Iowa City will maintain its current mayoral process for the next decade

Iowa City, Iowa – In Iowa City, there is a movement among residents to alter the process of selecting a mayor, as the current system differs from that of many other cities where the mayor is elected by the public.

City Council members select a mayor from within their ranks.

“Some refer to it as a weak mayor, but I see it as a strong council,” stated John Balmer, a member of the Iowa City Charter Review Commission.

The Charter Review Commission conducts a review of what can be considered the city’s constitution every ten years. The next step involves recommending any proposed changes to the City Council.

Balmer stated, “The decision was made with a majority of six to three in favor of retaining and maintaining our current situation, which I fully supported.”

Balmer, a former mayor of Iowa City, noted that there has been a lack of opposition at recent Review Commission meetings regarding that plan.

“All of our meetings are open to the public, yet attendance has been low in recent ones.”

Based on meeting attendance, it appears that residents of Iowa City are generally satisfied with the current situation regarding the selection of a mayor. Balmer noted that he perceives a general lack of engagement throughout.

“It would be great to see increased engagement from more individuals.” He expressed worry about the low turnout in council elections.

Commissioner Jennifer Patel, a colleague of Balmer, shares the observation of a similar disengagement. However, she believes that implementing direct elections for the mayor might help address this issue.

“Having a greater influence in the mayor’s decisions could potentially increase public interest,” she stated.

Patel noted that the mayor serves as a government official, while also embodying the symbolic representation of the city. She stated that, accordingly, that individual ought to be selected by the populace.

Balmer recognizes the desire for a more straightforward approach, yet he believes that individuals should actively participate in the existing process established by the city.

“What I sense regarding the mayor is that essentially, you are casting your vote for a prospective mayor,” he stated.

The commission has divided opinions on this matter, with a 6-3 majority favoring the retention of the existing process. The last meeting of the commissioners is scheduled for December 17. The Commission has yet to finalize its proposal, and all potential amendments remain open to modification. However, Balmer anticipates that no significant changes will be suggested to the City Council.

Consequently, individuals dissatisfied with the current method of selecting a mayor may have to endure a wait of at least another decade for any potential alterations.