National group affilliated with Koch brothers spending money on Coralville (Iowa) race -

[Blue Gardener]

Source: Cedar Rapids Gazette

CORALVILLE (Iowa)– A conservative group more commonly associated with federal politics is getting involved in this fall’s Coralville city election, and that includes opening up its wallet.

Americans for Prosperity spent more than $33.5 million trying to defeat President Barack Obama’s re-election bid last year. Now its Iowa chapter is putting resources toward the Nov. 5 Coralville election for mayor and City Council, although Iowa director Mark Lucas declined to say how much money his organization would spend.

“I don’t think anyone’s going to outspend me, let’s put it that way,” he said.

News of Americans for Prosperity’s involvement comes a week after The Gazette reported critics of Coralville’s financial practices have helped in some candidate’s campaigns, and in at least one case allegedly offered up to $20,000 in support. -

See more at: http://thegazette.com/2013/10/02/national-group-afilliated-with-koch-brothers-spending-money-on-coralville-race/#sthash.qmAKIKxk.dpuf

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Read more: http://thegazette.com/2013/10/02/national-group-afilliated-with-koch-brothers-spending-money-on-coralville-race/

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Koch brothers getting involved in local city council races. Bastards.

[liberal N proud]

1. What interest do the Koch brothers have in Coralville?

University of Iowa is adjacent to the city, but what else is there?

[Blue Gardener]

3. TIF money

It has to do with Tax Increment Finance (TIF) money, and the city's debt. The city owns some property that the big developers want so that plays into it as well.

[Bibliovore]

5. It's apparently an Iowa chapter that opened in January 2012

For chapter specifically focusing on Iowa, I think Coralville makes some sense. It's the up-and-coming suburb-city of Iowa City, which is one of the most liberal places in the state (it had an elected Socialist Party member on the city council for over 20 years); it has grown remarkably since an infusion of rebuilding funds after the flood of 1993, becoming home to one of the largest malls in the state (the Coral Ridge Mall) and more than tripling its annual taxable income; and while the University of Iowa is of course generally liberal, there are always some eager Young Republicans coming through there who may be itching for a rallying point. Further, as the second article states, "Coralville has faced harsh criticism from developers and local and state officials over its use of tax increment financing ... and its high level of debt," so it may be something of a conservative lightning rod at the moment.

I'm inclined to agree with the first article's closing quote, though: "I actually think it’s going to backfire." I guess we'll see. Perhaps the group intends this as a relatively low-stakes test case. Of course, it's not low stakes for the people who actually live there.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Sounds like a small amount

but in a local race $20k is a lot of money.

[Blue Gardener]

4. 20, 000 citizens in Coralville

That's a lot of money for a city council election.

[Dustlawyer]

6. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has been funding State and local elections for a long time!

Their biggest threat is in Judicial races. They have been stacking the Courts for 30 years and have gone so far as to create fake courthouse newspapers that give the appearance of a real, local paper for court filings and the like. When they started they did not even sell advertising for the 1st year until they realized people were seeing through the ruse. They are free right outside the Jury empaneling room and usually have negative stories on Plaintiffs who's trials are about to start. Check out the Southeasttexasrecord.com. They have toned it down to just the commentary or "Opinions" section for the most part after we sued them, but they have spread to about 5 or 6 jurisdictions that the Chamber considers "Judicial Hell Holes!" They want to take away our right to redress against corporations and doctors who harm us. This is what the clamber for Tort Reform has been all about. Now people assume that frivolous lawsuits are filed all of the time and the Courts are helpless to do anything about them. Nothing could be further from the truth!

[jwirr]

7. For those who do not know Coralville is directly connected to Iowa City which has the UofI. I am

surprised to hear this and the Coralville I knew years ago would have immediately objected to these outsiders and voted against them. Things must have changed a bit.

[mnhtnbb]

10. Iowa City used to be pretty blue. I have family that lived there--kids went to Coralville schools--

in the early 90's until about 2003.

[PatrynXX]

8. I've seen their contruction trucks

in the Cedar City area of Cedar Falls (or north Cedar) too close for comfort. and that side is where much of the poor live... We do biz with people there for a reason. But not if Koch is there. Kinda odd too because usually they leave Semi trailers out for advertisement but that one was partially hidden.. Then that Millionaire got in trouble and off to jail he went..

[blkmusclmachine]

9. Evil.

[adirondacker]

11. The Kochs and their affiliates belong in a padded cell for their remaining time on Treason charges.