What they’re thinking: Pat Shey

CEDAR RAPIDS — Pat Shey, a local lawyer focused on corporate law, has announced he will not seek re-election after 15 years of political office, serving one and a half terms in the Iowa House and most recently three terms on the Cedar Rapids City Council.

Q Why did you decide not to run?

A: I never believed in making politics a career. Now that I'm 56 years old I, thought this is a good time to step down. It's been a great experience, but now is an opportunity to let someone else serve. My law practice is busier and my kids are gone. It's time to do other things. I always had in my mind this would be my last term. I've been through 12 budget hearings, and some new people with vim and vigor will bring some value.

Q: What are you most proud of?

A: Rebuilding of downtown. Rebuilding of NewBo — before there was nothing there. The day the (2008) flood was cresting, we were supposed to discuss a master plan for downtown — getting rid of one-way streets, the medical district, a blue print of NewBo. Before this, council had a history of doing studies and then putting them on a shelf. We said, 'We aren't putting this on the shelf.'

Q: What weren't you able to accomplish?

A: After the flood we had a lot of priorities, and the wish list still is long. We had to recover. We had to do the buyouts. We rebuilt NewBo and Kingston Village. I don't think we missed an opportunity, but the laundry list still is long. Before the flood, I was working on the Neighborhood Finance Corporation; they did that in Des Moines and it helps neighborhoods in transition. I'm pleased to see (first term City Council member) Scott Overland revived that. It's something that could have an impact on a lot of neighborhoods.

Q: What was your hardest vote?

A: PCI was the toughest vote I had, and the hotel vote. (The City Council voted in 2010 to close part of Second Avenue SE as part of a plan to bring Physicians' Clinic of Iowa to downtown Cedar Rapids. The same year, the council voted to buy the Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Hotel for $3.2 million as part of an $85 million plan to rebuild a downtown convention complex also including the U.S. Cellular Center and DoubleTree Hotel.) Without that vote would the hotel be a dark building? You get criticized for decisions, but how do you quantify what would happen if you don't make those votes?

Q: How has Cedar Rapids changed since you began your time in elected office?

A: There's more young people interested in living here. We have the Entrepreneurial Development Center and what Eric Engelmann (executive director of the New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative) is doing. We are well on our way to an entrepreneurial culture, and that's good for the city. We have more bike trails. Downtown living is in tremendous demand.

Q: What's next for you?

A: I like to hike. I love southern Utah. Pacific Crest Trail and Appalachian Trail get all the attention, but I'd like to hike the Hayduke Trail. It's named after a character in Edward Abbey's 'The Monkey Wrench Gang.' Abbey was a well-known conservationist. The trail goes through Arches, Canyonlands, Grand Canyon, Capitol Reef, Grand Staircase-Escalante. (These are all part of the National Park System.) It's 700 miles. I have an 80-mile hike through the Wind River Range (in Wyoming) in September.

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