The letter arrived in the home mailbox of Lt. Gov. and State Democratic Chairwoman Sally Pederson. "Ms. Pederson," it read, "I would be deeply honored, and most grateful, if you would join me in this, the biggest political challenge of my life, by becoming a founding member of my campaign for Governor." It went on: "The liberals who dominate the Iowa Democratic Party don't want to see me elected." And then came the clincher: "But to win this race, I need you by my side. So please tell me you're with me." It was signed: "Sincerely yours, Jim Nussle." A Cityview source, who told us recently that Nussle is flirting with the idea of eventually having Libby Jacobs as his candidate for lieutenant governor, told us it's unlikely Pederson will sign on with Nussle. However, this individual did tell us that it's likely the congressman will cull through his mailing list.

We reported last week that we had been told that a group had completed some polling for Iowa Department of Economic Development head Michael Blouin regarding his possible run for Iowa governor (he'll announce July 6 or 7, we're told), and that the numbers "weren't good for anyone" but that we'd have to wait to actually see them. Well, the individual who told us that wasn't lying. With 500 Democrats polled, Secretary of State Chet Culver has a substantial lead in the name recognition category with 25 percent. Next is Rep. Ed Fallon with 8 percent. Then it's Blouin with 6 percent. And last is Sen. Mike Gronstal with 4 percent. Still, none of these numbers is good, although, as a Blouin supporter put it, while comparing Don Avenson's battle against Tom Miller, "You can buy name recognition." The good news for Blouin, according to the survey, was that 70 percent of those polled would support a pro-life Democrat if he were "strong on other issues."

Polk County Supervisor Chief of Staff Michael Freilinger was due to receive a $15,000 raise and a 5 percent cost-of-living increase (a total bump up of some $20,000 above his current $90,000 annual salary) last week, but a few Polk County elected officials who haven't been "compensated as generously" heard it was going to be put on the agenda and screamed bloody murder to the supervisors. Why? Well, first there's the alleged lack of fairness regarding the boost. Second, raises for top-level officials are supposed to come in quarter one, not in quarter four when Freilinger was slated to receive his. And third, just two weeks ago Cityview received an anonymous note and printed an item in this column regarding Freilinger's girlfriend, Theresa Hughes, receiving a 23 percent raise and a promotion after only being on the job in Polk County Recorder Tim Brien's office for six weeks. Freilinger, we've heard, will have to wait another week or so before cashing in.

However, Freilinger's bump in pay shouldn't upset the rest of the staff in the board of supervisors' office, as each and every one of them is getting a raise, as well, according to the June 21 supervisors agenda. Supervisor Tom Hockensmith has been telling everyone who will listen about a Polk County "wage freeze," but evidently the heat is on in his office, as Budget Officer Deborah Anderson is getting a $3,600 raise, Administrative Secretary Gail Boehler a $4,200 raise, Susan Elliott a $6,200 raise and Paulette Stodgel a $4,300 raise.

Now back to recorder Brien. Cityview received numerous calls from individuals working in Brien's office complaining that our publication had been "thrown away" when the accusations of cronyism against Brien were leveled. None of these individuals pointed the finger directly at the long-time recorder and we haven't asked to view security tapes, but Brien did tell us when being interviewed for the piece that he needed to make sure his mother didn't see it. No word yet on if she, too, is looking for a high-paying, entry-level job in her son's office.

City managers around the state and country are leery of jumping in the search process before a consultant is hired, a top-ranking Des Moines official has told us. "Best I can tell, all city managers have decided coddling these consultants is the only way to advance their career," this individual said. "So they don't want to be party to a search where a city basically says, 'We don't need a consultant.' Plus, all city managers who are currently employed need cover when looking at jobs. They have to say they were recruited, but their heart is still where they are in case it doesn't work out." This is all to say that a consultant will indeed be hired. Archie Brooks is against this, while we've been told that Chris Coleman, Bob Mahaffey and Mayor Frank Cownie are waiting to see how much a consultant might cost - and are going to limit the consultant dollars to around $25,000-35,000. These four are using internal support (HR manager, finance manager and others) to prepare for a search. Also, look for the city to use the "transition" time to give staff a chance to bring any skeletons out of the closest. The council asked Coleman to lead a committee to work with Assistant City Manager and soon-to-be Interim City Manager Rick Clark on his job description and key accountabilities for the coming months. This is code for: "Rick Clark has the integrity to talk straight with the council and he knows where the bodies are buried." Mahaffey and Michael Kiernan are on this committee with Coleman. The other three council members are going to sort through the different consultant proposals and recommend a plan of action for getting started, while Cownie will serve on both committees as a non-voting member.

The Des Moines School Board is "arrogantly moving forward" with its so-called plans to put a technical high school in Edmunds, we're told. Some speculate that Superintendent Eric Witherspoon has only thrown out the Edmunds idea as a smoke screen so the Pappajohn Learning Center can expand without resistance (earth adjacent to Pappajohn is currently being moved), and an ignored neighborhood can save face, but a few DMPS board members are pushing to make it happen. What is troubling, however, is that in order to retrofit the Edmunds site, which was built with elementary students in mind, it will cost tens of millions of dollars because, as we're told, "It's like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole." The Mace Rich Corporation, through intermediary John Mauro, has purportedly offered the Target building on Euclid to the district, while less expensive sites like the Roberts Dairy site and Top-Value Foods building have been explored, as well. "But this board isn't biting on any of those spots - even the free one," a top school source said. "They want to show the inner city they care by offering up the priciest deal. Have they missed their own meetings or what? They don't have any money."

In other school news, a few community leaders are suggesting that board member Ako Abdul Samad "walk away" from the mess the school leaders have created if he truly has future political aspirations (Ako is poised to run for the state legislature). "He's been pretty good lately about ducking out of the spotlight, but that isn't going to be enough," an elected official said. "He wants to be the leader of his community, and they need one more than ever. But he can't save this sinking ship. All he'll get, no matter what happens, is hate and discontent and be blamed for it. When it comes to shutting down schools, people want blood. He needs to resign, focus on his run for the house and put some distance between himself and this mess." From how we hear it, Ako's political fund-raiser at the Drake Diner this coming Sunday at 6 p.m. will be filled with activists hoping to bend his ear on more than just what he thinks about statehouse politics.

The Shops at Roosevelt tenants and surrounding neighbors are turning up their noses at a possible neighbor: Maid-Rite. But the space that once held the Drunken Goat could be delving out loose-meat sandwiches in the near future (unless a high-end gelato shop courtesy of Stam materializes), we've heard, which would make it the shopping center's first ever chain occupant. "We drove Taco John's out of here because it created the same type of riffraff that Maid-Rite will," a neighborhood leader said. "High schools kids hanging around during lunch and after school is just asking for problems." CV

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