Cedar Rapids flood group to picket Culver fundraiser

UPDATE: West-side Cedar Rapids residents plan to demonstrate later today outside a fundraiser for Gov. Chet Culver, calling it “tacky” he would raise re-election funds in their neighborhood, but not accept their invitation to discuss their issues with flood recovery plans.

“It's just tacky,” said Kathy Potts, one of the groups that has been seeking a meeting with the governor as well as Republican gubernatorial candidate former Gov. Terry Branstad.

Potts approached the governor when he was in Cedar Rapids to sign a bill to preserve the tradition of houseboats docking at Ellis Harbor. She said the Culver said he would look into the situation, but she's never heard from him.

“Now he comes to the neighborhood, but it's for a fundraiser,” she said. “That's just tacky."

The group also plans to picket a Branstad fundraiser Sept. 7. Although Branstad will be in Cedar Rapids for the event, he's sending a staff member to meet with Potts and other residents who oppose the city's plans for their neighborhoods.

Elected officials and candidates tend to visit the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library “and all the photo opp places,” Potts said, “but they don't take time to talk to the homeowners, the actual people.”

Culver has visited Cedar Rapids' west side, which was heavily damaged by flooding in 2008, and Branstad has taken a tour of the neighborhoods.

However, Potts and others who oppose the city's plans for a greenway and construction zone want to voice their concerns to the governor. Although she has extended an invitation, so far Culver has declined to meet with the group.

Branstad is sending his policy director, former Rep. Carmine Boal, an Ankeny Republican, to meet Potts and her neighbors.

So the neighbors, who say they represent about 100 people who don't want to leave their homes and businesses, plan to demonstrate outside Flamingo's, 1211 Ellis Blvd., Cedar Rapids. Tickets for the fundraiser are $25 to $100.

The fundraiser is today from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The governor's spokesman referred questions about the issue to his re-election campaign, which did not immediately responded.

One of the hosts of this evening's fundraiser, Sen. Rob Hogg, D-Cedar Rapids, is spending today campaigning for Culver, touting the governor's flood recovery plans in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. He'll take that message to Des Moines, Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Mason City and Waterloo later this week.

For more on the issue, visit

www.crsmells.com