Money in Politics
Five copies of Buying the Vote,
A History of Campaign Finance Reform by Robert E. Mutch are available at Musser Public Library for check out. Bookmarks are printed and being distributed to advertise our Community Read which is part of League’s Money in Politics study. Postcards will be sent to our donors, elected officials, and those interested in campaign finance.
We will meet on December 1, at 7:00p.m. At MCC, Strahan Hall, room 27. Todd Pettys will lead the discussion of the book. People who don’t read the book but have an interest in campaign finance are welcome to attend.
Forum
A small crowd of committed candidates and supporters came out on October 17 for Candidates’. The League sponsored event offered candidates for City Council and Mayor and opportunity to connect with voters. Those running unopposed are Phil Fitzgerald in Ward 1 and Allen Harvey in Ward 5. Tom Spread and Chris Bynum are vying for the Ward 3 seat. Two names for Alderman at large will appear on the ballot, Santos Saucedo and Steve Ryder. Mr. Rider withdrew his name from the contest but his name will appear on the ballot. Running for mayor are DeWayne Hopkins and Diana Broderson.
Upper Mississippi River ILO
On October 24 members of the League met in Dubuque to hold the first meeting of the Upper Mississippi River Region (UMRR) Inter League Organization (ILO). Topics of interest were nutrient reduction, Impact of Upstream Water Quality on Downstream Parks, Recreation Areas, and a Watershed Game. Anyone interested in serving on the ILO should contact Sue Wilson (wilsonsue@mchsi.com).
Voter Registration = VOTE411.org
NAACP of Burlington contacted our League for help with voter registration. While we kept our carbon footprint small/no one drove down, we did advise on ways to set up and carry out voter registration at the event.
MHS – Sue Johannsen offered voter registration materials to three MHS classes on October 8.
Fund Drive – Jean Clark
There are twenty-three wonderful contributors to the LWV Muscatine County totaling $1100. Donations are accepted anytime, so if you would like to include the League in your yearly giving, send your check to Jean Clark, 1221 Mulberry Ave.
Economic Development/Tax Increment Financing (TIF)
Economic Development is on our minds. Economic Development and TIFs provide incentives to businesses to expand and improve. TIF can be provided as a rebate. This structure has no bond issuance and requires that the project company pay the annual taxes due on the property. The local government then repays the company annually for the taxes paid minus the area’s debt service portion of the taxes. The Rebate is valid for the number of years agreed upon by the local government and is the TIF structure granted more often by the city of Muscatine. The city of Muscatine has a policy to consider 50% of the TIF levy assessment annually for up to 10 years for an eligible project. Muscatine County does not have a specific policy.
Our committee will meet with Leslie Soule, County Auditor on Nov. 4 and Nancy Lueck, City Finance Director on Nov. 19.
I will keep my eye on the theater listings and organize a “movie night” for us.
“Suffragette,” a new feature film inspired by the true story of the Women’s Suffrage Movement in the UK has opened in theaters this week. In addition to telling the story of these trailblazing women’s rights leaders, who are played by Meryl Streep, Carey Mulligan, and Helena Bonham Carter, many women have also been integral to the film’s creation—Sarah Gavron is the film’s director, Abi Morgan its screenwriter, and Alison Owen and Faye Ward its producers.