Presidential hopefuls rent Iowa meeting rooms, police — even firetrucks

IOWA CITY — Many Iowa cities, universities and community colleges are glad to let political candidates use public assembly halls, security services or even a firetruck — for a price.

Supporters of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Democrat running for president, paid the city of Kensett, in north-central Iowa, $115 to rent the Kensett Community Center for a May 30 event that drew 300 people.

'Politics and religion are all the same, as long as you want to rent it,' Mayor Tom Dakin said.

But Alan Kemp, executive director of the Iowa League of Cities, said public agencies should have written policies outlining who can use public assets and be sure not to favor one political group over another.

Appearance of partisanship?

University of Iowa officials have said it was a mistake for Herky, the school mascot, to appear at a June 6 Republican fundraiser that featured seven Republican presidential candidates. The Roast & Ride in Boone was hosted by U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst.

'The Spirit Squad did not understand this was a partisan event,' UI Spokeswoman Jeneane Beck said June 11. 'It was a mistake. We'll need to look at these things more carefully in the future.'

The UI received $250 from Harbinger LLC, a Washington, D.C. public relations agency, for Herky's one-hour gig.

Harbinger paid Iowa State University $200 for Cy's appearance at the Roast & Ride. ISU Spokeswoman Annette Hacker said the school's policies would be reviewed to show 'it's not appropriate for Cy to appear at political events.'

The Boone Fire Department agreed to bring its ladder truck to the Boone event to hoist an enormous American flag. Ernst supporters paid $715 for two off-duty firefighters to attend the truck and for gas.

'We weren't out there because our guys have a political affiliation with the group,' Fire Chief Justin Adams said. 'If they (Ernst supporters) weren't able to compensate us at an hourly rate, we wouldn't have done it.'

Adams told organizers the fire crew would leave immediately if the truck was needed for an emergency.

Private groups/public space

Iowa City allows only city-sponsored or co-sponsored groups to meet in the Civic Center, but the Iowa City Public Library makes its meeting rooms available free of charge to not-for-profit groups, candidate campaign committees and political committees. Groups can't use library space to sell things or raise funds, Director Susan Craig said.

'We are stricter about this than many libraries — some charge for rooms and when that's in place people are generally allowed more latitude to sell/fundraise,' Craig said. 'In Iowa City, there are so many groups and so few places to meet for free that we feel this policy best suits our community.'

The city of Cedar Rapids doesn't make meeting space or equipment available for political groups or not-for-profits, Spokeswoman Maria Johnson said. The city does not have a written policy.

Political campaigns are welcome to reserve space in the Cedar Rapids Public Library, but, as with other groups, must pay a fee if they meet after regular library hours, charge a fee or sell something.

Politics on campus

Universities and community colleges are frequent stops for political candidates — particularly Democrats, noted Tim Hagle, a University of Iowa associate professor of political science.

'Republicans tend not to come on campus as much as Democrats,' he said.

But on April 10, the UI hosted U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican and presidential candidate. The UI makes meeting space available to political groups only if a registered student organization sponsors the event.

The student group sponsoring the Paul event was Rand 2016.

The campaign paid $1,006, which included room rental, parking and security.

'Typically if candidates want security services, we do charge,' said Dave Visin, interim assistant vice president and director of public safety for the UI.

The exception is candidates, such as sitting presidents, who have assigned Secret Service officers. The Secret Service doesn't pay local agencies for security assistance, even though those costs can add up quickly, city and university officials said.

'It's good for the university, so it's our job,' Visin said.

Kirkwood Community College's Jones County Regional Center in Monticello hosted former-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's first Iowa campaign stop April 14. The college typically charges rental fees, but didn't charge Clinton because the auto tech classroom where she held a roundtable discussion was not in use by students at that time, said Steve Ovel, Kirkwood's executive director of governmental relations.

'We've said 'no' many times because it wouldn't align with our normal college activities,' Ovel said.

But Kirkwood likes having political visitors.

'These kind of opportunities let us showcase our facilities, faculty and staff, as well as expose the candidates to the work we're going in Iowa,' Ovel said.

Free speech

How a city or public school makes assets available to political groups can become a free-speech issue, said Kemp, with the League of Cities.

'If something like the KKK comes up, you've got to have something in writing if you want to reserve the right to withhold services,' Kemp said. 'Even that becomes hard. Is it a free-speech issue?'

The Iowa City Public Library faced this in recent years when a controversial speaker on Palestine was booked for a public talk in a meeting room, Craig said.

'I received requests to not allow the event, (but) it was held. Our rooms are intended to be for the exchange of information and ideas,' she said.