Champion believed to have made history in Iowa City

IOWA CITY - It's believed that history was made Tuesday in the Iowa City Council election.

Connie Champion was elected to a fourth term, something that's believed to be unprecedented, City Clerk Marian Karr has said. 

Champion showed her trademark sense of humor last night when she said, “That's why I ran.” 

She was kidding. In fact, she joined the race late after initially thinking she wouldn't run, and she said last night that she didn't expect to win. 

Also, if you're curious, she ruled out seeking a fifth term, saying that in four years she may be in the grave or senile for all she knew.

Other council members have sought fourth terms, including Dee Vanderhoef, who lost her bid two years ago. Vanderhoef was at the results-watching party at BlackStone restaurant last night.

More than 100 people crammed into the party room at the restaurant, including, at various points in the night, all of the candidates.

Newly elected council member Terry Dickens said he reserved the room, and then other candidates asked to join in. It's a sign of how amicable this election was.

Champion said she picked up her challenger, Mark McCallum, and brought him to BlackStone. Candidate Dan Tallon wasn't there until later and sent a bottle of wine for the candidates to share, Dickens said.

While the restaurant may have been packed, voter booths apparently were not. As

reported, turnout was

extremely poor. The only Iowa City election with a lower turnout rate was

1985, Auditor Tom Slockett said.