Karr's experience, honesty what city needs

Aaron Saylor's supporters see him as a nice person who has youthful ideas. While I, too, am a nice youthful person, it in no way qualifies me (or any nice person) to lead a city broken by its single most devastating catastrophe into a rebuilding process that requires certain knowledge based upon experience, tenacity, and common sense.

As a lifelong contributing member of this community, Don Karr possesses not only these characteristics, but a familiarity of the dynamics of our city necessary to begin a rebuilding process that's been neglected.

When Karr's family business was destroyed in flood of 2008, he did not wait for outside experts to assist in his journey to recovery. He took founded the Small Business Recovery Group. Karr knew where to find the resources and connections needed to make his business, and those of his peers, the success they had been before the flood. He remains available to provide counsel to others. He has expertise that can belong only to someone who has not only survived the devastation but has emerged with more appreciation and determination.

Karr's blatant honesty about the state of our city is not always what we want to hear, but it's what we need to hear.

On Dec. 1, vote for a true leader - Don Karr.

Rosie Bielefeldt

Cedar Rapids