Hubbell Realty Opposes Waukee City Council Candidate in Ads

Politics is politics, but try telling that to Waukee City Council candidate Shelly Hughes.

Hughes, who has made no apologies for her opposition of Hubbell Realty Company's effort to rezone her Glynn Village neighborhood, was the only candidate among those running for Waukee mayor and City Council left off an advertisement placed by "Iowans for Progress."

The ad copy states: "Vote Pro Waukee: Families, Business, Growth, Development. Vote Peard, Harvey, Colter. Nov. 8." According to an article in Thursday's Des Moines Register, the advertisement was paid for by Hubbell Realty Co. and promoted current Waukee Mayor Bill Peard, and council candidates Casey Harvey and Chris Colter.

A version of the ad has also appeared on Waukee Patch.

"It bothers me that Hubbell felt the need to get involved in this way," Hughes said Friday. "I'm disappointed and disillusioned. I hope it makes people think more about the election and become more aware of who the candidates are and who will be their best representation. I hope it makes people get out to vote."

Chad Airhart, owner of Airhart Strategies, a marketing and consulting company out of Waukee, said he was paid by a third party to find advertising opportunities for Iowans for Progress. He said he knew who the advertisement promoted before it ran and thought it was implied that Hubbell Realty was behind it.

"I had seen the piece," Airhart said. "I knew who would be supported. My job was as a vendor to provide a service."

Hughes, a stay-at-home mom of two, lives in Glynn Village and says she opposed the rezoning in late June when it was first proposed by Hubbell Realty Co. She and other residents there did not want the remaining plats rezoned for multi-family units.

After a meeting with developers, neighbors were reassured that the issue would be settled amicably. To date, Hughes said, there has been no further contact from Hubbell on the matter.

"The residents met with Hubbell and we thought we had come to an agreement that a compromise needed to be made on both our parts," Hughes said. "With good, clear communication that could be achieved, but we haven’t heard anything back on that. We were told they would be in touch."

. Incumbent Casey Harvey and challenge Chris Colter, along with Hughes are running for those two spots. Councilwoman Darlene Stanton resigned her seat this fall to move out of state.

Hughes said she is not "anti-Hubbell," but is more of a concerned citizen. She said she decided to run for City Council not because of the issue, but because she realized how important it is to get involved and be representative of your community. She said she hopes residents will vote for her not because of what she opposes, but for what she can do for the city of Waukee.

"I hope they vote for people who will be the best representation," she said. "If I’m elected, it will because of my own merit."