It’s an exciting time to live in Cedar Rapids

My name is Ann Poe, and I am running for Cedar Rapids City Council at-large again because I love Cedar Rapids. I am passionate about seeing our community continue to grow and flourish. I grew up here, my children and grandchildren live here, and I am motivated by the desire to provide the same quality of life to the residents of Cedar Rapids that I wish for my own family.

We need to stay the course. My commitment is to advocate for and ensure that we:

• Provide affordable housing with a focus on the absence of “missing middle” housing utilizing our local resource of emerging developers.

• Continue our commitment to economic growth and redevelopment that provide local jobs.

• Assure all residents have affordable and accessible options for growing and consuming healthy, culturally relevant foods near their neighborhoods.

• Continue to improve our neighborhood streets.

• Finish the work of building a flood control system that protects our community from a future flood event.

• Support funding for our police officers and firefighters who protect our City.

• Maintain the tradition of providing our citizens with a balanced and transparent budget.

• Look to the future for additional opportunities to build a welcoming quality of life throughout our community for all to enjoy.

• Support our neighborhood associations that are the heartbeat of our community.

• Elevate the City’s role as a guiding force with service agencies in collaboration with Linn County to address the growing number of unsheltered neighbors in Cedar Rapids.

I am proud of our council and city team. It has taken a lot of political will, courage, and bold moves not just to bring us back from the disasters we have faced over the last 15 years, but to make the tough decisions required for Cedar Rapids to be a place where businesses, organizations, neighbors, and families alike can thrive.

This is an exciting time to live in Cedar Rapids and I am honored to have been part of the positive progress and to have served our community for 12 years, and the last two as your mayor pro tem.

Having your vote on Nov. 7 for Cedar Rapids City Council Member at-large, will help assure the amazing work and accomplishments your City Council and team have made and my pledge to continue to move our City forward through my priorities. I would be honored to have your vote!

Ann Poe is a candidate for an at-large seat on the Cedar Rapids City Council.