CR Council District 1: Gazette endorses Gulick

When numbers are flying around during city council discussions, it's important to have an objective, skilled voice who can ground the group in reality.

That's one reason we endorse Kris Gulick for re-election to the District 1 seat in Cedar Rapids. His background as an accountant and evenhanded approach demonstrated during his first term should serve the city well as the council wrestles with decisions that affect more than a billion dollars of expected federal and state assistance in the next few years. The city also will be on the hook for some rebuilding costs, and Gulick can be instrumental in making sure the council understands financial implications, both short and long term.

Gulick pushed for a long-term budget plan that ramped up infrastructure spending that had been deferred for too long. He lobbied for a disciplined approach that makes sense for regular, ongoing maintenance of vital basics such as streets.

More recently, Gulick wisely recognized that building a new city hall is too expensive.

His experience as a small businessman helps advocate for that vital sector.

Among the two challengers, Ryan Russell impressed us with his understanding of issues the city is facing. The 28-year-old logistics specialist believes assistance to flood victims has been too slow. He's been involved in recovery, serving as a member of the Rebuild Iowa Commission, which developed recommendations affecting Cedar Rapids and other disaster areas.

We appreciate Russell's initiative but would like to see more specifics on how he would follow up on his concerns.

We also admire the passion of Tim Pugh, a small-business owner who beats the drum for less taxation and warns that new taxes never go away. We share his concern but believe his campaign is too narrowly focused to succeed.

Gulick has earned a second term.