A new committee, 21 Makes Sense, which plans to educate people with a pro-21 agenda, includes UI Provost Wallace Loh, Tom Rocklin, the interim UI vice president for Student Services, and head football coach Kirk Ferentz.
The coalition filed paperwork two days ago at the Iowa Ethics Office to be recognized as an official campaign committee.
Initial heads of the group include Mayor Matt Hayek and Rep. Vicki Lensing, D-Iowa City. Also involved are former Iowa City Mayors John Balmer and Ernie Lehman, and City Councilors Connie Champion and Susan Mims.
According to Iowa law and the Iowa Ethics Campaign Disclosure Board, UI officials cannot use their money or resources to advocate an outcome of a ballot issue. However, there is a way for university officials to get involved as private citizens.
Charlie Smithson, the executive director of the ethics board, said that as long as school officials don’t use government property such as phones, computers, or fax machines for involvement purposes, then they aren’t breaking any rules.
“This question comes up a lot because people want to get involved but don’t know what they’re allowed to do, and the answer is [all involvement] needs to all be on their own time,” Smithson said.
UI spokesman Tom Moore said in addition to being UI officials, they are also private citizens with their own values.
“As long as they are not using UI resources or time then it’s them involved as private citizens and not as UI officials,” Moore said.
But officials can’t change their the way their name is recognized by the public, said Tom Lenoch, the general manager at One-Eyed Jakes — whose name has been changed to J-Bar — 18-20 S. Clinton St., who works closely with the 21-ordinance opposition group Yes to Entertaining Students Safely.
“What bothers me is that they aren’t being recognized as private citizens, they’re being recognized as UI officials,” he said. “It might affect our direct strategy, because people will listen to their recognizable names, but it won’t affect the way we are going about things and our strong strategies.”
21 Makes Sense isn’t backing down, either.
Hayek said one main reason he became involved in forming the group was because he believes it is important to educate the public.
“Officials are free to advocate for issues,” he said. “Once [the 21-ordinance] becomes a ballot issue and the implications involved with being a UI official kick into gear, we will continue to work together on it.”
The 21-ordinance will likely become a ballot issue once the City Council next discusses it at its July 12 meeting.
Nick Westergaard, the campaign manager for 21 Makes Sense, said after talking with Hayek he immediately knew he wanted to be a part of the group.
“It’s much more organized now than in 2007,” Westergaard said. “What’s different is the full support of the university behind the movement.”
He also stressed that people need to remember reasons the ordinance is in place, such as public health, public safety, and a reduction in underage binge drinking.
“We are going to participate in traditional campaigning,” Westergaard said. “We will put up yard signs that will get out the vote in an educational manner.”
Some of the implications that will be stressed during the campaign are that [the ordinance] doesn’t take place until after 10 p.m., and it only affects establishments that don’t get 50 percent or more in revenue from nonalcohol sales.
21 Makes Sense will hold a news conference at noon July 7 in the Iowa City Public Library Meeting Room A, 123 S. Linn St.