Iowa City Press-Citizen from Iowa City, Iowa • Page 3

WEDNESDAY, November 4, 1992 Iowa City Press-Citizen 3A Slockett wins big in auditor election Motel hotel tax approved By Monica Mendoza The Press-Citizen By Darain Metz The Press-Citizen The motelhotel sales tax Iowa City and Coralville in is During the presidential election the Democratic Party fought for change. But Tom Slockett, an Iowa City Democrat, fought for Slockett more of the same. county government. "County government I think is the most effective and efficient government," Slockett said. "It's archaic, but has rich opportunities for improvement.

I'm excited about the computer software and business technology available to improve county government. I'm excited to be able to learn something new every day." Slockett's opponent, LaVerne Larson, received 15,138 votes. Larson said she is disappointed in not winning the election, but is proud of what her campaign accomplished. "I'm fine, life goes on," she said. "I hope this has drawn attention to county government.

People do need to know what's going on. If I didn't accomplish anything else, I think I helped put the emphasis on the county government." Slockett had a busy night Tuesday as he monitored national, state and local election results, and kept an eye on his own race. "I'm going to work until after midnight, go home, and get a good night's sleep," he said after the results were in. "I don't get much sleep on election night. It's usually my busiest night." When asked how much longer he plans to stay in his position, Slockett said it's up to the people.

"I'll probably hang around as long as the people want me." On Tuesday, Slockett was elected county auditor for another four years. Slockett, who received 31,432 votes, has been auditor for the past 15 years. Slockett said his victory was based on his commitment to the people of Johnson County. "Well, I don't think I am a rubber stamp," Slockett said. "The people want a thinker, someone who gives the best advice for saving money for the county.

Someone who belives in open government. I am an advocate for open government, and open communication." As county auditor Slockett has a number of duties ranging from encouraging residents of Johnson County to vote, to keeping the minutes of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors meetings. Slockett said he is excited about another chance to work in the How Johnson County voted PRESIDENT SENATE U.S. REP SUPERVISORS AUDITOR ft 2 -XT Jj" JO Qj q. Ay cp cq Iowa City 1 342 4951 718 407 I 762 697 708 I 596 I 255 694 I 392 Iowa City 2 254 427 107 261 492 226 509 397 442 368 157 408 247 Iowa City 3 252 "484 196 276 568 295 526 428 379 387 1GT "419" 294 Iowa City 4 371 737 187 595 648 728 736 676 250 735 435 Iowa City 5 253 558 140 349 498 431 466 406 145 453 282 Iowa City 6 353" 627 139 400 642 360" 666 515 466 489 183 569 353 Iowa City 7 95 252 46 1 78 60 2U "194" 236 "180 8T 229 TT6 Iowa City 8 264 434 142 303 498 234 43T 49T -400" 164 446 296 Iowa City 9 533 824 260 567 998 452 1M 93T 998 B04 326 304 566 Iowa City 10 170 357 106 268 342 37T 368 340 14X 405 "176 Iowa City 11 357 861 210 565 776 514 "795 690" 736" 64T 804" 376 Iowa City 12 344 607 247 767 378 772 733 74T 65T 28T 76T 367 Iowa City 13 272 489 193 307 612 309 620 588577 481 219 580 317 Iowa City 14 210 516 147 348 480 298 548 55T 58T 509 6bT 223 Iowa City 15 286 485 171 311 593 248 65f 6oT 58T 542" 226 0W 27 A Iowa City 16 266 439 152 291 533 228 604 565 533" 499 217 54T 288 Iowa City 17 189 610 153 436 476 335 575 "615" 66T "616" 216" 693 227 Iowa City 18 127 643 92 495 335 358 459 534 559 59T 15T 633 167 Iowa City 19 221 639 108 451 454 385 484 530 5T5493" 153 615 212 Iowa City 20 180 568 73 412 367 350 421 427 498 443 128 530 185 Iowa City 21 147 723 113 557 375 465 464 580 585 59418T 693 202 Iowa City 22 273 758 195 580 562 438 719 722 727 629 229 779 333 Iowa City 23 442 808 183 547 841 339 IjOlT 963 937 847 30T 94T 422 Iowa City 24 307 711 146 508 607 347 760 715 733 656 234 757 347 Iowa City 25 406 738 194 452 832 309 966 913 875 749 320 836 427 Coralville 1 362 767 247 477 833 433 851 814 840 744 272 880 382 Coralville 2 416 590 205 363 810 311 850 704 732 591 266 702 417 Coralville 3 114 305 150 184 340 234 307 309 353 249 119 354 174 Coralville 4 509 821 289 489 1,041 464 1,043 925 936 787 365 934 526 Big Grove 361 556 384 325 906 375 881 925 759 716 323 854 384 Cedar 36 138 53 71 UT 90" "l29 173" 132 71 156" 62 Clear Creek 95 132 81 75 218 74 213 210 184 148 85 193 94 Fremont 182 340 133 152 480 194 445 467 409 354 188 436 196 Graham 43 113 74 72 154 70 163 176 160 132 73 165 65 Hardin 57 107 55 47 158 60 146 148 115 38 59 144 61 Jefferson 449 548 372 348 941 450 855 743 824 593 372 767 499 Liberty 103 280 126 155 336 161 334 361 361 307 138 353 133 Lincoln 31 50 25 19 88 24 82 89 65 48 38 70 36 Madison 66 76 49 47 141 42 145 119 122 85 58 116 75 Monroe 60 103 80 62 168 79 146 146 159 110 75 156 70 Newport 254 349 165 205 526 167 578 535 474 436 209 473 260 North Liberty 367 616 323 378 616 397 860 772 797 654 316 834 416 Oxford 187 287 204 170 482 195 457 484 405 346 185 493 162 "pirm 374 550 244 364 764 260 859 727 698 582 280 672 430 Pleasant Valley 65 136 83 85 "187" 94 "786 205 178 151 "fa 195 85 Scott 200 349 197 214 498 225 485 508 479 417 203 478 240 Sharon 102 1 94 56 50 195 52 193 154 J50 M1 77 I52 92 Union 81 159 56 94 186 81 205 231 197 164 77 207 77 University HekjhtT 152 305 64 215 286 113 383 308 326 283 108 310 175 Washington 144 89 1 54 SO 230 61 205 151 135 121 85 142 118 WestLucas 79 17? 80 128 182 1 1 9 203 200 232 I66 81 240 81 Absentees Ul70 5,412 853 4,199 4,128 3254 Sffsl Sff5 522 5,184 43)1 5j052j04 nr is topped out.

Voters passed a 2 percent increase in die tax Tuesday, raising it from 5 percent to 7 percent. State law says that the motelhotel tax cannot be higher than 7 percent. But the increase will bring in more money to both cities. In Iowa City, the measure passed with 50.5 percent voting "yes" on the measure. "I'm pleasantly surprised," Iowa City Manager Steve Atkins said.

"There was no formal program to sell it." There also was no formal opposition, he said. In Coralville, the measure passed with 53 percent of the voters saying "yes" to the increase in room tax. Last year, Iowa City took in $328,152 from the room tax. That figure is estimated to increase to $448,000 with the new tax. "With additional revenue, we can devote money to help support public safety, parkland acquisition and have extra money to promote tourism," Atkins said.

Now, 25 percent of the money from the tax in Iowa City is given to the Iowa City-Coralville Convention and Visitors Bureau. The increase in funds for the bureau will be used to increase advertising and add personnel, Wendy Roe, director of the bureau, said. The bureau operates now with three full-time employees and University of Iowa interns who get college credit. Roe said she is not sure how many people may be hired because she does not know what the total increase in her budget will be. Coralville has not committed money to the bureau but the City Council will consider it, Coralville City Administrator Kelly 7 3 county turnout sets voting record Hay worth said.

The city took in $460,000 last year from the room tax and it is estimated to increase to $600,000 next year. Roe said there will be a concerted effort by the hospitality "I think people are becoming more and more interested in politics, concerned with health matters, taxes, and concerned wilh government," Bill Kelly, a precinct worker said. Slockett said the competition involved also played a key factor. "I think we have a strong set of Democratic candidates," Slockett said. "I think the Republican candidates were strong enough to scare Democrats into voting." But the turnout is not the only record set in Johnson County this election year.

The auditor's office received 9,265 requests to vote early, and 93 percent were returned to the auditor's office. Voter registration also was at an all-time high in Johnson County. An estimated 71,612 people registered this year, which tops the 1988 total of 67,817. By Darain Metz The Press-Citizen There were many choices Tuesday, and a record number of voters turned out to make their decisions. According to the Johnson County Auditor's Office, 52,440 county residents went to the polls on election day, or 73.23 percent.

It is estimated that 14,569 people voted before noon Tuesday, exceeding the record of 13,848 for the same time frame set in 1984. County Auditor Tom Slockett said the issues are what brought people out. "I think they're coming out to vote because of concern about the economy and support for the ERA," Slockett said. "The people I've talked to say it's the main concern for this year's election. Precinct workers agreed.

industry to get additional funds for the bureau. The money, she said, will be reinvested to attract visitors to the area. The bureau will increase marketing efforts directed at meeting and convention planners and tour prouo operators, she said "It takes a lot of advertising Hnllare and time awav from the nffire she said. "I'm greatly relieved that both cities voted the same way cities voted the same way. Shearer loses Statehouse seat, other area incumbents win I District 50 voting Precinct Big Grove 1 721 84 451 Cedar 133 13 75 Clear Creek 154 18 113 Graham 140 11 76 Jefferson 522 327 472 Madison 79 13 99 Monroe 87 64 83 Oxford 346 45 251 Absentees 220 27 162 Linn Co.

5.1X 936 3P5B TOTAL Cy, V0TES 88 District 47 voting District 49 voting Precinct Precinct Fremont 358 1 267 Coralville 1 1816 67 Jt20 libTrW Coralville 2 6iq38507 Lincoln 46" 4T Coralville 3 310 43 J84 Pleasant Valley is79T Coralville 4 84g72S90 Absentees jjL lowaCity4 68756438 Muscatine Co. 1,865 3J0p. 'owaCity6 53154380 Louisa Co. Z585 2,182 Iowa City 21 641 80 J94 TOTAL 1 Iowa City 22 68686363 VOTES too Newport 41632287 North Liberty 635 83 567 Penn 581 50 490 I Absentees 152 106 784 By Stacy Swadish The Press-Citizen Four of five incumbent Democratic legislators representing Johnson County defeated their opponents Tuesday to win a repeat term in the state House of Representatives. Winning repeat terms were Reps.

Minnette Doderer, Mary Neuhauser, Robert Dvorsky and David Osterberg. Incumbent Democrat Mark Shearer, a newspaper editor from Columbus Junction, lost to political newcomer Barry Brauns, a Republican. Brauns, of Cone-sville, captured 5,906 votes or 51 percent to Shearer's 5,767 votes or 49 percent. Brauns and Shearer were battling over the newly created 47th House district, which stretches from Hills to Lone Tree in John--son County and includes the western half of Muscatine County and all of Louisa County. Four of Johnson County's 51 precincts -I 1 1 slictnft District 45 voting District 46 voting Precinct Prec.nct Iowa City 1 I 663 I 506" Iowa City 7 252 109 Iowa City 2 350 370 Iowa City 8 476 283 Iowa City 3 401 391 Iowa City 9 523 Iowa City 5 436 374 Iowa City 10 397 183.

Iowa City 11 752 531 Iowa City 12 713 412 Iowa City 16 413 431 Iowa City 13 580 337 Iowa City 19 559 322 Iowa City 14 558 281 Iowa City 20 522 264 Iowa City 15 584 313 Iowa City 23 69806 Iowa City 17 682 224 Iowa City 24 616 534 Iowa City 18 65 157 Iowa City 25 582 727 Hardin 130 66 University Heights 270 242 Scott 9 266 Absentees 1J3B6 960 Sharon 22 122 toTaI oo oo 221 VOTES to I Washington 109 146 W. Lucas 218 100 Absentees 1,848 700 TOTAL to TOTAL VOTES If! picked up 767 votes for 5.3 percent. "I want to commend both candidates for running a very positive, issues-oriented campaign," Dvorsky said Tuesday VOTES said people voted for her based on oo" her past pertormance as a legislator. Doderer, who serves as chairwoman of the small business and an adjunct professor and researcher in the geography department at the University of Iowa, another term in the State-house representing the 50th House district. Osterberg, of Mount Vernon, received 7,532 votes or 54 percent.

Lynn Schulte, a Republican and self-employed computer consultant, got 4.840 votes or 35 percent. He also lives in Mount Vernon. Journalist John Hed-gecoth, of Cedar Rapids, ran as an independent. He got 1,538 votes or 1 1 percent. The 50th House district includes eight precincts in Solon, Oxford and northern Johnson County.

The remainder of the district is in southern Linn County. lating his personal beliefs. "Being pro-life worked against me, but it also gave me a core group of supporters." Streb was also opposed to the Equal Rights Amendment. Rep. Mary Neuhauser tied ith Auditor Tom Slockett for the largest winning margins of the county races.

Neuhauser captured 8.936 votes or 67.3 percent of the vote. Her opponent. Republican newcomer Cindy Phillips, an assistant librarian at the University of Iowa, got 4,301 votes or 32.4 percent. Phillips could not be reached for comment. Rural Johnson County gave incumbent Rep.

David Osterberg, night trom tne towa lyieuiuna. Union, where local Democrats gathered to watch results. Dvorsky, a job developer for the Sixth Judicial District Department of Correctional Services, will return to Des Moines for his fourth term. "We need to hold tight to the budget agreement," he said. Streb.

meeting with supporters at the Johnson County Republican headquarters, said he failed to attract more than the Republican and conservative independent votes in the county. "I learned a lot. It's a Democratic year if you look at the country as a whole." Streb said he couldn change his basic platforms without vio- voted in tne iu nuu The 45th House district race between Doderer and 21 -year-old Republican challenger Marc Lib-ants was closer than expected. Doderer received 7,958 votes or i 55 4 percent of the vote; Libants got 6,358 votes or 44.3 percent, i "I had to work Doderer said, shortly after the final returns came in at the Johnson County I Administration Building. Im satisfied with the percentage.

I have a district that's 50 percent new But Doderer blasted Libants for distorting her record as a legisla- think he sent out so much propaganda people starting disregarding it." he said. Doderer organized. But clearly we had a message that sells." Libants said he is unsure if he will run again. Another race pitted Dvorsky. an incumbent from Coralville, against political newcomers Michael Streb, a Republican, and independent Dave Johnson.

Dvorsky won with 8,287 votes or 58 percent. Streb, a construction estimator from North Liberty, got 5.204 votes or 36.4 percent of the vote. Independent Dave Johnson, from Iowa City, economic development committee, said she will continue to work for a balanced state budget. Libants. a WSUI radio announcer and University of Iowa student, said that if he had six more months to campaign, he would have won.

"I've been campaigning for five months. Minette has been running for 30 years." Libants said Republican candidates in Johnson County have to work against a strong Democratic organization. "We were out-.