Des Moines Register. December 14, 2017
If Democrats aren’t careful, they could ruin the Iowa caucuses
The Democrats’ caucuses were chaotic in 2016. So the national party is pushing for big changes, including absentee voting and publicly reporting candidates’ raw vote totals.
The question becomes: Will these changes make an even bigger mess in 2020?
On the surface, the recommendations by the Democratic National Committee’s Unity Reform Commission have merit. But executing them would be tricky, and they would transform the caucus experience.
Our editorial board has advocated for more transparency in the caucus process, including releasing raw vote totals, instead of simply the delegate equivalents. Such murkiness in 2016 fueled the suspicions of Bernie Sanders supporters that the fix was in for Hillary Clinton. The commission has also called for a recount procedure, which was needed in 2016.
Releasing raw vote totals could give more voice to Iowans who support second-tier candidates. The party’s viability rules have undercounted support for candidates such as Martin O’Malley. His supporters had to realign with another candidate in precincts in which he failed to capture 15 percent of the count.
We recognize, however, that releasing both sets of numbers could create confusion, too. In a tight race, it’s possible one candidate would win the raw vote total before realignment and another would capture the most delegates in the final count. The news media and party officials must do some brainstorming on how to handle such scenarios and ensure accuracy. And the party will need to invest in technology to improve live reporting on caucus night.
A bigger issue is absentee voting. Expanding access to the caucuses is a laudable goal. But it might cripple the tradition of Iowans gathering to share their views, persuade their neighbors, discuss the party platform and elect delegates to the county conventions.
We’d love to believe that even with absentee voting, Iowans who have attended caucuses before would do so again. But if there’s an easier alternative, or if they fear bad weather or a drawn-out process, would many go?
Instead, the caucus tradition risks reverting to a largely vote-by-mail exercise. A well-funded candidate could swoop in, execute an absentee voter drive and walk away with a caucus victory.
Why Iowa’s caucuses matter to the presidential nominating process. Jason Noble/The Register
A possible compromise was offered by the Iowa Democratic Party’s caucus review committee. The group twisted in contortions to avoid the phrase “absentee voting” but suggested a form of it. Iowans could request a “non-present participation form” on “a limited basis” if they show an inability to attend because of work, family or travel commitments.
The results of these “non-present caucus participants” would be counted together in each county as if they all voted in the same precinct.
Of course, none of these options is viable if New Hampshire officials suspect our caucuses are becoming too much like a primary, which would threaten our first-in-the-nation status.
Furthermore, absentee voting and transparency won’t necessarily solve some big problems that occurred in 2016: long lines, untrained and overwhelmed volunteers, cramped precinct locations, a lack of voter registration forms and other problems.
The state party’s caucus review committee, led by former U.S. Rep. David Nagle, did address these issues. Its recommendations include allowing for pre-caucus registration to speed up the check-in process on caucus night; creating a bipartisan nonprofit organization to raise money for technology, training and results reporting; and ensuring that every precinct caucus in the state is held in an accessible and adequately sized facility.
In short, it will require thoughtful planning and an infusion of resources. Democrats have a lot of work to do to strike the proper balance between tradition and transparency.
If you’re not a Democrat, why should you care about this? First, because of the importance of the caucuses to Iowa’s political influence and economy. Second, it’s possible that if Democrats adopt absentee voting for the caucuses, the Republican Party of Iowa might feel pressure to follow.
But here’s the most important reason: Iowans are entrusted with a special role in helping select the president of the United States. We need to get it right.
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Sioux City Journal. December 14, 2017
Fireworks change strikes proper balance
In an editorial published two days after the July 4 Independence Day holiday, we said changes in our city’s fireworks ordinance were, based on what we saw and heard ourselves and heard from other city residents, warranted. We suggested the City Council significantly shorten the window of 10 days during which residents can shoot off fireworks for the July 4 observance.
So we support action taken by the council on Monday.
The council voted 5-0 on first reading in support of an amendment to the fireworks ordinance under which residents would be allowed to discharge fireworks only on July 3 and 4, as well as on New Year’s Eve. Under the proposed ordinance change, residents could discharge fireworks on private property from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. on both July 3 and 4 and from 1 p.m. on Dec. 31 to 12:30 a.m. on Jan. 1. The ordinance must pass two additional readings.
Along with the change to the ordinance, we support and urge the following with respect to local discharge of fireworks moving forward:
(asterisk) Beefed-up enforcement of the fireworks ordinance by police. By beefed-up enforcement, we mean a no-tolerance policy toward fireworks offenders. In other words, no warnings. You violate the fireworks ordinance, you get a citation and fine. The police department should publicize its get-tougher approach prior to affected holidays. Sometimes, the simple act by law enforcement of telling the public it intends to crack down harder on something can have a positive impact.
(asterisk) Embrace of greater personal responsibility by individual citizens. That includes communicating with and extending courtesy to neighbors, practicing safety, not discharging fireworks on public property, only discharging fireworks during the time frame allowed by the local ordinance and cleaning up. No one possesses a constitutional right to shoot off fireworks. It’s a privilege city leaders can rescind. In fact, the cities of Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport and Iowa City ban fireworks discharge.
As we have said before in this space, our view of legalized fireworks is mixed. We understand both sides of this discussion.
We acknowledge majority support for legalized fireworks among Iowans and appreciate the economic benefits of capturing part of a business Iowa loses to border states (including Nebraska and South Dakota) each year, but we sympathize with residents who want their neighborhoods free of them.
As a community, we should strive to strike a proper balance between supporters and opponents of fireworks. In our view, this proposed ordinance amendment is a positive step in that direction.
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Fort Dodge Messenger. December 15, 2017
City council approves fireworks rules
This year the sale of fireworks became legal in Iowa. The new state law allows communities some latitude in regulating their use.
To address concerns expressed by many in our town, the Fort Dodge City Council has finalized new rules that will govern the use of fireworks in our city.
In the summer, fireworks can now only be used from July 1 to July 4. Fireworks are allowed between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. on those days. Also, fireworks can now only be used from 5 p.m. Dec. 31 to 12:30 a.m. Jan. 1.
Penalties for violating the fireworks ordinance were also stiffened. The new city law imposes a $500 fine on people convicted of their first offense violation of the fireworks rules. Previously, that fine was $250.
Before the City Council acted, the state law on fireworks allowed them to be used between June 1 and July 8 and between Dec. 10 and Jan. 3.
The Messenger strongly supports the City Council’s decision to reduce the number of days when fireworks can be used. The new rules should not inhibit anyone who genuinely seeks to celebrate with fireworks the Independence Day or New Year’s holidays. They will, however, help prevent protracted use of fireworks from becoming a nuisance for local residents.
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Dubuque Telegraph Herald. December 13, 2017
Perfect time to review county staffing
It’s a common practice in forward-thinking businesses that when an employee leaves or retires, leaders take a look at the position before automatically filling it.
Has the company changed such that the position is no longer needed? Is another position in greater demand? Should the position be retained but the responsibilities tweaked?
All those questions come to mind when business leaders weigh whether and how to fill a vacancy, and government entities should undertake a similar discernment process. Elected officials must always seek opportunities to save taxpayer dollars and create efficiencies.
That’s exactly where the Dubuque County Board of Supervisors has been in the past few weeks with the planned departures of two key positions. Budget Director Michelle Patzner informed the board of her intention to leave this month, and Personnel Director Mary Ann Specht will retire in March. Between the two positions, many important tasks are handled.
That’s what prompted Supervisor Jay Wickham to suggest the county consider hiring a county human resources administrator instead of a personnel director. An administrator, supervisors suggest, would oversee multiple departments while also being a liaison to the board.
After some disagreement and with Supervisor Daryl Klein still opposed, the board approved such a job description this week.
Meanwhile, Patzner had said she believed creating a county administrator role would make the position of budget director obsolete and redundant.
Given the duties outlined by supervisors, however, an HR administrator would have plenty to do without reaching into the budget director’s territory.
In addition to the HR/Personnel Department, supervisors intend this position to oversee Facilities, IT, Budgeting, Zoning and General Assistance departments. While the administrator would continue to oversee the budget director position, one shouldn’t absorb the other.
Patzner has proven the worth of the budget director position, which was new to the county when she was hired in 2012.
Under her guidance, supervisors were able to trim their budget by millions, weeding out expenditures built into the budget for worst-case or “what-if” scenarios. Instead, she suggested the county focus on actual expenses over a period of years and base its budget on those trends. That is a sound approach.
In advance of her departure, Patzner suggested that a staff accountant working under the county administrator could do the budget work at less expense than a budget director. If that proves true, it’s worth pursuing. Clearly, someone needs to take ownership of the budget. In light of the budget director vacancy, supervisors agreed to pay $15,000 more to Auditor Denise Dolan to prepare the county budget.
It can be difficult to change the job descriptions or duties of longtime employees. Now, while Dubuque County government has an opportunity to examine some key vacancies, supervisors should take full advantage of the timing to adjust the structure as needed.
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