Letter: Vote for mayor who can move city forward

I do not live in Cedar Rapids; however, I work there, and the city is my primary dining and entertainment destination. So it was with interest that I read The Gazette mayoral endorsement, and I was sorely disappointed with the choice and the reasoning. From 'We came into this process with misgivings about Olson,” to the 'pedestrian safety” issue, and finally to the tacit agreement of his 'not in my backyard” constituents, I find it hard to imagine that the editorial board would recommend that voters entrust the city to someone who only 'plans” to divest himself of potential conflicts of interest.

I am positive that each candidate brings something valuable to the ballot, and with eight choices voters have choice to represent the best that Cedar Rapids has to offer. Nevertheless, The Gazette Editorial Board would have been better declining to offer an endorsement instead of endorsing an admittedly flawed candidate by their own observations.

Cedar Rapids remains a diverse and potentially vibrant city, deserving of a mayor who can move the city forward.

Buzz Pounds

Hopkinton