Community organizer Mazahir Salih announces run for Iowa City Council

IOWA CITY - Mazahir Salih, a community organizer and president of the Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa, on Monday declared her candidacy for an at-large seat on the Iowa City Council.

Salih, who made her announcement at the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center, said her platform focuses on affordable housing, improving public transportation and supporting good jobs with living wages.

'As a community organizer and a family advocate,” she said. 'I feel like I'm bringing this kind of community movement, for ideas and solutions, to the city council table - precisely because I have been bringing people together in Iowa City for the past several years.”

Salih, a native of Sudan, told The Gazette that because of her time at the center - a nonprofit located at 940 S. Gilbert St. in Iowa City that advocates for immigrants - she has seen gaps in the interaction between residents and the city. She said she wants to build bridges and expand on issues the current council is working to solve.

Three council seats are expected to be on the ballot in November - the at-large seats are held now by Mayor Pro Tem Kingsley Botchway II and Susan Mims and the District B seat is held by Terry Dickens. Neither Botchway nor Mims could be reached on Monday by The Gazette.

Members of the Iowa City Council earn $7,072, according to Iowa City Code, though increases can be made based on inflation.

Salih holds a degree in electroneurodiagnostic technology from Kirkwood Community College, with additional degrees in early childhood development from Ashley University and civil engineering from the Sudan University of Science and Technology, according to a news release.

She and her husband have five children. They moved to Iowa City from Virginia five years ago, she said.

According to the Secretary of State's website, candidates can begin officially filing for city elections on Aug. 14. A primary election would be held Oct. 10 if five or more candidates file to run for the at-large seats or if more than three file to run for the District B seat.

The general election is Nov. 7.

l Comments: (319) 339-3172; maddy.arnold@thegazette.com