2008 Woodie Awards
The ups, downs, and the joys
Melanie Kucera - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 12/11/07 Section: Metro
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On a cold and snow-speckled Friday afternoon in Iowa City, outspoken City Councilor Dee Vanderhoef sat comfortably in her Iowa City home, sipping coffee and smiling while recollecting some ups, downs, and career plans.
An Iowa resident for more than 40 years and a member of the Iowa City City Council for 12 years, she says that after having three kids, working as a nurse, and traveling the United States with her husband, a U.S. Air Force pilot, the City Council was not on her to-do list.
"You got to be kidding me," Vanderhoef said in response to being asked to participate in the 1995 election. "It had not even crossed my mind."
She said the out-going mayor at the time, Susan Horowitz, had to persuade her to run - Horowitz, she added, was one of the most influential people thus far in her life.
( DITV video feature )
The city councilor learned fast that being well-educated about every issue and topic presented to her, or at least offering to learn, was a necessity. Vanderhoef confessed that she averaged roughly 40 hours a week reading packets in their entirety every week for every committee - something she called "unique" and not what the average member does.
"She takes her work very seriously and works very hard," City Councilor Regenia Bailey said.
Bailey specifically remembered Vanderhoef taking the time to help her understand issues she was not familiar with when she first joined the council.
Vanderhoef did not let being a conservative in a liberal city ever get to her.
"When you are the minority you just work with everybody," she said. "I don't care if you are Republican, Democrat, independent, or anything else; if we can work together to make it happen and provide the service and the amenities for our citizens, that is the whole."
An Iowa resident for more than 40 years and a member of the Iowa City City Council for 12 years, she says that after having three kids, working as a nurse, and traveling the United States with her husband, a U.S. Air Force pilot, the City Council was not on her to-do list.
"You got to be kidding me," Vanderhoef said in response to being asked to participate in the 1995 election. "It had not even crossed my mind."
She said the out-going mayor at the time, Susan Horowitz, had to persuade her to run - Horowitz, she added, was one of the most influential people thus far in her life.
( DITV video feature )
Video in QuickTime format, click here for free player download
The city councilor learned fast that being well-educated about every issue and topic presented to her, or at least offering to learn, was a necessity. Vanderhoef confessed that she averaged roughly 40 hours a week reading packets in their entirety every week for every committee - something she called "unique" and not what the average member does.
"She takes her work very seriously and works very hard," City Councilor Regenia Bailey said.
Bailey specifically remembered Vanderhoef taking the time to help her understand issues she was not familiar with when she first joined the council.
Vanderhoef did not let being a conservative in a liberal city ever get to her.
"When you are the minority you just work with everybody," she said. "I don't care if you are Republican, Democrat, independent, or anything else; if we can work together to make it happen and provide the service and the amenities for our citizens, that is the whole."
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