Eight candidates seek to fill 4 spots on the Iowa City City Council.

By Jake Slobe
[email protected]

The filing period to become a candidate for the Iowa City City Council ended Aug. 27, leaving eight candidates bidding for four seats.

The City Council consists of seven members; four represent the city at-large, and three represent districts. The next council election will be held Tuesday, November 3. Openings on the council will be for two at-large seats and seats in Districts A and C.

Here is a brief look at the eight candidates who will be running:

At-Large:

Rockne Cole

• Graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law and is a local attorney.
• Candidate for City Council in 2013 but failed to win a seat.
• Strong supporter of Johnson County’s recent minimum-wage proposal.
• Proposed re-thinking mass transit strategies, stating the need to identify high volume routes and add additional buses during peak hours.

Jim Throgmorton (Incumbent)

• Throgmorton is finishing a four-year term on the council as District C representative and is now running for an at-large seat.
• Has stated he will continue to support a more open government while increasing the investments toward city resources in order to benefit lower-income residents.
• Has a Ph.D. in regional and urban planning from UCLA and taught at the UI.

Tim Conroy

• Graduated from Wheaton College in Massachusetts and is a local realtor.
• Stated he is excited to listen to the concerns and interests of Iowa City citizens.
• Member of the UI Museum of Art Member’s Council and the Iowa City Downtown Rotary Chapter.

• Michelle Payne (Incumbent)
• Currently serving her first term on the council and seeking a re-election for a second term.
• Works as a program manager at MidAmerican Energy and also serves on the Iowa City Economic Development Committee and the Johnson County Municipal Planning Organization.
• Supported adding one hour of free parking downtown and lowering lowering property-tax levies.

District A:

Rick Dobyns (Incumbent)

• UI clinical professor of family medicine and is also a family physician.
• Previous achievements while on the council include advocating economic recovery in Iowa City and establishing a coalition among the council to help respond to concerns of racial inequality in Iowa City.

Pauline Taylor

• Graduated from the UI and is currently a nurse at the UIHC.
• Founding members of Service Employees International Union Local 199.
• Has proposed the need for racial equality for and affordable housing.

District C

Scott McDonough

• Owner of the design and construction company McDonough Structures Inc. and a graduate of the UI Tippie College of Business.
• Wants to see a strong, broad economic landscape in Iowa City.
• Board president for the Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity. Also has served on the Johnson County Affordable Homes Coalition.

John Thomas

• Former member of the Iowa City Planning and Zoning Commission. Term ended in May.
• Says he will push for more accessible government as well as improving the city’s private investment.
• Is a strong advocate for improving Iowa City’s schools and has served as coordinator for the North Side Neighborhood Association.