At-large candidate Karr wins backing from Shields, Swore and Duffy in Dec. 1 runoff

At-large City Council candidate Don Karr, who is facing a Dec. 1 runoff election, has received the backing of council member Justin Shields and council member-elect Chuck Swore.

Nick Duffy, an at-large council candidate who finished third in the Nov. 3 at-large race and out of the Dec. 1 runoff, also is supporting Karr.

Karr, 64, long-time owner of Affordable Plumbing and Remodeling who has now sold the business to his daughters, faces Aaron Saylor, 28, a commercial Realtor, in the Dec. 1 runoff.

Also on that Dec. 1 ballot is the District 3 runoff between current council members, District 3's Jerry McGrane and at-large council member Pat Shey.

In endorsing Karr, Shields says Karr's “leadership and dedication to finding solutions to problems is what Cedar Rapids needs.”

Swore calls Karr a man “not afraid to make decisions.” “He is a passionate community activist and a dedicated neighbor,” Swore adds. “As a flood affected small business owner, he knows firsthand the challenges we face in rebuilding our city.”

Duffy says he got to know Karr in the campaign leading up to the Nov. 3 election, and Duffy says “Don is the person we need to move our city forward.”

Karr helped create the Cedar Rapids Small Business Recovery Group in the aftermath of the June 2008 flood.