A vote of confidence in Cedar Rapids leadership punctuates 'Recovery Era'

Voters put a nice, strong period at the end of the “Recovery Era” in Cedar Rapids city politics on Tuesday.

I know, I know, Tuesday's big winners - Mayor Ron Corbett, two fellow City Council incumbents, local-option sales tax backers, etc. - probably would insist it was an exclamation point. But, really, 22.3 percent of the electorate can't put an exclamation point on anything, except maybe disappointing!

Just be glad it wasn't an asterisk.

Still, those brave few who cast ballots delivered a pretty strong vote of confidence in city leadership and the big decisions made over the last four years. The mayor trounced his challenger. Incumbents Pat Shey and Kris Gulick won easily. At-large Council member Chuck Swore faces a December runoff for two seats, but none of his three opponents would bring a drastic policy departure. Coupled this with 2011's results, when voters' picks had similar policy visions, the message seems pretty clear.

Now hold on, fat-fingered scribe, who said you can end an era? No one, of course. I'm not saying every aspect of recovery now is wrapped up neatly with a bow.

But after three city elections largely centered on the speed and wisdom of city recovery decisions, I think we're moving onward. Voters who approved a sales tax extension for streets were also paving a road forward.

We could call it the “post-recovery era,” if we're super boring. The “Casino Era” is catchier. Place your bets.

For the next six months, efforts to win a state license for the Cedar Crossing casino will be the big local story. Backers make their pitch to the Racing and Gaming Commission in January, with a final decision expected in April. We'll know its fate by tulip time.

But its supporters believe its potential impact will bloom much longer. City leaders see it as a linchpin in two big efforts. Corbett bets that if the $150 million casino is built, it will help make a case to the Army Corps of Engineers that the west side is now worth protecting with federal flood walls.

Also, the casino investment is key to Corbett's mantra that the city is “open for business.” The lineup for city incentives in the coming years will rival the casino's buffet.

I actually think the west side of downtown, a.k.a. Kingston Village, is primed for takeoff with or without a casino. But I understand that Cedar Crossing is a big project with a lot at stake for local investors and leaders.

So is flood protection, the biggest Tupperware container of leftovers remaining from the Recovery Era send-off party. Because, after all, the river still knows how to deliver an exclamation point.