's first contested mayoral election since 2005.

Recently appointed Mayor Gerry Kuhl is a retired certified public accountant who started his own business and has 15 years experience in city government.

After seven years as a city council member, he was appointed mayor in June, after the death of Mayor Tom Salm, who had run unopposed since being appointed in 2005.

Kuhl was mayor pro tem before his appointment to the mayoral post.

'I am running to continue the progress (North Liberty) has made under Mayor Salm,” he said. 'I bring experience and knowledge plus the ability to work with our partners and elected officials on a variety of issues.”

Kuhl said he hopes to seek his opponent's input on issues that affect North Liberty residents.

'I have experience, she has ideas,” he said.

Amy Nielsen is a stay-at-home mother who holds community chair positions and started the Garner Elementary Walking School Bus program in 2012. She is on the board of directors for the North Liberty Community Pantry and has managed two local elections.

'We're a community that takes pride in taking care of people who need taken care of,” she said.

Kuhl and Nielsen discussed issues facing the community at an Oct. 8 forum held by the League of Women Voters of Johnson County. One of the most heated topics was community engagement in local politics.

'We have emails, we have letters, we have phone calls. What I'm seeing is that people need to take an active participation in coming to meetings,” said Kuhl, who noted that council member Bryan Wayson has asked residents to attend council work sessions to discuss the budget, but no one has attended.

Neilsen said she was surprised by the number of people in North Liberty who felt disconnected from their community because they didn't have options for connecting with city government.

'There are a lot of ways that we could better engage the community,” she said. 'People cannot always attend scheduled board meetings and sessions and council meetings.

'They need to have the information pushed out in different ways than what we are currently doing.”

Candidate Bios:

Amy Nielsen

' Age: 37

' Hometown: Keokuk

' Current occupation: Homemaker

' Previous political experience: Managed two local elections, worked on campaign for revenue purpose statement for Iowa City Community Schools, platform committee for Johnson County Democrats, secretary for education committee, Johnson County Democrats

' Highest Education: Two years, Kirkwood Community College

Gerry Kuhl

' Age: 71

' Hometown: Eldridge

' Current occupation: Retired

' Previous political experience: Mayor pro tem for 9 years, city council member, 9 years

' Highest Education: Graduate work in accounting, University of Iowa, Kirkwood, Coe