Knox-Seymour & Weinacht for C.R. Council

To the editor:

I support Carletta Knox-Seymour and Susie Weinacht for City Council.

First, Cedar Rapids needs an African American voice on the City Council. Knox-Seymour grew up in Cedar Rapids. She has a depth of understanding of the city and of its changes in general and in the African American community. She understands why African Americans would move from a large urban center to a smaller city. She is involved in One Strong and on the board of Iowans for Gun Safety. She contributed to the dialogue at the initial news conference of Police Chief Wayne Jerman's Think Tank and to The Gazette's Writer's Circle in a discussion of the roots of violence in the city. She has served five years on the City Planning Commission.

Susie Weinacht deserves to be elected to a full term. She has been present in neighborhood gatherings and has pulled together a diverse group to address violence in the Wellington Heights neighborhood. She was appointed to the Public Safety and Youth Services committee and the Community Development committee. I cannot think of another council member who has been more involved since the flood of 2008 to use her skills in bringing people together and seeking to resolve problems in new and innovative ways.

Jeremy Brigham

Cedar Rapids