Leftovers -- The Week's Quotables

Emptying out the notebook at week's end. Here are a few quotes that didn't make it into print.

"Generally, you don't do these jobs for the money," said Linn County Supervisor Linda Langston, who is thinking about running for mayor of Cedar Rapids this fall. Becoming mayor would mean a big pay cut from her current $70,000 gig.

Speaking of salaries, Langston said she's surveying local voters before making a final decision, and that includes asking whether they're still miffed about her prominent role in the supervisors' salary train wreck back in February.

"It was not particularly well-handled," Langston said of the salary issue.

Ron Corbett is the lone announced candidate for mayor. And Langston is impressed by his early full-court, multi-media effort.

"My God, look at what Ron is doing. He's on YouTube," Langston said.

***

"I'm out to set the pace and run a strong campaign for mayor," Corbett said when I asked him if he thinks his big early push is scaring off potential rivals. Several are mulling runs, but no one else has taken the plunge.

Corbett, a Republican and former speaker of the Iowa House, said he's not going to play up his partisan ties while seeking the non-partisan mayor's post. Previous mayors, he said, have gotten burned by forays into politics. He pointed to Lee Clancey's endorsement of Al Gore in 2000.

"It can backfire on you," Corbett said.

***

"A lot of folks got some of what they wanted," said Rep. Tyler Olson, D-Cedar Rapids, talking about Senate File 457.

One very big "some" gives authority to flooded counties and cities to issue tens of millions of dollars in bonds for recovery projects without a public vote. Cedar Rapids officials really, really wanted that change, hoping to avoid having to ask voters every time they needed to float some rebuilding debt.

Voters can still call for a "reverse referendum" on any bond issuance over $3 million, but they would have to collect 13,000-plus signatures on petitions (20 percent of local presidential election turnout) to force an election. That's a pretty tall order.

The bill passed without opposition, mainly because it also included property tax exemptions and housing tax credits that everyone likes. Still, I'm a little surprised Republicans handed localities that kind of new spending power without raising any ruckus whatsoever.

Gov. Culver still has to sign it before it becomes law.

Have a good weekend. And remember, never waste leftovers.