Marion mayoral candidate Bouska's residency challenged

MARION - The City Council will meet at noon today to name a committee to consider a challenge to Allen "Snooks" Bouska's mayoral candidacy on residency grounds.

The objection filed Monday by Matt Keisling questions Bouska's residency, City Manager Lon Pluckhahn said. Today's meeting will see the appointment of a council member to a review committee that will also include Mayor Paul Rehn and City Clerk Wesley Nelson.

Pluckhahn said the committee will meet Friday to consider Keisling's objection. The panel must file its decision by this coming Monday.

"We have a legal obligation to respond to the complaint, and the decision has to be rendered within a week of the complaint being received," Pluckhahn said.

Bouska said he'll launch a court challenge if the committee rules against him.

"The objections are really baseless," he said.

Bouska, owner of the Marion Dairy Queen and other businesses, said he's maintained an apartment in Marion the past 90 days. He has a home in Hiawatha, owns a house in Marion that he rents out and just bought what will become his Marion home.

"Just yesterday I bought another house," Bouska said Wednesday. "Once we get possession of that house, hey, I've got a house."

Bouska said he moved from his first Marion apartment after it developed a pest problem. He's since rented a second-story apartment above Gateway Travel, 708 Eighth Ave. The space hadn't been registered as an apartment as required by city code, but his new landlord is in the process of doing so, Bouska said.

"It was a business office before," he said. "They were unaware that they have to have it registered with the city."

Linn County Auditor Joel Miller said Bouska's apartment address qualifies him as a Marion resident.

"From my perspective he's a resident of Marion," said Miller, who said he'll attend today's council meeting. "I don't have any official role in that, but to my knowledge, he meets the residency requirements dictated by the Code of Iowa and the secretary of state."

Bouska is vying with City Council member Nick Glew to succeed Rehn, who's not seeking re-election.

"I've had some problems with the mayor, obviously," said Bouska, who's clashed with Rehn over the city's redevelopment plans for Seventh Avenue, where his Dairy Queen is located.  "This is a contentious election. The mayor and --  let's call it the other side -- know that I'm a very, very, very popular candidate, and they're trying to do everything they can to eliminate me."