Candidates for Grinnell City Council turned Drake Community Library into a platform for political debate, outlining their visions for the city’s future.
The forum, held on Tuesday, Oct. 28 and organized by the League of Women Voters of Grinnell-Jasper County, featured candidates from both the mayoral and council races. Only one ward and the mayor’s seat are contested this year.
More than 30 residents attended in person, with another 20 joining virtually via Zoom.
Mayoral candidates share motivations and vision
Two candidates are running for the city mayor seat, after incumbent Dan Agnew announced he won’t be seeking reelection.
Each candidate had one minute to answer questions submitted in advance.
“I have a work ethic like no other,” Sam Cox, owner of local coffee shop Saints Rest and a candidate for mayor, said. “I’m not afraid of work.”
Russ Crawford, also running for mayor, said he is independent from partisan politics. “I am the mayor for everybody,” he said.
He highlighted his experience as owner and operator of KGRN Radio and said that ever since April of this year, he has not missed a single city council regular or special session.
“I got invested in the Master Plan, Park and Rec department. I’ve seen how that cash flow works through the system, and that that part of myself, I’m a doer,” he said.
Cox acknowledged her relative inexperience in city government, positioning herself as a newcomer.
“I would be the new kid on the block. 100 percent I do not have a lot of civil service behind me. I don’t necessarily think that that is something that is not that is detrimental to who I am. I am here to listen and learn,” she said. “Where I may lack in experience, I do not lack in energy and drive and commitment.”
Both mayoral candidates said they entered the race only after learning that Agnew would not seek a third term.
“Dan Agnew and I had an agreement — as long as he wanted to be the mayor, I was not going to run against Dan,” Crawford said.
Meanwhile, Cox praised Agnew.
“Dan was not somebody that I wanted to run against, because I think he’s a pretty incredible human being,” she said.
Asked about how they would work with the Chamber of Commerce to advance their priorities, the candidates brought up examples of previous successes, including the city’s annual Jingle Bell Holiday celebration.
“It’s just so very important for them to keep the energy,” Cox said, about the chamber. “As a small business owner, working with them has always been very easy. They’re great with communication.”
Crawford brought up his previous experience chairing the chamber.
“The chamber is the front door to the community,” he said. “It’s important that we have that relationship and an open relationship and dialogue all the time.”
Ward 1 is the only contested council race
Incumbent Lee David Staroska faces challenger John D. Cox for the only contested council seat this election.
Staroska, who works at the Poweshiek Water Association and serves on the public safety and public works committees, said his passion lies in the water industry.
“We currently are having a new water system, treatment plant, and new million-gallon tank going up in Grinnell. Exciting to hear that and I’m glad to be involved with that,” he said.
Cox said if elected, he would also want to join the safety and infrastructure committees, citing concerns about pedestrian traffic near the new elementary school planned along 10th Ave.
“It is a concern of mine knowing that students are going to be coming down 10th to the new elementary, and how that needs to look and how that can be prepared with sidewalks and illumination, and really slowing traffic down through that area, to keep the kids safe,” he said. “So definitely, safety and public works are two that I would like to be on.”
Taxes, housing and infrastructure concerns
The evening also involved a discussion of a proposed measure that will appear on the upcoming ballot: the renewal of Grinnell’s local option sales and services tax, which would extend the existing tax burden.
All candidates voiced support for the measure.
“I think the state keeps creating more funding challenges for cities, and so that’s something we have to keep working through so that we can continue to do this,” said Rachel Bly, an incumbent candidate running unopposed for Ward 3.
Candidates were also asked about housing, particularly following Grinnell College’s recent changes to its student housing policies, as reported by The Scarlet & Black.
“Oftentimes it is less about do we have a housing shortage, as much as it is about what kind of housing do we need,” Bly said.
Shane Hart, an incumbent and unopposed candidate for Ward 4, agreed that the city must assess how best to use existing properties.
“I’d say that there’s probably an excess there in regard to the city’s involvement with housing. I very much see the city as a partner, but not the driver or the engine,” Hart added.
Meanwhile, Sarah Smith, running unopposed for the city’s only at-large seat up for election, said she plans to push for infrastructure investments, particularly at Arbor and Nyanza lakes, the parks surrounding them and other neighborhood spaces to ensure they receive attention and renovation.
Important dates
The next candidate forum by the League of Women Voters of Grinnell-Jasper County will be held on Oct. 30 at Drake Library and will feature candidates for the Grinnell-Newburg school board.
The election is on Nov. 4. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.
Grinnell is divided into 4 wards, which determine where a resident votes. Wards 1 and 2 votes at Elks Lodge, Ward 3 votes at Drake Library and Ward 4 votes at the 4H Building, County Fairgrounds.
