Monica Vernon

Monica Vernon
City Council, Mayor Pro Tempore
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 2008
Personal details
Born Monica Wolf
October 19, 1957
Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Cheyenne, Wyoming
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Bill Vernon (1984–present)
Children Natalie
Frances
Eleanor
Alma mater University of Iowa

Monica Vernon (born October 19, 1957) is a member of the Cedar Rapids City Council and is the Mayor Pro Tempore of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Vernon was elected to the Cedar Rapids City Council in 2007 to serve District 2. Vernon's first year on the Council was during the Iowa flood of 2008 and she has been instrumental in the recovery and rebirth of the Cedar Rapids area after the flooding. She is the past Chair of the Metropolitan Planning Organization and currently serves as the Chair of the Council's Economic/Development Committee.[1] Six years in a row she was selected by her peers to serve as Mayor Pro Tempore.

Early life and education

Monica was born on the Francis E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming to Dr. David and Carol Zeman Wolf. She is the oldest of five children and was raised in Cedar Rapids.

Vernon attended the University of Iowa and received her B.A. in Journalism with a Business Emphasis in 1980. After college, she worked in public relations relations at Dickinson State University and Mount Mercy University, as well as a reporter for The Gazette (Cedar Rapids) before starting as a Market Research Consultant at Frank N. Magid Associates. In 1987, Vernon founded the Vernon Research Group, a market research firm that served business and industry, government, education, healthcare, and non-profits.[2] Vernon was President and CEO of the company until it was purchased in 2013 by The Gazette Co.[3]

Career

Vernon served as the Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce Board Chair, the Metropolitan Planning Commission Board Chair and Member, and the Cedar Rapids City Planning Commission Vice Chair and Chair. She also served as the President of the Junior League of Cedar Rapids and helped raise $1.7 million to build the Madge Phillips Center for homeless women and children.[4]

Vernon received her M.B.A. from the Tippie College of Business at The University of Iowa in 1999. She worked as an adjunct professor for six years at the Tippie College of Business and the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center where she created the entrepreneurial marketing segment for the Entrepreneurial Management Certificate.[5]

City Council tenure

In 2007, Vernon was elected to represent Cedar Rapid's 2nd district on the City Council. Vernon immediately began fighting for smart infrastructure investments to improve community needs in Cedar Rapids. A more open, more green, and more art-filled community was what Vernon envisioned for Cedar Rapids. She pushed for a strong and usable trail system in and around Cedar Rapids that would be logically integrated into the region; with the help of Federal funding many trail projects that had been talked about became a reality under Vernon's guidance. Vernon was a leader in the charge to create a more walkable community, pushing for the New Bo City Market and for the new downtown location of the library.[6] She secured more funding for streets and drove the new design, as well implementing many green changes in development ordinances. In 2013, Vernon was awarded the Advocate Award from Trees Forever as an elected official who exemplified the organization's mission “to plant and care for trees and the environment by empowering people, building community, and promoting stewardship.”[7]

2008 flood and reconstruction

Cedar Rapids was one of the areas most impacted by the Iowa flood of 2008. About 10 square miles of the downtown area were underwater including over 5,000 homes and almost 1,000 business. Only 6 months into her first year on City Council, Vernon was instrumental in driving the recovery of Cedar Rapids in the wake of the disaster. Vernon helped coordinate the recovery work with federal, state and local agencies, local not-for-profits, neighborhood organizations, local labor unions and area businesses. She ensured that the total damages of the flood were known and counted, and then lead the charge in the creation of a post-flood redevelopment map to help plan Cedar Rapid's recovery.[8]

Vernon helped save numerous historical commercial buildings and residences, while pushing for the restoration and rebuilding of several communities including Ellis, Kingston Village, and New Bo. She was a strong advocate for the New Bo City Market and helped push the plan along to make the market a reality.[9] Vernon supported the efforts to bring new affordable housing to Cedar Rapids - Jack Hatch, who would later tap Vernon to be his running mate, was one of the first developers to come in and propose affordable housing projects.[10] Vernon has been credited by State Senator Rob Hogg as a "driving force" on the City Council during the aftermath of the flood.[11] Vernon has presented to the Army Corp of Engineers on flood protection, and spearheaded flood recovery programs that are utilized across the country now.[12]

2014 Elections

Vernon announced she was running for Congress in Iowa's 1st congressional district in the fall of 2013.[13] She came in second in the five way primary for the seat vacated by Bruce Braley.

In June 2014, Vernon joined the Democratic ticket as Jack Hatch's running mate in the Iowa gubernatorial election, 2014.[14] Hatch and Vernon ran against Republican incumbent Terry Branstad.

2016 Election

On January 15, 2015 Monica Vernon announced her bid for Iowa's 1st congressional district against incumbent Rod Blum for the 2016 election cycle.[15]

Personal life

Vernon married her husband Bill Vernon in 1984. The couple has three adult daughters - Frances, Natalie, and Eleanor.

References