Editor’s note: Ward 3 in Cedar Falls is the only contested race in the Nov. 4 city election. The Cedar Falls News Hub is profiling the candidates in this race in a three-part series. Below is the second feature.
By Brody Lovell
A Cedar Falls resident and former banker is among the three candidates running for the Ward 3 seat on the City Council, the only contested race in the Nov. 4 city election.
Bob Manning, 74, a legislative coordinator for Eagle View Partners, a development and building company in town, has launched his first campaign for local office.
Vying for that seat are also Tom Nagle, 49, and incumbent Daryl Kruse, 66.
Manning has lived in Waterloo for 55 years and in Cedar Falls for 15.
Showing his sense of humor during an interview with the Cedar Falls News Hub, he quipped:
“I’m planning on living in Cedar Falls the same amount of time, another 40 years to go,” he said. “And I’m not gonna leave this party early.”
If elected, Manning said, he would put his substantial financial background, his experience in the construction industry and his understanding of local government in service to his community.
A graduate of Columbus High School, Manning earned a bachelor’s degree in finance, with a minor in economics, from Iowa State University.
During his career in banking, spanning over 30 years, he focused on construction loans at First Security State Bank and retired as a senior vice president in 2017.
He said that in the bank’s best year, they financed 27% of the construction in Black Hawk County, an accomplishment he proudly recalls. During this time, he also served on the board for the Cedar Valley Home Builders Association, and also as the organization’s executive director for the past nine years. For his contributions to the interests of area homebuilders and his work with the legislators, in 2021 he was inducted into the organization’s Hall of Fame.
As he campaigns for office, Manning keeps his focus on property tax management, bipartisan efforts and an overall sense of optimism he has for the community of Cedar Falls.
He said he plans to ensure that the library, which had previously depended on a 27-cent levy for its funding, along with other institutions, continues to serve the community with its programming and resources. In 2023, the Iowa Legislature did away with the 27-cent levy per $1,000 of assessed value, which funded libraries.
“Something’s going to have to give, whether it’s less time that the library’s open—and I hate to even say that—or other problems like that,” he said.
Manning is an outspoken supporter of Cedar Falls Mayor Danny Laudick’s work and leadership.
If elected, Manning would aim to “move past the noise and get things done,” as he opposes the contention he has seen on the council over the past few years.
“I just want to do things and get things done,” he said.
Manning has been knocking on doors in his ward since he announced his candidacy and intends to use the feedback he hears to calibrate his policy objectives. From what he has learned so far, some residents in his ward want modern recreation facilities, as this would add to the quality of life and help draw teams to town.
“Four different households told me, ‘We need better baseball facilities,'” he said, “They said the fields aren’t up to snuff, which is why tournaments aren’t coming here.”
Manning has since been in discussions with the president of the local youth baseball league to explore what needs to be done.
Regarding the structure of city government, which, in council discussions has included the hiring of a city administrator, Manning said he is waiting to hear from more residents before taking an official stance.
Having worked in banking for most of his career, Manning questions the automatic raises in government and the high administrative salaries.
“It blows my mind that we pay a quarter of a million dollars to a city administrator,” he said.
Manning maintains his general optimistic outlook of Cedar Falls and his gratitude for where the city is today.
In campaigning, he has enjoyed meeting the people in his ward and is inspired by the community. He looks to frame his candidacy as a continuation of that shared positivity about the city’s trajectory.
“If elected, I can get in there and get things done,” he said. “I’d like to think about where we can go rather than where we’ve been. I’m an optimistic person. I want to continue the good role that we’re in. I was pleasantly surprised how many people say they love Cedar Falls. That was music to my ears”