The many possibilities in a ‘pivot’

So Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett has announced plans to 'pivot.”

He told reporters in Des Moines Friday, after appearing on Iowa Public Television's 'Iowa Press” program, that he intends to 'pivot” from his years of flood recovery work to telling his city's story and discussing public policy issues in other parts of the state.

Any time an officeholder decides to travel around, making speeches, talking about issues, the readers of political tea leaves raise an eyebrow, or two. Radio Iowa's O. Kay Henderson, who has seen a campaign or two unfold in Iowa, called the Corbett pivot 'a possible prelude to a 2018 campaign for governor.”

'There are some important issues that are facing Iowa and Cedar Rapids has a good story to tell,” Corbett told reporters, 'and now that our flood recovery is over with, I think that gives me a chance to pivot and talk about some issues that have affected Cedar Rapids and how they're affecting the state of Iowa.”

For example, Corbett wants to explain how Cedar Rapids has forged important upstream partnerships in the Cedar River watershed aimed at controlling runoff and improving water quality. It's a big deal, and it hasn't received nearly as much attention as Des Moines Water Works' lawsuit against rural counties upstream along the Raccoon River.

'It's a discussion the whole state needs to have,” Corbett said.

Now, I know talk of the mayor running for governor causes some locals to engage in extreme eye-rolling. Familiarity, contempt, etc.

But water quality, soil conservation, flood mitigation and recovery all are critical Iowa issues. If Corbett wants to carry that message and share his expertise across Iowa, that's a good thing.

If he wants to talk about issues facing cities and provide a fresh perspective at a time when Terrace Hill is occupied by a governor often hostile to local governments, good for the mayor.

Cities and their concerns usually get lost among the hay bales and small town politicking that dominate Iowa gubernatorial campaigns. Gov. Tom Vilsack was an Iowa mayor, but not of a major city. Cedar Rapids' own Paul Pate ran for governor, but became the city's mayor later. Democratic Gov. Herschel Loveless, who served from 1957 to 1961, was a streets superintendent and mayor of Ottumwa.

So Corbett would be an intriguing candidate, a Republican with an urban background. But a winning one? That's a tall order. Iowa Ag Sec. Bill Northey, a statewide vote-getter, well-regarded on both sides of the aisle, will be formidable, if he runs. Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds will have the backing of Gov. Terry Branstad's campaign machine. Both Northey and Reynolds have strong rural backgrounds, an obvious advantage in the party of Grassley and Ernst. Corbett's profile as a moderate, non-partisan mayor would be unappetizing in a red-meat primary.

But I can't blame Corbett for testing the waters. He's got a load of legislative, economic development and mayoral experience. Who knows? The GOP political landscape may change by 2018. Today's shoo-ins may look less certain. There's plenty of time for traveling, exploring and pivoting.

l Comments: (319) 398-8452; todd.dorman@thegazette.com