Cedar Falls Ward 4 Candidates Prepare for Run-Off

And then there were two.

Two City Council candidates, that is. For Jim Miller and Mare Schmidt, the election season has only just begun.

Miller and Schmidt, both hoping to represent Ward 4, will compete for voter affections in a Dec. 6 run-off vote.

Schmidt took 35 percent of Ward 4 votes in the Nov. 8 election, followed closely by Miller at 32 percent. Carol Hanson and Carol Cooper were eliminated with 22 percent and 11 percent of the vote respectively.

Both Schmidt and Miller said they would emphasize their experience, community involvement and dedication to the city as they vied for votes.

Miller, president of Pioneer Graphics Commercial Printing in Waterloo, was once a member of the Waterloo City Council. He said his experience includes serving on the planning and zoning commission, the College Hill Neighborhood Association, the College Hill Partnership and the Community Main Street Board, along with numerous other boards and commissions.

He said involvement in the community was important to not only him, but to his entire family.

“We volunteer so much not only in our neighborhood and community but Cedar Falls generally,” he said.

Schmidt is a board member of Cedar Falls Community Main Street, Cedar Falls Senior/Community Center, Cedar Falls Rotary Club, board member and president-elect of Cedar Falls Trees and a member of the city's organization and development committee. She owns Art Store & More.

“I’ve lived all my life in Cedar Falls and graduated from the University of Northern Iowa,” she said. “Cedar Falls is in my blood. I love the people of Cedar Falls and really want to serve them.”

Both candidates have set their campaign strategy as they move forward.

Miller said he won his preliminary votes without spending a single penny. He purchased no yard signs, distributed no brochures and mailed no post cards. Instead, his strategy was simply to start conversations.

“On my typical day, year round, every week, I work with nonprofits in the community, and I’m on campus,” he said. “In one day’s time I normally talk to 15-20 people in my area.”

In the weeks ahead, however, he said he may mail some postcards after all. 

“Some folks in my ward did say they weren’t sure who I was,” he said. “Every vote will count.”

He’s also hoping completion of road construction in front of the , his neighborhood precinct, will win him more votes. He’s concerned voters who may have chosen him faced difficulty getting to the ballot box on Nov. 8.

“It doesn’t take much to have people turn around and go the other direction,” he said.

The construction is scheduled for completion before the run-off.

Schmidt said she plans to continue her campaign the way she started, with dedication and diligence.

“I’m a hard worker,” she said. “I’m going to make as much contact with as many people as I can in the ward. I want to work for them. I hope the people of Ward 4 will give me that opportunity.”