Iowa City Council Candidate Profiles: Josh Eklow

This profile orginally ran this summer, but in the interest of being fair as the October 11 city council primary approaches, I decided I would run it again. Eklow is one of seven candidates facing off in the primary election.

Josh Eklow says he is running for the At-Large position of Iowa City Council. Eklow, of 618 E. Court St., said he’ll seek one of the two At-Large seats up for grabs in the Nov. 8 election, filling the slot by At-Large council member Mike Wright, who will not run. Iowa City Mayor is also running At Large.

Iowa City Patch: Where are you from originally and what is your tie to Iowa City?

Josh Eklow: I was born in Chicago, IL and my family moved out to the suburbs when I was about three. We lived in Grayslake, IL, right next to Gurnee, IL. When I wasn't in school, I spent most of my time at Six Flags Great America and often consider the park the place I grew up. 

Iowa City Patch: How old are you and how long have you lived in Iowa City for?

Eklow: I am 25 years old. My birthday is December 20, 1985. I have lived in Iowa City since 2004. 

Iowa City Patch: What is your profession?

Eklow: It feels a little difficult to declare a profession. I just received an Masters of Fine Arts degree from the University (of Iowa) in Intermedia Art. I was an Iowa Arts Fellow my first couple years as a graduate student and an instructor my last year. I've worked at the Iowa City Senior Center as a video specialist and the creative director of Iowa City Senior Center Television. I also teach classes there on the Internet, film/video, and tech literacy. I am the secretary on the Board of Directors at PATV 18. I do a weekly radio show on KRUI called VeeGeePlus, spinning vinyl from thrift stores and flea markets. I also work at Ragstock on Washington Street.

Iowa City Patch: What motivated you to run for city council?

Eklow: Having lived in Iowa City for quite a while, there are issues that I would like to have some say in, but my main motivation for running for council is to try to give the young people of Iowa City a voice.

Between the students at the University and the people staying in town after graduating, or merely moving to Iowa City for its cultural opportunities, citizens under 30 make up a large portion of the city's population. Unfortunately, they are not being represented on the council, and have little say in many matters that effect them equally or greater than older adults in town. It has been my unfortunate experience that many young people in Iowa City are unaware that they can vote in local elections or, worse, are under the false impression that they cannot vote.

A large motivation for me to run is to dispel the myth that our city's young people cannot or should not get involved in local policy and to inspire people to vote, run for office, and voice their opinions, whether or not they are my own.

Iowa City Patch: What would your priorities be as a council member?

Eklow: My main priority would be to try to hear the people that I believe are underrepresented on the council: the young, the seniors of Iowa City, those below the poverty line, and those looking for work after receiving degrees from the University and finding it hard to do so in Iowa.

More specific priorities for me would be more efficient snow and ice removal in order to make Iowa City more safe for pedestrians, helping to increase the artistic and cultural opportunities downtown as the landscape changes, protect renters in Iowa City in their dealings with large apartment rental companies, preserve the current location of the Farmer's Market, and to help make Iowa City a place that people can realistically choose to live after receiving their degrees from the University.

Iowa City Patch: Why do you think you are qualified to be on the city council? What voters in Iowa City do you think you will appeal to and why?

Eklow: Having lived in Iowa City as an undergraduate student, a grad student, working with students and seniors, in local retail, and in community art, I have experienced Iowa City in many ways and find myself in love with most areas of Iowa City life. I think I can relate to a large number of people in Iowa City. This ability, gained through shared experience, has helped me in my work as an instructor at the University and the Senior Center, and I believe it will make me a compassionate and understanding city councilor.

The voters I hope to appeal to include, as I've mentioned, the young people in Iowa City, who unfortunately don't turn out to vote in the numbers I wish they would.

If the students and other young people of Iowa City voted, they could decide every issue on the ballot. Their status as "temporary" citizens, reinforced by those in town unaffiliated with the University, is a state of mind, and I hope to appeal to both groups to come to an understanding that we are all citizens of Iowa City and should all take interest in local affairs. While the University undeniably has a loud political voice in town, the students, and other young people, have almost none, and I appeal to the youth of Iowa City to help me change that.

While I myself am under 30 and hope to represent others of the same on the council, I hope to appeal to those over 50 as well. I have greatly benefited from the many hours I have spent at the Senior Center and the issues that mature adults in Iowa City care about have become issues I too am passionate about. It has been my experience that many people who don't have kind things to say about the Senior Center would probably not say those things if they spent time there and met the people I know there. I can say firsthand that Iowa City is a great place to live as a student, and I can say secondhand that it is one of the best places to retire. I hope to do so myself someday.

Iowa City Patch: Which issues do you feel will be the most important in the upcoming election?

Eklow: I think the issues that will be most important in the upcoming election, and in the next several years in Iowa City, will be what exactly the changing face of the town becomes. As the makeup of downtown changes, and new housing opportunities arise, I think this could be a very exciting time for Iowa City and I am trying to do all I can to make sure we move towards being an even more shining example of culture in Iowa. I've heard Iowa City called the Paris of the Midwest, and I am working with others to live up to that.

Background of the profile series:

Iowa City Patch sent the current Iowa City Council candidates a list of the same seven questions to provide people with a greater understanding of the individuals who are running in the Nov. 8 election for the Iowa City Council. There will be a primary on Oct. 11 that will narrow down the field of at-large candidats from seven to four.

The seven council members serve four year terms, with four seats up in November (effective 2012) for one District A, one District C and two At-large slots on the council. The remaining three slots are up in 2013 (effective 2014).  City elections are held every two years.