Iowa City nighttime mayor announces run for city council

IOWA CITY - The Iowa City Downtown District's nighttime mayor has announced she intends to run for city council this fall.

Angela Winnike, a 34-year-old Iowa City native, said Friday that she plans to run for one of two at-large seats on the ballot during the Nov. 7 city election. Current council member and Mayor Pro Tem Kingsley Botchway II and community organizer Mazahir Salih have already announced they're also running for the at-large seats.

Winnike began as nighttime mayor in April. She said even in her short time in the position, she's learned more about how the city works and it has helped her realize she wants to be involved in local politics.

She said in her work, she's had the opportunity to meet a lot of younger Iowa City residents and, if elected, Winnike said she wants to work to give the university population a voice.

'For me, one of the most important things is that the university is an incredibly important part of this community and, along with it, comes a really young population for nine month of the year,” Winnike said. 'A lot of them feel like they don't have a voice. That they're temporary residents here.”

Additionally, Winnike said, she would use her position on council to hopefully encourage the young, educated graduates to stay in the city.

'I have a hard time convincing my friends to stay here, live here and have their families here,” she said, adding that she believes graduates don't have to move to be successful. 'I really want to show people and prove to people what we have to offer here.”

Currently, Winnike serves as the chief of retail operations at Java House and Heirloom. If elected, she said she'd keep her day job but resign as nighttime mayor, which she said she's already discussed with the downtown district.

Winnike said she has a bachelor of arts degree in political science from the University of Iowa. She's also a West High graduate.

Council member Terry Dickens' District B seat is also on the ballot this fall but he previously told The Gazette he does not intend to run again. Current at-large council member Susan Mims is running for Dickens' seat.

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