Three Black mayors and dozens of Black candidates running in city, school races in Iowa

Black Iowa News talked to Al Womble, president of the Iowa Democratic Black Caucus, about the large number of Black candidates running for political office this fall. This list contains a link to candidates' Facebook pages and photos. If you are a candidate who is running for office and your name is missing from this list, or if you know of a candidate who is missing from this list, please email the information to dana@blackiowanews.com. *This list was updated on 10/27/21.

A striking number of Black Iowans are running for mayor and seats on city councils and school boards this fall. Moreover, they are running amid contentious debates over face mask mandates, equity, critical race theory, policing and other hot button issues.

“Local control is really what affects your life more than anything else,” said Al Womble, chair of the Iowa Democratic Black Caucus. “The mayor, city council and school board are going to affect your lives far more than the President will because that affects the laws and the policies (in) your very own town and city.” At least three Black mayors, Quentin Hart in Waterloo, Bruce Teague in Iowa City and Joseph May in Estherville, are up for reelection. “The only way that we ever get realistic changes that are going to be positive for our community is by people actually voting themselves and making sure their friends and neighbors vote,” Womble said. “If you really want Black representation, you’ve got to fight for it.”

He also urged more Blacks to consider running for office. “We can't just keep sitting back hoping there's going to be an answer that comes from somewhere,” he said. “Sometimes we've got to say dammit, you’re the answer, or I am the answer.”Low voter turnout is a problem for city and school elections, Womble said. He has traveled across the state this year registering people to vote in Waterloo, Davenport, Iowa City, Ames, Ft. Dodge, Sioux City, Cedar Rapids and Keokuk. He visited some cities multiple times and frequently heard apathetic comments. People told him they don’t vote because nothing ever changes, he said. “Nothing ever will change if you don't vote,” Womble said. “I can't express myself enough on how important that is.”

According to a June 2020 Pew Research Center survey, 40% of Black adults said working to get more Black people elected to office would be an effective tactic in working toward equality. Black Iowans face greater poverty, unemployment and lack of access to health care compared to other communities, he said. “If you want those better jobs, better access to health care, better pay, if you want to really make criminal justice reform a reality, then you've got to have the leaders in office who are willing to pull the trigger on those kinds of things,” he said. “It’s got to be us. It’s got to be all of us.”The regular city/school election will be held on Nov. 2. For more information, visit the Iowa Secretary of State. The following list contains the names of Black Iowans who are running in city and school board races and a link to their Facebook page and/or election website. The list is grouped by city.

Ames

Ames City Council at large

Awein Majak