Comments on: Libertarian city councilman Nick Taiber elected in run-off in Cedar Falls, Iowa

By: Trent Hill

Trent Hill — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:41:00 +0000

I was about to ask what a university president was doing slumming with the Libertarians, lol.

I would expect a university president who has a good rapport with Ron Paulers to run as a Republican for a more winnable position–like a state education board, if there is one, or a State Senator.

By: Scott Lieberman

Scott Lieberman — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:21:05 +0000

“Steve // Dec 8, 2009 at 3:16 pm

Additionally, the LPIA may have their strongest candidate for governor years in Dr. Eric Cooper, and Iowa State University President.”

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” http://iowaindependent.com/tag/eric-cooper

Cooper is an associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at Iowa State University”

There isn’t anything wrong with being a professor of psychology, but that isn’t the same thing as being a university President.

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:16:54 +0000

This win gives the Libertarian Party two council members in good-sized cities with Bill Lynn in Davenport the other and at least one small town mayor – Roger Fritz of Roland.

Additionally, the LPIA may have their strongest candidate for governor years in Dr. Eric Cooper, and Iowa State University President. By announcing his candidacy in November 2009 he’s already got a head start on campaigning and nearly finished with his petitioning. He also has a good rapport with Ron Paul’s people and with the possibility of Republicans nominating an aging, liberal former governor against the incompetent Democratic incumbent, the LP could have its best chance in years of gaining the 2% needed to gain ballot status.

Check him out – http://www.coopersmallergovernment.com

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:11:06 +0000

Thanks IPR for publishing my report.

As noted, city council races are non-partisan but partisan affiliations often come into play, sometimes when the incumbents try to make an issue out of the challengers party registration (as in this case) or when candidates are well known leaders of the local branch of their party (as happened in neighboring Waterloo, Iowa).

The corporate welfare issue here is largely a good-government issue rather than a progressive/libertarian. While local libertarians undoubtedly voted against the tax in question, some would grudgingly concede a limited role for local government in providing basic infrastructure. Its doubtful that voters would have approved a measure using tax revenue to subsidize a mall (especially since the city has no lack of commercial development, its just moved elsewhere within city limits,) so for the mayor and council to shift funds from one to the other is just dishonest, dirty politics of the type that voters roundly rejected in favor of an honest independent libertarian voice.

And yes, I did see plenty of cars with Obama and Taiber stickers side-by-side, so he did do well with the progressive vote.

By: The Last Conservative

The Last Conservative — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 02:44:14 +0000

the campaign was to keep the money from being spent on a mall. The voters had passed a measure saying that the money would be spent on street repair, which is a progressive issue. The libertarian would rather have a tax cut instead of street repair, but he was apparently willing to compromise in order to make an alliance with the progressives who wanted street repair, which lead to a victory.

If I misunderstood and the libertarian was actually supporting the mall, then I retract my statement.

By: Robert Milnes

Robert Milnes — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 01:22:13 +0000

The Last Conservative @4, how is that?

By: Third Party Revolution

Third Party Revolution — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 00:41:42 +0000

We here at Third Party Revolution would like to congratulate Nick Taiber in his election to the Cedar Falls, Iowa City Council, and hope that many more third party and independent candidates get elected nationwide, ranging from local to federal levels.

By: The Last Conservative

The Last Conservative — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 00:12:31 +0000

It seems that something similar to the Progressive Libertarian alliance strategy was used in this election, no?

By: John Deeth

John Deeth — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 21:57:32 +0000

Non. Iowa law allows for partisan council elections but the last city to do so (Davenport) went non-partisan about 10 years ago.

By: Ballot Access News » Blog Archive » Libertarian Party Officer Elected to City Council of Cedar Falls, Iowa

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:35:42 +0000

[...] Independent Political Report comes this news, that Nick Taiber was elected to the City Council of Cedar Falls, Iowa, on December 1. He is a [...]

By: Vaughn

Vaughn — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:30:59 +0000

Partisan or Non-Partisan?