Iowa City council member won’t challenge Culver

IOWA CITY - Regenia Bailey for governor?

Not this year.

Former state Rep. Ed Fallon of Des Moines told the Iowa Independent he is recruiting Democratic candidates to challenge Gov. Chet Culver, who is up for election this year. Fallon wouldn't tell the online publication who he'd talked with, but he pointed to Bailey, an Iowa City Council member and former mayor, as someone he'd like to see run.

Bailey told The Gazette last week that she is not interested in running “at this time” and thought Culver had done a great job overall and for Iowa City in particular following the 2008 flood.

“I'm really strongly supporting Gov. Culver in this election,” she said.

She added that she had not talked with Fallon about running for governor but was flattered that he thought so highly of her.

Bailey did not shut the door on a future run for governor, saying it's no secret she likes policy work. “Everything's a matter of right place, right time,” she said.

Bailey has been on the City Council since 2004 and served as mayor in 2008 and 2009. She also is chairwoman of the state's Vision Iowa Board.