Letter: Support Monica Vernon for Cedar Rapids mayor

I strongly support Monica Vernon for mayor of Cedar Rapids.

She is the very definition of a public servant. Long before she served eight years on the Cedar Rapids City Council, six of those as mayor pro tem, she was serving our community in various volunteer efforts.

She was the major catalyst for building the Madge Phillips Homeless Shelter for Women and Children.

She served on various community boards ranging from Four Oaks, Jane Boyd to the Cedar Rapids Planning and Zoning Commission at the same time she was building a business and raising three girls with her husband.

She earned my undying support when she was on the City Council during a very contentious decision.

Every Sunday, as I drive from my home to my downtown church, I am frustrated by the medical building blocking Second Avenue. This medical building, plopped down in the middle of the street, requires me to drive on multiple streets just to get back on to Second Avenue.

As I make these turns, I think of Vernon, and how hard she fought to prevent the council's approval of the partial closure of Second Avenue for a private medical facility. She did not win that battle, but she stood up to very powerful interest groups and gave it her all.

She is the only candidate for mayor who stood up and opposed closing a main road for a private business, and that alone is a reason to support Vernon for mayor.

Marty Brown

Cedar Rapids