Sioux City Journal

No voice

Posted: Friday, March 30, 2007

In an Aug. 31 editorial during last year's Iowa gubernatorial campaign, we criticized candidate Chet Culver for not wanting to include Sioux City as one of the sites for a debate with his opponent, Jim Nussle. Three months later, we editorialized about our concerns that Northwest Iowa's clout would diminish in the wake of November's elections, including Culver's victory.

Well, Culver's recent nominations of four new members to the Iowa Board of Regents provides further evidence of a disturbing trend of disrespect in Des Moines where this side of the state is concerned.

None of Culver's nominees live in western Iowa. If his appointments are confirmed by the Senate, the nine-member board will have no western Iowa representation whatsoever. Des Moines, however, will be strongly represented, with no less than five members living in or near the capital city.

Supporters of Culver's election bid will be well represented, too. According to a copyright story in The Des Moines Register, nominees Bonnie Campbell and David Miles, and their spouses, gave more than $62,000 to Culver's campaign. If the amount of contributions made to his gubernatorial campaign drove Culver's Regent appointments, then it isn't surprising that western Iowa wasn't represented. Of the 37 counties carried by Nussle, 26 of them were located west of Interstate 35. Culver carried only one of 15 counties in Northwest Iowa.

Culver's new nominees are not without qualifications. Each is an accomplished Iowan. Still, that's beside the point. Western Iowa offers a wealth of talented individuals who could be considered for the board, as well.

It's simply not right for the interests and views of taxpayers whose dollars support public higher education in the state - just like the dollars of taxpayers in Des Moines, West Des Moines and Cedar Rapids - to have no voice on this important, high-profile board.

It isn't the Eastern Two Thirds of Iowa Board of Regents, it's the Iowa Board of Regents. All geographic sections of the state should have a presence.

Story Comments

CB wrote on Apr 2, 2007 2:58 PM:

" Just so you know, I meant that in a bad way. "

CB wrote on Apr 1, 2007 12:47 AM:

" Get used to it. Culver is going to serve for the next 40 years. "

Silvanus wrote on Mar 30, 2007 6:45 PM:

" Good editorial by the Journal. It's a fact that the Western part of the state is largely ignored by state decision-makers. "

Keith wrote on Mar 30, 2007 3:46 PM:

" The less populated areas of our country are always going to deal with this problem. I heard the same complaint in Texas, Oklahoma, California, and anywhere else where large population centers conflict with rural areas. This was the motivation behind the electoral college in the design for our national elections and the same design would greatly benefit state elections. A system that shifts a little weight from the populace to a geographical districting plan would assure that all voters are represented fairly. "

TB wrote on Mar 30, 2007 3:00 PM:

" The Chair of the DOT is from Sioux City. Culver has nominated Sioux City native Chris Godfrey (whose parents still live in Sioux City) to be the Iowa Industrial Commissioner. The Republicans, led by State Senator Ron Wieck are balking at the nomination. Our own people don't even support Nortwest Iowans to important state posts. "