Hayek expected to stay on as Iowa City’s mayor

IOWA CITY - Matt Hayek will be picked to serve a second two-year term as Iowa City's mayor, City Council members said this week.

Hayek said Wednesday that he wants to remain mayor. His fellow council members want that, too.

“I think he relates well to everybody, he's really good on his feet and he's very involved in the council business,” said Connie Champion, who has served on the council for 13 years. “I just think he's done an outstanding job.”

In Iowa City, the seven City Council members pick the mayor from among themselves by a majority vote. The council will do that at its organizational meeting soon after the new year on a date still to be determined.

Hayek was re-elected to his at-large seat on the council this month. He will start his second four-year City Council term Jan. 2 and will be joined by three new council members.

Five of the members of next year's City Council told The Gazette they'd support Hayek for the mayor position. Newcomer Rick Dobyns did not immediately return a phone message Wednesday.

Hayek, an attorney who turns 42 in December, received rave reviews for the job he's done in his first two years as mayor.

“He's very articulate, smart, knows his stuff,” said council member-elect Jim Throgmorton.

The Iowa City mayor is “first among equals” and has one vote just like other council members. The mayor runs City Council meetings, helps set meeting agendas, serves as the primary spokesman for the city and is the council's point person with the city manager.

Hayek cited his interest in continuing to work closely with City Manager Tom Markus, who's entering his second year on the job, as a major reason he wanted another term as mayor. The city is projecting difficult budget times ahead and next week will start a strategic planning process.

“We've got some tough times in front of us and it will require an effective approach to budgeting and operations to manage our way through it,” he said.

Hayek also said he generally enjoys being the public face of city government, although “you're the lightning rod for criticism in that position as well,” he said. “It's never an easy thing, but it comes with the position.”

The Iowa City mayor serves a two-year term. In the past few years, some council members have supported turning over the position every two years. Regenia Bailey and Ross Wilburn served one term each before Hayek.

But first-term council member Susan Mims said a desire for continuity with the relatively new Markus and Hayek's skills led her to support breaking with recent practice.

“He's very respectful, he's very empathetic, he is a good listener, he's very bright,” she said. “He just brings a lot to the table, and I have heard nothing but strong praise for him as mayor.”

Iowa City is one of only a few towns in Iowa to have the city council select the mayor, according to Jeff Schott, director of the University of Iowa's Institute of Public Affairs. In the vast majority of towns, voters elect the mayor.

Iowa City's selection process has generated little public reaction in recent years. In 2005, a commission reviewing the city's home-rule charter recommended against switching to a direct election of the mayor.