According to a report in the July 11 Muscatine Journal, the Muscatine city council voted 5-2 to defund Mayor Diana Broderson’s mask mandate. Broderson had announced the requirement to wear face coverings in public in Muscatine July 5.
Both Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Attorney General’s office said they did not believe Broderson had the authority to make the proclamation.
Despite the opinions of the state Attorney General, governor, and that of the Muscatine County Attorney, Broderson said the proclamation would stand. She posted the following to her Facebook page July 7:
Regarding the governor’s statements this morning about the proclamation, it stands as written. Enforcement is the issue and we are working on that, nevertheless; it’s the right thing to do. Some say this is political, but I can assure you, for me it absolutely is not. It is me doing my job as your mayor. Some may say it’s over-reaching and I promise you that I will err on the side of over-reaching any day instead of under reaching in doing every possible thing I can to protect the people and economy in Muscatine.
Yes, I could take the easy way and say, oh well the AG gave an opinion saying cities can’t decide on this and let it go. But, in light of public health reports and increases in cases in our area, I asked our city attorney. He gave an opinion based on the Iowa Constitution that it was within my authority, so I tried. I stand by it and I haven’t given up. I will do my job as Mayor no matter how hard it is or how popular or unpopular it is. My conscience is clear that I am moving every rock to serve Muscatine and I won’t apologize for it.
I struggle to see the downside of mandating social distancing and face covering requirements when there is an upside to even possibly protecting the health of people and our economy. Should I really not even try to fight for Muscatine? I would be ashamed as a mayor if I just took that easy route. I urge the governor of Iowa, other mayors, and county supervisors to over-reach and stretch to move every rock in protecting the health of your constituents and economic base by mandating social distancing and face covering requirements.
