Winter storm watch issued for Linn, surrounding counties
Corbett asks Cedar Rapids residents to ‘fall in love’ with city
Woman backs into Cedar Rapids police department’s red Jeep
Corbett announcing new naming rights deal with U.S. Cellular Center for arena, convention center
Subject of Hawk Alert at University of Iowa found in Washington County
The Gazette Opinion StaffOpinion Page Editor, The Gazette |
|
Senate District 18: Liz Mathis
The Gazette Editorial Board
—-
The voters of Iowa Senate District 18 face a difficult, high-stakes decision Tuesday.
They will decide who fills a seat vacated by former Sen. Swati Dandekar, D-Marion, who accepted an offer from Gov. Terry Branstad to join the Iowa Utilities Board. With Democrats currently holding a slim one-seat majority in the Senate, the special election will decide whether that majority holds or if the Senate will be tied 25-25.
The campaign has been a six-week whirlwind for Republican hopeful Cindy Golding, a rural Cedar Rapids businesswoman, and Liz Mathis of Robins, communications director for Four Oaks, a child welfare, juvenile justice and behavioral health agency.
Mathis was once a news anchor for KCRG-TV9, owned by the same company that owns this newspaper. The lone member of our editorial board who worked directly with Mathis, Becky Lutgen Gardner, recused herself from our endorsement vote.
We see both strengths and weaknesses in each candidate.
Golding has a strong grasp of issues related to business growth, including the need for regulatory and property tax reforms aimed at stirring investment. Golding and her husband own four businesses, including a farming operation that gives her insights into the challenges facing Iowa agriculture.
Mathis appears to have a stronger grasp of education issues as the Legislature prepares to take up Branstad’s sweeping school reform blueprint in January. Mathis’ work on child welfare and with the Department of Human Services gives her a good understanding of the need for mental health care reform, another big issue at the Statehouse.
We were disappointed by Mathis’ lack of specifics and substance on economic issues, and Golding’s reliance on assorted anecdotes she’s heard from “teacher friends” when it comes to education. We understand that a short campaign can make it difficult to master complex issues and craft detailed policy proposals.
Still, we believe Mathis has the communication skills and capacity to grow into the job, build relationships and become a strong advocate for her district. We fear that Golding’s more strident stands will make it harder for her to reach across the aisle and forge the compromises that will be needed in a closely divided Legislature.
We’re also troubled by Golding’s call for holding a vote on a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages in Iowa. This editorial page has stood strongly for the right of gay and lesbian Iowans to enjoy civil marriage rights. The fact that Golding would risk those constitutional rights in a divisive public vote to, as she said, take the “spotlight” off Iowa, gave us pause.
In the end, it was a close call. But we think Mathis is the right choice.
n Comments: thegazette.com/
category/opinion/editorial or
editorial@sourcemedia.net
GEB, you got this one right. One of the questions I ask myself these days is “which candidate is more likely to forget about toeing the party line and actually consider what is best for the public interest?” I think it’s clear that Mathis is that person here.
If she were a Republican and didn’t toe the partY line she’d be labeled a RINO.
The people of the 18th district should also note that Mathis has run a very positive, dignified campaign. She has not run a single negative ad.
Golding ran virtually nothing but negative TV ads lowering the dignity of the campaign and herself.
I saw an ad on KCRG tonight, that to the casual viewer implied that the Gazzette thought Golding was the best choice.
The endorsements of the Gazette and the Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce for Cedar Rapids City Council being the same, this endorsement comes as no surprise.
Cedar Rapids tax dollars hired professional lobbyists to help Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors member Ron Corbett pressure the Iowa Legislature. The goal was to divert a portion of sales tax money that currently goes the state to the City of Cedar Rapids.
After getting state money for a hotel and convention center, an amphitheater, etc. Cedar Rapids still wants more state money. Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce Board member Ron Corbett and his hired guns will hit Des Moines again.
As an Iowa legislator, would Liz Mathis represent her district, or vote to hand over the money?
The city picks will be
Monica
Ann Poe
Olsen
The tabloid is predictable
“Mathis appears to have a stronger grasp of education issues ”
I might find that claim more convincing had she bothered to vote in School Board Elections in the past
Rich Greer, sharing facts with the public about opponents are not “negative” ads. Dan Kauffman: GREAT point! And, let’s lay ALL her voting facts out there… Not only has Mathis never voted in a School Board election, but she HAS NEVER VOTED IN A DEMOCRAT PRIMARY! Unbelievable the Dems would pick a person who never bothers to vote within her own party!
The last time she voted was in the General November 2010 (governor election). She did NOT EVEN VOTE IN THE LOST ELECTIONS: both March 2009 and May 2011 (extension).
She hasn’t voted in a council election SINCE 1999!!!
The only special elections she voted in was 2000 regarding a bond issue and 2007 in change of county government. NOW, she wants us to all come out and vote for HER in a special election??? Seems like a double standard to me.
This is just her voting record…or lack thereof. Shall we get into other issues?
It may be common knowledge but not common enough for me: Where did you obtain the voting records of Mathis ?
Often, members of the press/media are prohibited (as a condition of their employment) from registering to vote affiliated with a particular party…or sometimes even registering to vote.
Sometimes I choose not to vote in school board or other special issue elections when I am unfamiliar with the candidates or issues. Is that wrong?
Lisa, as a representative of your precinct on the Linn County Democratic Central Committee, do you not support the candidate of your party? Do you support Ms. Golding, and if so, why?
I’ll give Kuzela this, Joe: her behavior here is an example of why I find Democrats less threatening than Republicans. Can you imagine what would happen to a GOP county Central Committee member who publicly disparaged a GOP candidate, especially in a race as important as the one for Senate 18?
“He sleeps with the fishes…”
Jeff, I don’t have a problem with Lisa having concerns regarding *any* candidate. Indeed, I advised Lisa on how she could proceed at the special nominating convention on several issues (although I didn’t take up her suggestion that I should seek the nomination – although I was flattered, I’m too busy and have little name recognition thus far).
What I would like to know, though, is if not Mathis, then who? We don’t have a “None Of The Above” option (although that should be an option, IMHO).
I wonder if she gets to the Iowa Senate she will vote more frequently than she has here in Linn County.
Karl Carlock: Voting info obtained from the State Voter Database and the Linn County Auditor’s Office. Check it out yourself. It’s public info.
Joe Stutler: Your rationale is stretched well too far. Although it may be SUGGESTED to be registered as a non party while working with the media, NO one is ever denied an opportunity to be registered OR to vote!!!!! That’s absolutely ridiculous and it shocks me that you’d say it. It’s an obvious denial on your part to see the truth about her voting history.
Liz became a registered Democrat in 2008. She could have voted in the Dem primary in 2008 and 2010, but chose not to. She also chose NOT to vote in any school board elections or “flood-related” local option sales tax elections. She voted in only two special elections. She’s not voted since Nov 2010. THESE ARE HER CHOICES. She obviously does not think that voting is that important.
When I learned these facts, the first thing I thought of was how, to me, she is spitting on all the veteran’s who fought for our right to vote. I would think that you, Joe, as a passionate supporter of veterans would see the lack of patriotism shown in her choice to not honor what our veterans have done for us.
Lisa, it is clear to me that you are not familiar with media employment. Some are required to be registered as “no party” some are not allowed to register. Many are not allowed to participate in campaigns, advocate for a candidate, etc.
A person’s right to vote is not a duty to vote. Whether voting should be mandatory is another issue.
As a veteran, I fought for the Rights we all enjoy. I don’t see a person missing a few elections, or choosing not to vote in particular races, as being unpatriotic. However, f you don’t vote you don’t get to complain to me about government.
Not exercising one’s right to vote is comparable to not exercising one’s right to pray to their own particular god or gods, or to not assemble for a particular cause, or to not petition my government for redress of a particular grievance. Sometimes our right to not do something is as important, or even more important, than our right to do something. Case in point: We have the right to free speech, but we also have the right to not say anything.
Joe, regarding who I support…I am not in Senate District 18 and ineligible to vote in that race. I am a STRONG supporter of the Democrat platform (as proven with thousands of volunteer hours) and want us to keep the majority in the Senate. However, I have been honest with you and Bret as to where I stand this particular “chosen” candidate.
For the past three years, I have spoken out against Liz and her cronies of how she helped them con millions of disaster funds for her friends at Four Oaks, Affordable Housing Network, and Block by Block. This was all LONG BEFORE there was any discussion of this race. If you or anyone in the central committee had been involved with city politics from the ground, you would’ve known these things I’ve exposed since the flood.
Are you now telling me that I should suddenly keep my mouth shut now just because the party chose her as the candidate? And for the record, I am not working for Cindy, either.
Joe, you know where I stand on allowing a vote of the people regarding gay marriage. The majority should NEVER dictate the civil rights of the minority!!!! If that was the case, I wonder when women would have been allowed to vote. I wonder when blacks would’ve been freed from slavery. Scary thought!!!
Luckily for this issue (gay marriage), in Iowa with the way the law is written, it is next to impossible to bring a referendum to the people. And because of that, I’m not worried about it in regards this election.
On the other hand, regarding people who are supporting Liz because of this issue alone, might I remind how we as Democrats get uptight about people who vote Republican for the one issue of abortion? It frustrates the heck out of us!!!! “One issue supporters” they’re called. So, why is this ONE issue being used to get support of Liz?
Why the reluctance to use the “reply buttons under the comments you’re respond to, Lisa? One who checks the notification box at the bottom will be notified of additional comments whether or not you respond directly to them so you might as well make it easier for everyone to follow along and use the buttons if they’re there.
As for Mathis’ past voting record Lisa, so what? You do know that very few people EVER turn out for most school board elections, don’t you?
While I appluad your passion for peoples’ voting rights Lisa, that passion rights somewhat hollow when you on the one hand champion peoples’ right to vote, while on the other hand criticize how one (Mathis in the case) voted in the past. Just because one has the right to vote doesn’t mean they always have to exercise that right, and school board elections are one time when many simply choose not to do so.
Here’s a link to a PDF explaining the problem with lack of voter turnout in school board elections Lisa:
http://www.ia-sb.org/assets/0f2b4365682d4ae6b538dea1e949b90b.pdf
“Often, members of the press/media are prohibited (as a condition of their employment) from registering to vote affiliated with a particular party…or sometimes even registering to vote.
Sometimes I choose not to vote in school board or other special issue elections when I am unfamiliar with the candidates or issues. Is that wrong?”
@Joe Stutler I have heard that terms of employement for journalists inclued ethical limits which prohibit partisan politicla ACTIVTIY ie public statements of support for Parties, Candidates, Issues the idea being that the public persona of the journalist should be neurtral BUT I have never heard of Work Rules that prohibited a person from VOTING or what is more intrusive REGISTERING to Vote.
Myself I would like to see Federal Prosecutors coming down on them like a ton of bricks AND I would refuse to work for anyone who held the right to disenfrangise me or others nor will I vote for someone who would tolerate and by so support such activity
As for not voting because you are not familiar with the canidates or the issues. that might be a wise decision (correcting that lack might be wiser)
BUT is not Ms Mathis SUPPOSED to be better informed on the ISSUES? Or did she just become informed since nominated and nver bothered with that trivia before the last TEN School Board Election
Dan, I don’t know if any journalist has ever had someone show them, in black and white, where their company prohibits registering to vote. I have talked with journalists who have explained it is an unwritten rule where they work….just like other unwritten rules that affect employees (or potential employees) but there’s nothing ‘actionable’, as it were.
I often don’t vote in school board elections. Sometimes it’s because I have no significant opinion on a given issue. Sometimes it’s because I don’t really see a significant difference between the candidates, so it’s like voting for homecoming king/queen – I really don’t care to participate in their popularity contest. That doesn’t mean I don’t care about schools, or am unfamiliar with the greater issues facing education region- state- or nation-wide. Show me a candidate in Alburnett School District who wants to put that pseudo-science ‘intelligent design’ crap in the curriculum, and I’ll be out there canvasing for their opponent – or running against them. Otherwise, I’m content to let folks who are more familiar with the very specific issues and people involved here have their say. It’s kind of like when someone who’s never worn the boots tries to tell a veteran that someone is or isn’t patriotic….I tend to call bullschitz..
I don’t know if that’s how Ms. Mathis feels, but I do know that her years of experience covering big-picture issues give her far more credibility than a stooge of the family Research Council and National Organization for Marriage.
IMO, it’s really hard for someone who doesn’t have children, or no longer lives in the school district in which they attended classes, to find the relevance in voting in school board elections. Those are the two main reasons I don’t vote in them.
Ah wonderful an ad homenin attack? Those you do not wish to vote for are “stooges”??
LOL 10 Schoolboard Elections without one single vote is maybe to be expected of the average person on the street but NOT someone presented to have an overwhelming itnerest and breadth of knowledge of Education
More likely just someone vetted in a backroom deal because of Name recognition, give a script and told here is your breadth of knowledge and stands on issues, stick to this script no matter what the quesitions are and we can arrange for the Media to Edit your repsonces to show you Stand for Mom, Apple Pie and the American Way.
Is there a Third Candidate so Mr Sutler can claim we have a set of Three Stooges?
As for your “unwritten” rule. I have NO respeect for anyone who would be so craven as to allow someone else to TAKE away their right to vote.
Such deserve the epithets given by Samuel Addams to the Craven during the Times of the Revolution
“If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquillity of servitude than the animating contest of freedom, — go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen!”
A Man who sells his freedom for the security of an occupation should deserve and recieve neither.
She didn’t distance herself from their bigoted ads and agenda….indeed, she embraced them just yesterday at their bus stop in Marion. Yep, “stooge”applies.
Voting is a Right, but not a requirement. One doesn’t demonstrate their knowledge and competency on issues by voting….
All the hoopla you folks bring up about how we select our candidates is tempest-in-teapots stuff. Dem leadership discussed potential candidates when the vacancy was announced, as did Repub leadership. Dems voted at a special nominating convention, as did Repubs. Dems accepted nominations from the floor, as did Repubs. Dems had one nominee, repubs had three. Dems allowed all central committee members representing SD18 to vote, Repubs blocked folks from participating.
The unwritten rules are not my rules. I fought for the Rights of ALL Americans. You?
Well you seem to have graduated from simple name calling to flat out lies haven’t you? I am well aware of the extent the GOP Central Committee went to to see that everyone eligible to vote in the Special Convention was notified, I even sent in a chart of the previous Caucus to help turns out that by Iowa Election Code if a new Committee member is not chosen at a Caucus the one from the previous Caucus is still in office’
So I KNOW that your claim, ” Repubs blocked Folks from participating is a typical Liberal fabrication without the slightest bit of truth in it.
It’s all over and your gal won, the canidate picked in a backroom by the Party and Union leaders presented to your Central Committee who followed lockstep like the good sheeple that they were and NOWHERE in this County was anyone who considered running as well rotflma why am I not surprised.
You call them unwritten rules? I say someone who never bothered to vote in a schoolboard election cannot claim a great grasp or interest in educational issues.
They got elected let’s see if they keep their promises, won’t be the first politician who made a bunch to get elected, but in this case the Special Term ends pretty quickly and there will be another election in time.