City council appoints Grant Harper to at-large seat
by Robyn Ireland [email protected] · May 28th, 2020


Grant Harper took the oath of office for the at-large council seat Thursday, May 21, in the Marion City Hall Council Chambers. The vacancy was left by the death of councilman Paul Draper, 85, in February of this year. The city council initially had planned to make an appointment back on March 26, but due to the coronavirus, was granted an extension by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds.

Harper will fill the seat until municipal elections in November 2021, in which he plans to run for the seat again. The city council decided to appoint someone to fill the seat versus a special election which would have cost between $17,000 and $30,000. Harper ran against Draper in the November election last year.

Six candidates interviewed for the position. Each was allowed five to 10 minutes to speak in front of the council, and then were asked the same set of questions by the city clerk Rachel Bolander. The council also had a chance to ask follow up questions if they chose. After the interviews were completed, two votes were taken. Harper won the second round vote, 4-2. Colette Atkins, Will Brandt, Rene Gadelha, and Randy Strnad supported Harper. Mayor Nick AbouAssaly and Steve Jensen voted for Dale Monroe.

Harper's professional background includes directorships and program management in several areas at Pearson Education in Iowa City; management positions and directorships at Alliant Energy, including as Emergency Planner at Duane Arnold Energy Center, and teaching high school science at Linn-Mar.

Discussing the major issues facing the council in the next couple of years, Harper highlighted concerns over both the on-going recovery from the pandemic and the proposal the Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency is bringing to the Marion City Council in June.

"I have concerns about that because of the (potential) water quality impact and maintaining a balance between growth and development versus improvements to existing infrastructure," Harper said. "I think it's a difficult balance."

When asked what he likes most about Marion, Harper said, "My wife and I both grew up in suburban Minneapolis. We love the small town feel here, but also the amenities."

Marion council members receive an annual stipend of $5,018 for serving.