Low I.C. vote turnout was obvious

Whoever wrote your Nov. 5 editorial on the “dismal” Iowa City election turnout is clueless. As I wrote to The Gazette's Iowa City reporter and columnist some time ago, it was obvious that this was going to be the lowest turnout in my 31 years here.

Susan Mims and Terry Dickens were politically “moderate” longtime members of the community and had no real opposition. They had no “liberal” opponents because the liberal community couldn't find anyone to run who could articulate realistic solutions to our pressing problems. Their student opponents had no chance of winning because, as anyone knows who follows local politics here, students don't vote in city elections unless there's an alcohol issue on the ballot.

As for the Connie Champion/Mark McCallum race, Champion didn't campaign and was not really eager for a fourth term. McCallum never excited anyone.

Gary Sanders

Iowa City