Monica Vernon’s previous C.R. work shows abilities
Reprinted from The Gazette, Sunday, September 30, 2007, page 12A

Guiding the City of Cedar Rapids to meet the needs and dreams of current and future generations requires more than simply dealing with the here and now. It requires in tense focus on understanding the present, creating a vision for the future, and developing a balanced plan to achieve that vision.

Monica Vernon excels in each of the categories necessary for a member of the Cedar Rapids City Council. I’ve observed Vernon’s expertise in numerous roles, and found her lacking in none. Of particular relevance, as she seeks the Council seat for Cedar Rapids’ District 2, was her performance on the Cedar Rapids Planning and Zoning Commission.

As Vernon worked as a member and chairwoman of the Commission, she demonstrated not only an intense focus on understanding and addressing immediate cases before us, but also on looking to the future and helping explore innovative planning and zoning objectives. Not every decision was easy, but under Vernon’s guidance decisions were reached in a balanced manner — and always with the best interests of Cedar Rapids as a growing, vibrant community of families, employees and businesses in mind.

Vernon is a listener, a planner with vision and a leader without hesitation. These are qualities we need in the next councilperson for Cedar Rapids City Council District 2.

Russell D. Oviatt
Cedar Rapids