Thank you Laura for a great column!! And Jill Shudak gives a great primer on the grit, determination and moxie needed to turn out voters! Hurray for her emphasis on union workers and collective bargaining too!
Wonderful reporting job, Laura. Mayor-elect Jill Shudak’s victory is a classic example of how to win a political race against a long-serving incumbent. It also seems to me to be one of organized labor’s biggest victories in Iowa in a long time. And with Shudak and Josh Turek, this is the highest point of political potential for Council Bluffs since the power years of Mike Gronstal and Brent Siegrist.
Laura I appreciate this article but as a CB resident I need to correct some statements Jill made. She DID run a negative campaign against Walsh. Also, our form of city government means our mayor is the business manager/CEO of the city, not just a figurehead cutting ribbons. I’ve talked with her in person and she does not have an open mind or want more information about ideas to increase our property tax base. One partial term on the city council is NOT enough experience to deal with all the obstacles the R triumvirate in DM are putting in the way for cities. I fear for the next 4 years
Clearly you don't think she has the skills to run the city. We will find out in the coming four years, and the voters will decide. Reasonable minds will differ on the best way to increase the property tax base, no doubt.
When you run against an incumbent, you have to do some negative campaigning because you have to make a case for voters to fire the incumbent and elect you.
My point was, she did not attack the mayor for being fat or ugly. She was subjected to a lot of negativity online that other candidates for mayor did.
You’re right I don’t believe she has the background or skill set to run the city. In a nonpartisan election I care more about that than the D or R. I’m sure she, like every female candidate, had a lot of misogynist criticism. But there’s a lot of damage that can be done to a city in 4 years - I hope she will prove me wrong
Grateful you’re shining a light on a most deserving, Mayor-elect Jill Shudak. Those who supported the incumbent Mayor publicly spoke of how Ill-prepared, so unworthy, etc, Jill is. And of course, as a female, they criticize things they would never say about a male candidate. The good old boys, stand aside! They don’t really know Jill YET. Jill ran because she has a plan and she’s hitting the ground running!
These are the very things I really enjoy hearing about! She is a long way from Eastern Iowa, but, fighting an uphill battle and winning is something to celebrate! Being Progressive is starting to become a "thing" and the rigidness of only two parties is starting to fade! I enjoyed the way she handled negaitive campaigning and didn't indulge in it, she stuck to her guns and fought the good fight! Better yet, she won! Putting "the People" back into the mix is what politics is all about, both parties need to re-think who they are working for, and spend a whole lot more time talking to their voters, all of them, and spend a whole lot less on "Consultants" who obviously haven't a clue!
this is a great tutorial for other potential candidates for office. I hope more who feel the call to run get to read this, I am definitely sharing it because I know a couple who are considering...
Thank you Laura for a great column!! And Jill Shudak gives a great primer on the grit, determination and moxie needed to turn out voters! Hurray for her emphasis on union workers and collective bargaining too!
Wonderful reporting job, Laura. Mayor-elect Jill Shudak’s victory is a classic example of how to win a political race against a long-serving incumbent. It also seems to me to be one of organized labor’s biggest victories in Iowa in a long time. And with Shudak and Josh Turek, this is the highest point of political potential for Council Bluffs since the power years of Mike Gronstal and Brent Siegrist.
Fantastic. Inspirational. Thank you, Jill, for serving, and Laura for your reporting.
Interesting profile of what issue kickstarted Jill's mayoral pursuit. I wish her the best.
Laura I appreciate this article but as a CB resident I need to correct some statements Jill made. She DID run a negative campaign against Walsh. Also, our form of city government means our mayor is the business manager/CEO of the city, not just a figurehead cutting ribbons. I’ve talked with her in person and she does not have an open mind or want more information about ideas to increase our property tax base. One partial term on the city council is NOT enough experience to deal with all the obstacles the R triumvirate in DM are putting in the way for cities. I fear for the next 4 years
Clearly you don't think she has the skills to run the city. We will find out in the coming four years, and the voters will decide. Reasonable minds will differ on the best way to increase the property tax base, no doubt.
When you run against an incumbent, you have to do some negative campaigning because you have to make a case for voters to fire the incumbent and elect you.
My point was, she did not attack the mayor for being fat or ugly. She was subjected to a lot of negativity online that other candidates for mayor did.
You’re right I don’t believe she has the background or skill set to run the city. In a nonpartisan election I care more about that than the D or R. I’m sure she, like every female candidate, had a lot of misogynist criticism. But there’s a lot of damage that can be done to a city in 4 years - I hope she will prove me wrong
Grateful you’re shining a light on a most deserving, Mayor-elect Jill Shudak. Those who supported the incumbent Mayor publicly spoke of how Ill-prepared, so unworthy, etc, Jill is. And of course, as a female, they criticize things they would never say about a male candidate. The good old boys, stand aside! They don’t really know Jill YET. Jill ran because she has a plan and she’s hitting the ground running!
These are the very things I really enjoy hearing about! She is a long way from Eastern Iowa, but, fighting an uphill battle and winning is something to celebrate! Being Progressive is starting to become a "thing" and the rigidness of only two parties is starting to fade! I enjoyed the way she handled negaitive campaigning and didn't indulge in it, she stuck to her guns and fought the good fight! Better yet, she won! Putting "the People" back into the mix is what politics is all about, both parties need to re-think who they are working for, and spend a whole lot more time talking to their voters, all of them, and spend a whole lot less on "Consultants" who obviously haven't a clue!
this is a great tutorial for other potential candidates for office. I hope more who feel the call to run get to read this, I am definitely sharing it because I know a couple who are considering...
Thank you for reading and sharing!