Weilein is advocate for tenants’ rights

The candidates in the special city council race offer a clear choice. One is a young person who has been an outspoken advocate for tenant rights, fair housing, and an activist on behalf of the homeless, who I believe would bring a fresh perspective to council deliberations (Weilein). The other is a Realtor, closely associated with the business community, who is benefiting from his close connections to the city’s political establishment. (Nusser).

The overriding point is that Weilein just won a resounding primary victory over Nusser in District C with 69% of the vote in the district where he lives and which he would represent. His neighbors and immediate constituents gave him their support. That’s how democracy is supposed to work. But unfortunately, the city charter turns every city council election into an at-large, citywide referendum, the effect of which is to disfranchise district voters seeking to have their interests represented on council. Historically, at-large representation has been sought by elites to dilute the influence and representation of working people and people of color within a citywide electorate, where elites have an inherent advantage with more financial resources, access to media, and name recognition that working-class candidates from a specific district lack. The net effect, in most cases, is to deny district voters the representation for their concerns they deserve. The voters of District C have spoken, and their choice is Weilein. Let’s enable their democratic choice to hold office by supporting him in the general election.

Shelton Stromquist

Iowa City