The vote is in: Nick Taiber, 2,470 / 65% and Gary Winterhof, 1348 / 35%. Thank you Cedar Falls voters!! I am eager to start my service, to represent and to lead. Cedar Falls is a great place to live today. With citizen input, staff expertise, and council guidance, Cedar Falls can be the Midwest mecca to live, work, and play. Read the Waterloo Courier Article, 2Dec2009.

I promise to be independent, objective, and inclusive. I will question the status quo, listen, gather facts, and apply sound judgment. With other council members, we will usher in progressive leadership, always mindful of quality of life and fiscal responsibility. Cedar Falls is a city of opportunity - opportunity for better infrastructure investment though complete streets, opportunity in Northern Cedar Falls for sound redevelopment, opportunity for economic growth by leveraging our great assets from CFU to the Industrial Park(s), opportunity for urban redevelopment and infill, opportunity for more collaborative UNI-City relationships. Opportunity.

Thanks again Cedar Falls. I will be redeveloping this site to be a resource to Cedar Falls, to continue our legacy of engagement and open communication.

Throughout his life, Nick has sought to be involved and he measures his involvement by accomplishment. Ask Nick about his business development experience, the dozens of foreign countries in which he's worked, the mergers and acquisitions conducted under his guidance, the experience of doubling the size of a local and multi-national business. Nick's involved by choice, not convenience. Here's a sample:

• Campus Planning Committee, University of Iowa, 1997-1998
• President, Institute of Industrial Engineers, 1998-1999
• Advertising Manager, Hawkeye Engineer, 1998-1999
• Board Member, Keystone Neighborhood, 2001-2004
• Commissioner, Rock Island Preservation Commission, 2003-2004
• Board Member/Webmaster, KeyStone Neighborhood Association, 2003-2004
• Task Force Member, Rock Island Parkway & Bicycle, 2004
• Graduate, Rock Island Community Leadership College, 2002 & 2003
• Rock Island Volunteer/Activism Award Recipient, 2002
• Task Force Member, Cedar Falls Beautification, 2005
• Active member, Overman Park Neighborhood Association, 2005-present
• Active member, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 2005-present
• Active member, Cedar Valley Young Professionals, 2009-present
• Board Member, Self-Help International, 2009-present
• Taiber Campaign director of marketing, literature (fliers, postcards), technology (web developer, communication manager), strategy, yard signs

Cedar Falls is a great place to live, and keeping it great requires initiative, fresh thinking, and a willingness to listen to ideas from everyone. I will bring unique perspective, bountiful energy, and careful leadership to the Cedar Falls City Council.

When Molly and I chose to return to the Cedar Valley, we surveyed all cities in the area to determine the best fit for the needs of our family. Cedar Falls stood out for its Quality of Life - schools, recreation, culture, low taxes, beauty, faith options, and city services. Clearly, Cedar Falls is a reflection of community values, citizen commitment, and excellent leadership.

There are great opportunities for our city. While everyone's vision for Quality of Life is different and its direct measure subjective, stable or increasing property values reflect robust demand - more is right than wrong and Quality of Life must be good.  It is the duty of elected officials to listen and lead, to implement policy and actions, to respect rights of citizens and property, to serve Quality of Life. 

But there are many needs competing for a scarce resource to improve our Quality of Life - the tax dollar.  I will strive to lower our taxes, to be the city's best steward of city revenues, and to use resources and assets in a manner of greatest return to the citizens of Cedar Falls.