City of Cedar Falls
Winter 2016 Volume 26 No. 3
Our citizens are our business
Farewell To Our Leader Jon Crews is retiring after 30 years as Mayor of Cedar Falls. He has presided over 900 council meetings and led the charge on dozens of incentives that have shaped this community into the great place to call home. Under Jon’s leadership, Cedar Falls has expanded its citizen-owned utility offering high speed communications, internet, cable and now phone service. He led the call for a one cent sales tax in lieu of property tax assessments. Cedar Falls touts a new library, community center, aquatic center, dynamic recreation center, new beach house, enviable trail system, reshaped downtown retail destination, preserved community hospital, numerous state and national awards and recognition. These are just a few of the accomplishments achieved under Jon’s leadership. Ralph Waldo Emerson said of success, “...to earn the appreciation of honest critics... to find the best in others... to leave the world a bit better... to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” Jon Crews, thank you for your legacy service and success.
Mayor Jon Crews Served from 1972-2015
New Faces for the City of Cedar Falls The November election resulted in two new faces for the City of Cedar Falls. Jim Brown was elected as the City’s new Mayor. Jim lives in Cedar Falls with his wife Corrine and his two teenage daughters, Sylvia and Annie. Jim graduated from the University of Northern Iowa and works as a business development manager out of his home. Jim is not new to local government. He has served on the Cedar Falls School Board for the past six years and plans on resigning that position now that he has been elected Mayor. Jim is very interested in economic development in the City and feels his business development background will benefit the residents of Cedar Falls.
Tom Blanford was elected to the Fourth Ward position. Tom is a life-long resident of Cedar Falls and graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in political science. Tom works in commercial and consumer lending for NXT Bank in downtown Cedar Falls. He feels this strong financial background will help him in his new role as a city council member. Tom is passionate about service to his community and has been involved in several local boards and service clubs. Prior to being elected to the City Council, Tom did serve on the City’s Human Rights Commission for two years.