Ryan Russell to run for Cedar Rapids City Council

CEDAR RAPIDS - Northeast quadrant resident Ryan Russell is making another run at the first district seat on the Cedar Rapids City Council.

Russell, 36, an operations manager at LimoLink in Marion, said he plans to campaign on permanent flood protection and economic growth, among other priorities.

'I am running for council because I want to take the progress we have made since 2008 to the next level and beyond,” Russell said in a news release. 'I want to work with all citizens to build on our success and make sure their voices are heard.”

Russell previously ran for the first district seat in 2009, losing to current representative Kris Gulick.

Gulick has announced he is not seeking re-election in the first district, as he runs for Cedar Rapids mayor. Marty Hoeger, 44, also has declared his candidacy for the first district seat.

Russell's vision for the future includes Paving for Progress, a 10-year street repair program backed by a 2013 voter-approved, 1-cent local-option sales tax. He also plans to focus on public safety and quality of life.

A Chicago native, Russell graduated in 2004 from then Mount Mercy College with a degree in political science and history, and decided to establish roots in Cedar Rapids. Outside of work, he is married with three children, and has several community service efforts on his resume.

According to Russell, he was appointed by Gov. Chet Culver to the Rebuild Iowa Commission in 2008, appointed by Mayor Ron Corbett to the Cedar Rapids Long Term Planning Commission in 2010 and he is a volunteer at the Brucemore historic site.

The candidate filing period is Aug. 28 to Sept. 21, and the election is on Nov. 7.

l Comments: (319) 339-3177; brian.morelli@thegazette.com