Fairfax council candidates pitch visions for city’s future

FAIRFAX — When entering Fairfax city limits, residents and visitors alike are greeted by a welcome sign emblazoned with the town’s name and the well-known phrase, “Home Sweet Home.”

But what does it mean when that familiar homeplace begins to change thanks to population growth, economic advancement and nearby industrial development? It’s a question that’s top of mind for many Fairfax residents, particularly since Alliant Energy announced plans to build a new power plant within city limits.

While the company has since “deprioritized” the Fairfax site amid concerns from the nearby Eastern Iowa Airport and some area residents, the project stirred a broader community conversation about the city’s future.

Here’s what candidates for Fairfax City Council had to say on the topic in a questionnaire provided by The Gazette ahead of the Nov. 4 election:

Mayoral Seat

In her candidate questionnaire, mayoral incumbent Jo Ann Beer cited the need to "maintain our thriving small town charm without incurring excessive debt” as the single largest issue facing Fairfax in the years ahead.

Beer, first elected as mayor in a 2023 special election, called for the council to utilize community-based planning practices to achieve that goal and guide continued investment in city services like the fire department, library and parks while minimizing impacts to the city’s debt limit.

“Community-involved goal setting and strategic planning by the City Council will keep our ‘Home Sweet Home’ headed in the right direction,” she wrote.

On the topic of the Alliant project, Beer wrote that she ultimately found herself opposed after “dozens of conversations with residents.”

Challenger Steve Huber also outlined his intent, if elected, to utilize a community-based approach to help guide future development with a focus on projects that “reflect the needs and values of Fairfax residents, rather than outside interest or short-term gains.”

“Fairfax is growing, and I want to make sure that growth happens in a structured, responsible way that keeps our small-town character, while supporting local business and improving services,” Huber wrote.

Huber employed that methodology in outlining his thoughts on the Alliant project — for which he said more community input is needed to determine if such a project is a good fit for the city.

City Council Election

This fall, five people are running for the three Fairfax City Council seats up for election. All council members serve in an at-large position, meaning they represent the entire city rather than a specific ward or district.

Candidate Cindy Anderson wrote in her questionnaire that her top three priorities if elected would be keeping heavy industry out of Fairfax, investing in road improvements, and increasing the city’s overall walkability.

Given her reluctance toward heavy industry to the area, Anderson is squarely against Alliant Energy’s original proposal. In listing top issues facing the city, she cited a need for increased communication between the council and its residents.

“I believe that the City Council answers to the residents and should represent the interests of the whole community, not just a few select individuals,” she wrote. The council must “be more proactive in making sure any information provided to residents is accurate, easy to find” and consistent.

In her questionnaire, Debra Mallie — a first-time candidate — outlined a desire to see additional economic development within Fairfax’s “key corridors” such as Highway 151 and 80th Street.

“There is a need for strategic growth to attract businesses and stimulate the local economy,” Mallie wrote. “Council should focus on promoting business development along key corridors … to create jobs and reduce the need for residents to travel for services.

She said any large industrial project like Alliant’s plant proposal would require a thorough review of the community and economic impacts, however. Her other priorities if elected include bolstering public safety/services and ensuring fiscal responsibility and fair taxes.

Incumbent Tom Nurre wrote that he also still is gathering his thoughts on the Alliant project, should it move forward in or around Fairfax. He is vying for a second council term in the Nov. 4 election.

In his questionnaire, he noted the city’s significant population increase since the turn of the century and the related need for increased services and infrastructure to provide for those residents.

Nurre said the city’s top issues are ever-changing but that a recent area of concern for him has been rapid growth to the east of Fairfax that has the potential to impact the city moving forward, such as the proposed addition of a third Eastern Iowa Airport runway within 2 miles from city limits.

“While I am disappointed the airport has not involved our community in their plans, I am hopeful we can work with them to come up with other options,” Nurre wrote. “City Council can help this by having open communication and meetings with the airport so we can come to mutually agreed upon options. We need to work together.”

Incumbent Nicholas Volk is seeking his fourth term on the Fairfax City Council. An electrician by trade, he listed infrastructure improvements, urban development, and traffic management among his top priorities if reelected.

He also noted growth in and around Fairfax as a trend to watch and plan for, particularly impacts from the two large data campuses being built in nearby southwest Cedar Rapids and the proposed runway addition.

He expressed support for Alliant’s original proposal, but noted concerns that the site’s deprioritization has opened the door for the company to potentially build the plant near Fairfax but outside city limits.

“If that happens, Fairfax may be left without a seat at the table in key decisions that still directly affect our community — whether through environmental impact, traffic, noise or economic implications,” he wrote. “Moving forward, I believe it is crucial that the City Council stay engaged, seek transparency from utilities and regulatory agencies and advocate for continued local input wherever possible.”

Longtime council member Marianne Wainwright wrote that she was “on the fence” about the Alliant project and that any vote on the issue would ultimately be based on what the residents of Fairfax favored most.

Asked for her priorities, she listed keeping the city’s property tax rate steady, supporting ongoing building projects, and maintaining the community’s unique identity while also allowing for growth.

“Allowing for future growth while maintaining our small town integrity and sense of community is very important to me,” she wrote.

To learn more about the candidates and read their responses in full, visit The Gazette’s Voter Guide at thegazette.com/2025-city-council-candidates/.

Comments and/or questions can be directed to grace.nieland@thegazette.com