Former IC mayor: Vote Alter, Teague and Harmsen

On Nov. 4 Iowa Citians will elect three people to our city council. For the at-large positions, I will be voting for Megan Alter and Bruce Teague. For District B I’ll vote for Shawn Harmsen. I encourage you to support these candidates as well.

This election is taking place in an extraordinary context: both the federal and state governments are pursuing policies that are radically at odds with those most Iowa Citians prefer. We should elect council members who share our values. But it is particularly important that we also elect members who have gained wisdom that only comes from experience at governing.

I see little difference among the six candidates in terms of their values. But Teague, Harmsen and Alter have learned the difference between advocacy and governance. One can be a strong advocate for Palestinians in Gaza. Or for values that differ from the current president’s. But governing requires transforming values into specific policies and actions on matters that lie within the authority of city government. This entails drawing upon the expertise of city staff, listening carefully to the city’s diverse residents and businesses, and working with other council members to produce decisions that are in the best interest of Iowa City as a whole.

Harmsen, Alter and Teague are prepared to govern well in our precarious context. In addition to supporting these three candidates, I also think we would be well served if the council elected Shawn Harmsen as the city’s next mayor.

Jim Throgmorton, Former Mayor

Iowa City