By Brody Lovell
Businessman Tom Nagle, 49, has entered the race for Ward 3 in Cedar Falls. This is his first bid for local office.
In this three-way race, the only contested one on the Cedar Falls Nov. 4 ballot, incumbent Daryl Kruse and newcomer Bob Manning, are also running.
A Waterloo native and a graduate of Columbus High School, Nagle has lived in Cedar Falls for 15 years. He holds a Ph.D. in structural engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a master’s degree in the same subject, which he earned in 2007, and in 2003, respectively. In 1998, he graduated from the University of Iowa with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering.
After working in Peoria, Illinois, for Caterpillar and then at Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, an engineering firm headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois, Nagle returned to Cedar Falls in 2010 to take up the role of operations director at his parents’ company, Nagle Signs.
Cedar Falls has been his home since.
Nagle said he decided to run for office after encouragement from friends.
“The more I thought about it, the more I thought I could be good at it,” he said.
Nagle said his advanced education in engineering and his subsequent career in business have equipped him with the skills and the experience to help the community, if elected.
“It was a better fit than I thought it would be, from the standpoint that I really enjoy interacting with people, and our community is a big part of that,” Nagle said. “I think it’s also another opportunity for me to learn, as that’s something I enjoy doing.”
Nagle has been involved in multiple community organizations, including serving as an ambassador at Grow Cedar Valley, the non-profit organization promoting and advocating for local businesses; and on the board of MercyOne Cedar Falls Foundation, where he was also a former president. For 15 years, he has volunteered on the Cedar Falls Community Main Street’s Design Committee and helped with staple downtown events like Holiday Hoopla.
As a candidate, Nagle has three main priorities: quality of life, responsible use of resources and engagement with citizens.
“I think quality of life is huge, access to trails and recreational (services) as well as town festivals, such as the District Street Party last weekend, those types of opportunities are important and help attract new people to the community,” he said.
Nagle is a big advocate of outdoor activities, using the city’s trails and recreation services for running and cycling with his family.
The responsible use of resources, he added, help small businesses thrive, among other things.
“It’s really important for us to be transparent about what we’re doing,” Nagle said.
He emphasized the timeliness of civic engagement as a driver for decision making.
“Too often, citizens only get involved when something’s almost too far down the path,” he said. “I want to encourage input on the front end so we can head in the direction most people want before it becomes a problem.”
Nagle said he would be available to his constituents, if elected.
Asked about the council’s work over the past few years, he said he believes city development has gone well, citing the “thriving” industrial park and the revitalization of the University Avenue corridor.
However, he noted that there are sites, such as the College Square Mall, that he wants to help re-envision, as well as help identify and develop potential spaces for new businesses.
Nagle underscored the importance of the city working with the University of Northern Iowa on collaborative development projects.
“Having lived in Iowa City and Champaign-Urbana, the college town stuff is huge,” he said. “It requires the city to maybe be more flexible with what people want to see there. What’s really needed is a fresh look at what the students want, what the people who live in the neighborhood want, and what the university feels they need to grow their enrollment.”
On recent topics buzzing around Cedar Falls, including the hiring of a city manager and making the mayor’s job a part-time commitment, Nagle said he does not hold a strong opinion but is open to the possibility.
“We need a city administrator or manager in some fashion,” he said. “With the mayor on a two-year term, a manager could provide consistency and handle a lot of moving parts.”
However, Nagle acknowledged the “double-edged sword” in that scenario.
“If you give the mayor part-time wages, you’re probably going to get part-time effort,” he said. “I’m not opposed to a part-time mayor, but it would need active discussions with citizens.”
Asked why constituents should vote for him, Nagle emphasized being a people person and having a business background.
“I’m open-minded, a good listener, and I enjoy interacting with the community,” he said. “My engineering and business experience help me turn citizen input into action.”
Nagle said he would be going door to door to talk to residents and find out firsthand what they want from the person who represents them on the council.
“I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. It’s in my best interest to make this place the best place I can to live,” he said.