In reply to bballmgr, Mr. Beauregard is running for council because as mayor, you're basically a tie- breaker and cannot vote on issues unless there is a tie. The mayor kind of has his hands tied, so to speak. As a councilman, one has more "power". The large number of candidates indicated more dissatisfaction with the current council than anything else. Like its big sister, Cedar Rapids, people are unhappy with their current local government and how they have been treated and the large voter turnout is also indicative of this. Thank goodness, people still have power to change their government with their votes. I sure hope we can keep this freedom for a long time...

"..a lot of educating"? For whom? Ms. Gunter or the newly elected council members? I think Ms. Gunter's comment is indicative of why there are so many candidates for the open positions. Obviously, people are fed up with the likes of Ms. Gunter and her current council members. This is what happens at election time when people in power let it go to their heads as the current council has done. It appears that the current council has NOT been listening to the people they are supposed to represent with this type of outpouring of candidates.