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Johnson County, Iowa City governments choose leaders
Teague again chosen as Iowa City mayor, Sullivan named Johnson supervisor chair
IOWA CITY — The seven-member Iowa City Council on Tuesday elected Bruce Teague to continue to serve as mayor for a third time.
Unlike many cities, Iowa City voters do not directly vote for the mayor, so it is the council’s decision. His colleagues first elected Teague to the role in 2020.
“I can’t do nothing if I don’t do it with the people,” Teague said. “It is so important that we continue to come together and work together on matters that are common to all of us that we see on a daily basis …”
An Iowa City resident since 1993, Teague was first elected by voters to the council in 2018. He is the owner and chief executive officer of Caring Hand & More and has earned an associate’s from Kirkwood Community College and a bachelor’s from the University of Iowa.
“I see him at so many of our community events,” council member Josh Moe said. “I’d be proud to have him again.”
Council member Megan Alter, who served as mayor pro tem from 2022-23, nominated council member Mazahir Salih for mayor pro tem — essentially an assistant mayor who fills in when the mayor isn’t available. Alter said she was eager for Salih “to be able to bring the energy and experience to this position.”
Salih was elected and sworn into her seat in November to fill the vacancy created when Janice Weiner resigned after being elected to the Iowa Senate. Salih previously served on the council from 2018-22, when her election made her the first Sudanese-American official elected to public office in the U.S. She served as mayor pro tem alongside Teague from 2020-21.
“I will promise that I will do my best … to do the best for the residents of Iowa City,” Salih said.
During her remarks, Salih said she and Teague broke barriers as the city’s first Black leadership duo in Iowa City history.
“That’s sending a really positive message to the community about who Iowa City is,” Salih said.
No other nominations were put forward for either position, so the council unanimously supported Teague as mayor and Salih as mayor pro tem.
Sullivan to chair Johnson County board
The five-member Johnson County Board of Supervisors unanimously nominated Supervisor Rod Sullivan to serve as chair. He was first elected to the board in 2004. Sullivan grew up on a heritage farm near Sutliff and attended K-12 in Lisbon schools. He graduated from the University of Iowa with a bachelor’s degree in 1988.
In a 4-1 vote, the supervisors nominated Supervisor Jon Green to serve as vice chair, with Royceann Porter opposed. Green, of Lone Tree, was elected to the board in 2021. Originally from Cheyenne, Wyoming, he has spent most of his life in Lone Tree and Nichols. Green attended West Liberty schools through sixth grade before transferring to Lone Tree, where he graduated in 2001. Green earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Morningside University in Sioux City.
There was no discussion at the supervisors’ Tuesday meeting about the nominations. Porter declined to comment on her vote against Green’s appointment as vice chair.
Comments: (319) 398-8494; marissa.payne@thegazette.com
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