C.R. District 2: Monica Vernon

By The Gazette Editorial Board

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The race in Cedar Rapids City Council District 2 pits incumbent Monica Vernon against newcomer Taylor Nelson and the city's most persistent public office-seeker, Paul T. Larson.

It's a district that stretches from more recently developed areas of the city north of Boyson Road southward on both sides of First Avenue all the way to 14th street near the city's historic core. And we think Vernon remains the best choice to represent it.

Vernon is the lone incumbent on the Cedar Rapids ballot this fall, and we believe her experience and understanding of city issues are her principle strengths. In her four years on the council, and before that as she served on numerous boards and commissions, Vernon has been a strong, positive voice for improving and aggressively developing Cedar Rapids.

Her term included the city's effort to recover from the flood of 2008, experience that remains important as the rebuilding process continues more than three years later. Vernon recognizes the critical need for flood protection that shields both banks of the Cedar River from the risk of future flooding, and understands what it will take to get the system built.

Efforts to recover and redevelop downtown have been hot issues in the District 2 race. Nelson argued that the city is spending too much money on rebuilding and restoring damaged public facilities.

But we agree with Vernon that downtown's success is linked to the economic prospects of the entire city, and that federal and state resources earmarked for post-flood projects are an investment in the city's future that can't be diverted to other city projects.

But as the flood slowly fades from center stage, the city faces new challenges. Vernon seems to have the best grasp of the hopefuls of the district's needs going forward, including beefed up basic road repairs, investments in public safety and improved communication with the city's residents on council decisions and policymaking.

Nelson, a Kirkwood student, declined repeated invitations to meet and take questions from the Gazette Editorial Board. Still, we commend his decision to get involved and run for public office.

Larson is making his 14th run for office in Cedar Rapids, so his tenacity is clear. We appreciate his call for expanded investments in public safety, public transit and more transparency on how local taxes are spent.

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