Former Iowa City mayor joins Democrats running for governor

CEDAR RAPIDS - Former Iowa City Mayor Ross Wilburn has formed a gubernatorial campaign committee.

Now the diversity officer and associate program director for Community and Economic Development for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Wilbur joins eight others also seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2018.

Wilburn, who was unavailable for comment Wednesday, has 26 years of experience in nonprofit and governmental work. He worked as executive director of the Crisis Center of Johnson County for eight years, served as a visiting instructor for the University of Iowa for three years and a program coordinator for United Action for Youth for nine years.

Wilburn joins former U.S. Department of Agriculture official and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission member John Norris; state Sen. Nate Boulton of Des Moines; former Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Andy McGuire; former Des Moines school board President Jon Neiderbach; state Rep. Todd Prichard of Charles City; Davenport Alderman Mike Matson; Coralville nurse and union President Cathy Glasson; and Des Moines businessman Fred Hubbell in the race for the nomination.

Republicans Gov. Kim Reynolds and Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett are seeking the Republican nomination.

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