Fong wants Culver to make some noise

By James Q. Lynch

The Gazette

A New York Times progress report on flood recovery in Cedar Rapids caused a ripple in the 2010 race for governor.

After reading the Times' story -- “After Iowa flood, feeling just a bit ignored,” Cedar Rapids Republican Christian Fong criticized Gov. Chet Culver's comment that Iowa was “not making a lot of noise” about the flood that caused an estimated $8 billion damage across the state and as much as $6 million damage in Cedar Rapids-Linn County.

“I simply do not understand why Culver would admit to ‘not making noise' about raising awareness and using his position to constantly be emphasizing that Iowa was hit with the second largest natural disaster in U.S. history, and we've yet to fully receive the help we need,” Fong said.

Fong, who as head of Corridor Recovery, provided the Times with background information for the story, said Culver's comments send the “wrong message to flood families still living in FEMA trailers and small business owners trying to rebuild their livelihoods.”

Fong is simply wrong, however, according to the Iowa Democratic Party, which said the candidate for the GOP nomination wasn't being honest because he responded to only a part of the governor's comment.

Although Iowans aren't making a lot of noise, Culver explained: “We're going about our business. That's a determination that's impressive, but it doesn't attract attention.”

Fong thinks Iowans want a governor who will make some noise.

“We need to raise awareness because people are still hurting,” Fong said. “Iowans deserve a governor who will be proactive and make things happen.”

Culver has made things happen -- over the objections of Republicans, argued Norm Sterzenbach, executive director of the Democratic Party. Culver deserve credit for more than $3 billion in federal disaster funds to Culver, as well as visits by three members of President Obama's cabinet and tens of millions of dollars of I-JOBS dollars to help rebuild flood-impacted communities.

“Once again, Christian Fong is misleading Iowans, ignoring the facts and running a baseless negative campaign,” Sterzenbach said. “This race is about Iowa's future. Will we rebuild now? Or will we wait many years to recover by using Fong's misguided piecemeal approach?”

Fong, who was the CEO of Corridor Recovery, a partnership of government, civic, business and faith-based organizations, pointed out the organization has been a model for other cities and recognized by the Massachusetts Institute of technology as a “best practice” for how to use the Internet in civic service.

The Times story can be found at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/28/us/28cedar.html?_r=2&ref=todayspaper