It’s a loaded field contending for three spots on the Coralville City Council.
Eight candidates are seeking the city’s three open seats, including two incumbents. The Press-Citizen sent questionnaires to each of the candidates about their priorities ahead of Election Day on Nov. 4.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. Early voting began Oct. 15 and lasts through Nov. 3.
Candidate Derick Schroeder did not respond to the questionnaire before an Oct. 16 deadline. Candidates appear in alphabetical order by last name. Answers have been edited for length, clarity and style.
Who are the candidates?
Katie Freeman
Age: 44
Grew up in: Iowa
Occupation: Animal caretaker
Education: Masters of Fine Art in 3D design from the University of Iowa
Prior political experience: I have not held any political office before.
Deborah Gill
Age: 77
Grew up in: Southeast Iowa City, Iowa
Occupation: Retired financial analyst for University of Iowa Treasury Operations
Education: B.B.A., University of Iowa
Prior political experience: This is my first time running for an elected office.
Kathy Hotsenpiller
Age: 52
Grew up in: Stow, Ohio
Occupation: Optometrist
Education: Doctor of Optometry, Illinois College of Optometry
Prior political experience: None.
Mike Knudson (incumbent)
Age: 64
Grew up in: Marcus, Iowa
Occupation: Pathologist
Education: M.D., Ph.D. from the University of Iowa
Prior political experience: Four years on Coralville City Council. Served on multiple boards and commissions before that.
Hai Huynh (incumbent)
Age: 48
Grew up in: Nha Trang, Vietnam
Occupation: Associate director at the Coralville Community Food Pantry
Education: I earned a BA in Economics from the University of Iowa
Prior political experience: This is my fifth year serving on the Coralville City Council.
R. Marshall Pope
Age: 63
Grew up in: Dallas, Texas
Occupation: I’m trained as an analytical chemist and have run research facilities in academia, biotech and startups.
Education: Ph.D., University of Arizona
Prior political experience: I have not been a candidate for elected office before.
Derick Shroeder
Shroeder did not respond to the questionnaire before publishing. He is a Realtor at Lepic-Kroeger, the Iowa City-based realty company. He formerly worked at ACT, Inc. and studied sports science at the UI, according to his Facebook page.
Jennifer Struthers
Age: 50
Grew up in: Iowa City’s west side
Occupation: Retired attorney
Education: Went to high school at Iowa City West High, University of Iowa earned a B.B.A. in Marketing and Finance and an M.B.A. and law degree also from the University of Iowa.
Prior political experience: None
In your view, what is the top issue facing Coralville over the next four years? If elected, how will you work to address it?
Katie Freeman: I believe access to basic necessities will be the biggest challenge facing Coralville over the next four years — particularly affordable housing, food security, and access to safe health care.
If elected, I will work to strengthen partnerships with local nonprofits and community organizations to expand housing options for low- and no-income residents. I also want to collaborate with neighboring cities to improve access to health services, building on successful models like the IMOM event. To address food scarcity, I will explore partnerships with local CSAs and residents to create a front yard garden initiative that encourages sustainable, community-based food production. Together, these efforts can help ensure every Coralville resident has access to the essentials needed to not only survive, but to thrive.
Deborah Gill: Immediately passing the Local Option Sales Tax is a priority, since that will determine the budget, and create a long-term funding stream. The tax will fund the construction of a new recreation center, completing upgrades on the youth sports complex, and free up funds to pay down the debt. The city’s services are fantastic and the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) brings in events that generate millions of dollars in spending in the community. I want to continue to support the city and the CVB. The Local Option Sales Tax will continue to generate increased funds as we attract more visitors. Coralville is a shopping hub and UI Health Care is a medical destination for all of southeastern Iowa. The amenities of our community welcome these visitors.
Kathy Hotsenpiller: Housing is affordable when the household spends 30% or less of their monthly income on their rent or mortgage payment, insurance, and utilities. When more than 30% of income is spent on housing costs, less money is left for groceries, health care, and other necessities. As rent and the cost of homes continue to rise, incomes are staying the same. We need to both increase the supply of affordable housing, as well as support rehabilitation projects to improve rental properties. The Gather Iowa project will include apartments, of which 34 units have been set aside for affordability. While the specifics are still being finalized, I will advocate for this.
Mike Knudson: Budget pressures from the state will make it challenging to maintain services and balance the budget.
Hai Huynh: The top issue facing Coralville over the next four years is how to continue providing excellent services to residents while avoiding job cuts to city staff — even as funding sources shrink. It’s important to me that we balance fiscal responsibility with protecting the people and services that make Coralville such a great place to live. If re-elected, I’ll continue working closely with fellow councilors, the mayor, and city staff to identify core needs and seek additional funding through grants and partnerships. I’ll also support creative cost-saving ideas that don’t involve cutting staff, because doing so would directly affect the quality of life in our community. I believe we can find smart, sustainable solutions to keep Coralville thriving — by putting people and essential services first.
R. Marshall Pope: What begins as bad habits are the surest follies that return to roost. For example, a Fiscal 2024 external audit by BerganKDV highlighted a potential for lapses in internal controls. Specifically, the report stated, “We recommend that the City finance staff work with the City Clerk to develop procedures to ensure that interfund transfers that are not budgeted are properly approved by a City Council resolution prior to the transfer being made.”
So, it should not have taken a private citizen’s Freedom of Information request to uncover a newly signed contract in the Fiscal 2026 budget between Coralville and Flock. If elected, I will push to implement direct updates for city council from Stage-Gated project management initiatives. This will reduce mission creep and budget deficits.
Jennifer Struthers: For any growing city, the top issue is creating balance in all areas. For example, we need to be pro-development without unnecessarily disrupting neighborhoods or being financially irresponsible. We need to provide a safe environment without over-intruding on people’s rights. To achieve this balance, it is imperative that we really listen to residents, businesses, and surrounding communities, while at the same time objectively focusing on the details. Projections of cost, usage, and benefits to the city must be critically examined for every project.
What are two or three other issues, outside of your top priorities, that you hope to address if elected?
Katie Freeman: Protecting targeted communities: I will advocate for our immigrant, Black, brown, and LGBTQIA+ neighbors. I oppose ICE’s racial profiling tactics and support community education around knowing our rights, bearing witness, and peaceful protest. I will stand with my neighbors to ensure Coralville remains a safe, welcoming community for all.
Advancing equity for LGBTQIA+ residents: As a member of this community, I am committed to restoring rights stripped away at the state and federal levels. I will work to reduce and eliminate harm by challenging policies and systems that perpetuate inequity and by fostering inclusive, affirming local practices.
Deborah Gill: With the continued growth of communities to our north and west, I would like to see how we can ease traffic issues around Coralville and keep traffic out of Coralville’s residential neighborhoods. I would like to see additional upgrades in old town Coralville, such as street upgrades, additional lighting, additional parking at the Old Town Hall, and the Old School House so the buildings could be utilized more for community meetings more effectively. Since I live in old town Coralville with many mature trees, I would like to investigate having a leaf vacuuming program. I think it’s important to address Coralville’s traffic flow because as the area continues to grow the traffic will continue to increase. We need to divert traffic from our residential neighborhoods and create more arterials.
Kathy Hotsenpiller: I would like to form a collaboration between the Coralville Police Department, community members, and nonprofit organizations. My goals would be to build trust with the public and examine systemic issues that can influence interactions with law enforcement.
Coralville’s water quality is a common concern I hear from residents. Minerals in the water cause the water to be hard, which leaves deposits on water faucets, sinks, and shower heads. Water softeners can help remove these minerals, but the soft water can damage hot water heaters. In the most recent budget, the water rate increased to finance future water system improvements. Although it is likely to be expensive, I think coming up with a solution to fix the water quality would benefit all residents.
Mike Knudson: Complete the Gather Iowa Project; replace the recreation center. Advance sustainability efforts within the city.
Hai Huynh: Upgrading the recreation center: Our current facility is over 50 years old, outdated, overused, and costly to maintain. A new rec center will better serve all ages with features like an indoor walking track, fitness areas, community rooms, and two natatoriums, creating a more inclusive, accessible, and sustainable space for everyone in Coralville.
Advocate for more affordable housing: Housing is a basic need, and no one should have to spend more than half of their income just to have a safe place to live. I’ll continue to advocate for mixed-use developments and partnerships with developers to create housing units where rent or mortgage costs are no more than 30% area median income (AMI) — truly affordable and community-focused.
R. Marshall Pope: Like most, I’m concerned about careers lost and investments squandered with unnecessary economic uncertainty. A good deal of this is outside local control, but the impacts are easily felt. I believe assisted access to education and training is a preliminary step to recovery that can be fostered locally. I would endorse an all-of-the-above approach to improve navigation of Pell Grants, transit system availability and digital infrastructure and training in middle and high school.
Jennifer Struthers: My first priority is to continue a forward-thinking approach when it comes to the development of the city. Although I believe that we need to focus on the continued economic development of the city, we also need to continue efforts on things that help improve residents’ quality of life such as bike trails, public spaces, support of the library, and a friendly atmosphere. These goals need to be addressed while we continue to work to improve the city’s bond rating and making fiscally sound decisions.
Second, I would like to continue to support the schools. Through my involvement with the Iowa City Community School District, I have seen how supportive Coralville is to the local schools in the area. I would continue advocating for a strong partnership with the ICCSD to provide the best educational experience possible for our students.
Third, as the area is growing, I would like to continue working sensibly with the surrounding communities to help all areas thrive.
Coralville has hundreds of millions of dollars in debt. How do you balance funding the current and near-future needs of the city without substantially adding to the city’s debt?
Katie Freeman: To responsibly manage Coralville’s debt, we must start by understanding the true needs of our residents. I believe in proactively engaging with people from all walks of life to identify priorities that reflect the community’s values. Once we clearly define those needs, we can align the city’s budget accordingly — making thoughtful, transparent decisions about which projects to advance, pause, or rethink. By focusing on community-driven priorities and fiscal accountability, we can meet current and future needs without substantially increasing the city’s debt.
Deborah Gill: Funding the capital projects the city wants can be achieved by using funds generated by the Local Option Sales Tax, which will avoid property tax increases and free up money for additional projects as they arise. The tax can also be used to pay down the current debt. For the last 30 years, Coralville has thrived and worked hard to keep the property tax rates from increasing. However, as property values continue to increase property assessments have increased. Coralville has been very frugal in their spending, balancing investment against the return it will provide.
Kathy Hotsenpiller: Coralville has aggressively invested in economic growth in both Iowa River Landing and the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts. These projects were made possible by tax increment financing (TIF.) While I appreciate the improvements and enjoy shopping and dining in these areas, the high risk, high reward strategy for economic development makes some people nervous. We have a high long-term liability burden due to this debt. I would like to learn more about the strategy to repay this debt and attempt to pay more toward the principal balance with this TIF revenue.
Mike Knudson: Supporting our local option sales tax proposal, which will help us.
Hai Huynh: Balancing Coralville’s needs without adding too much debt means being smart about how we fund projects — using a mix of thoughtful planning and community-driven funding. The proposed local option sales tax is a great example — it supports key capital projects like the recreation center and affordable housing while also providing property tax relief, as mandated by the state. Aligning new investments with clearly designated repayment sources, like sales tax revenue, helps limit additional debt. Transparent budgeting, community input, and strategic use of outside funding like grants or partnerships will be essential to responsibly meeting both current and future needs.
R. Marshall Pope: The city will enter (by sales or property tax) into a debt to finance a needed update of the public recreation center. Unfortunately, the city’s current debt will have a positive (not a good thing) impact on the loan rate. If elected, I would strongly focus on project gate reports that are accessible to the city council. These tools encourage public input and clarify real priorities with regularly scheduled meetings and workshops.
Jennifer Struthers: The goal is not to put a cap on debt but to ensure that debt can be repaid in a timely manner. We should borrow money for essential infrastructure and projects for which there is a clear benefit to the city and a clear path for repayment.
Currently, 55% of the city’s debt is tied to the Arena, Hyatt hotel, and Iowa River Landing. It seems unlikely that projects of this magnitude will be coming up in the near future, but if they do, it is important to understand how the debt will be repaid and if general city funds will be needed for repayment. This must be balanced with the overall benefit of the project.
Future borrowing must also take into consideration the effect it might have on the city’s bond rating. Progress on the bond rating has been made in the past few years and we must be diligent about continuing to improve it.
What personal qualities or past experience do you think make you a good fit for the city council?
Katie Freeman: I’ve spent years learning how to gather information, define impact, and ask the right questions to improve systems and reduce harm. My work has always centered on collaborating with those most affected by decisions and ensuring their voices shape the solutions. Through social justice and community work, I’ve focused on amplifying voices that have too often been left out of the conversation. If elected, I will bring this same approach to city leadership — listening first, creating space for all perspectives, and making decisions that reflect the needs and priorities of the whole community.
Deborah Gill: I feel it’s important to be an active part of the community you live and work in. I worked in treasury operations at the University of Iowa, providing banking, cash management, and investment services. Coralville is a thriving community and I want to be part of helping the city continue to excel. I have lived in Coralville since 1978. While our daughters and granddaughters attended Coralville Central Elementary, I was an active volunteer in the classroom and with the PTO. I chaired a playground landscaping committee at the school, obtaining matching grant funds through Project Green.
I have been a longtime member of the Friends of the Coralville Library (Friends)and chairperson of the Friends bookstalls for the past 15 years. The Friends Group supports the Library’s programs and reading programs at local elementary and middle schools.
Kathy Hotsenpiller: I welcome communication from residents. Residents often have no idea what happens at city council meetings unless an issue comes up that affects them directly. I truly enjoy talking with people and working to help them solve their problems and concerns. I feel like I can really make a difference in city government. As a candidate, I have interacted with several residents who have contacted me about issues and have tried my best to help them get answers. I personally prefer in-person conversations with people. I enjoy getting their perspective on certain issues and try to understand where they are coming from.
Mike Knudson: Experienced with data-driven decision-making and willing to ask staff difficult questions when needed.
Hai Huynh: I try to lead with transparency, accountability, humility, and a deep commitment to showing up and doing the work. I listen with an open mind and aim to make decisions that lead to real, positive change in our community. My work at the food pantry and my time as a paraeducator in ICCSD have given me a close-up view of the everyday challenges our neighbors face. As an immigrant, my lived experience also shapes how I show up in this work — with empathy, determination, and a commitment to making sure everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.
R. Marshall Pope: I have an outsider’s experience that was shaped by scientific attention to detail. I’m an analytical biochemist used to supporting (pre- &) clinical trials by providing speedy turnaround with accurate measurements. Small details that change in a (data sets as large as a proteome or) a city budget do get my attention. I’m persistent, I honor commitments, and I’ll work hard to help my adopted city of the last 16 years.
Jennifer Struthers: I believe my education and background in business and law put me in an excellent position to address issues facing the City of Coralville. I have also spent a lot of time in the Coralville community. I have been extremely involved in the schools and other community groups such as the Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts. I moved to Coralville in 2007, but grew up on the west side of Iowa City and have seen the evolution of Coralville over the last 50 years. I am proud of the city’s growth and forward-thinking development. Lastly, I believe myself to be open-minded and enjoy hearing all points of view. I welcome calls and meetings, as I believe listening to differing opinions are necessary to have great results.
What else should people know about you?
Katie Freeman: When I’m not working to make Coralville a better place, you’ll likely find me outdoors — hiking with friends, family, and my dog, enjoying nature’s calm and beauty. I also value community time, connecting with neighbors and sharing experiences that bring people together. When the energy exists, I enjoy designing and making furniture, lighting, art, and more — mainly from wood in my home garage, where I even have a CNC. Creating and building, whether in nature or in the workshop, keeps me inspired and grounded.
Deborah Gill: I enjoy volunteering and the varied people I meet, gardening, bicycling, and cross-country skiing. I value family time with my husband and our extended family. I enjoy supporting women’s athletics and watching women’s basketball and wrestling. I love Monica’s restaurant, and their oven-baked ziti with a Caesar salad.
Kathy Hotsenpiller: I have served on my church’s Racial and Social Justice teams, organized voter registration events, and spoken up at city council meetings about issues that affected marginalized members of our community. I really want to bring people together. Instead of allowing differences in ideology or political views to divide us, we need to embrace our diversity and focus on our shared interests.
Mike Knudson: Passionate about sustainability and frequently bike to work. Also not afraid to stop by a brewery during my rides and enjoy local craft beer.
Hai Huynh: If you know me, you know I’m endlessly curious — a true Jill-of-all-trades. I love learning new things, sharing good food (especially when I’ve cooked it), and spending time in nature. Whether I’m hiking, foraging, biking our trails, pressing flowers, or paddleboarding under the sun, being outdoors gives me peace and perspective. I find joy in the little things — campfires, hammocks, a well-loved garden — and those moments help me recharge. They also remind me why I care so deeply about community: because everyone deserves a place where they feel grounded, connected, and at home.
R. Marshall Pope: My wife and I have lived in Coralville for the past 16 years, and our two sons graduated from West High School (after homeschooling in CA) and are now entering careers in computer science. Gardening (or planning in winter) is our constant source of exercise and entertainment.
Jennifer Struthers: I consider myself an outgoing person who loves meeting other people. I am very social and love to talk and listen to others. I am very passionate, pretty tenacious, and love a challenge to get a project done. I have time to devote to this office and want people to feel they can reach out at any time to express concerns, ask questions, etc. I care deeply about the schools and our community, and I am willing to put in the work for any worthwhile project.
(This story has been updated to add new information.)
Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at rhansen@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ryanhansen01.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: We asked Coralville City Council candidates about their priorities. Here’s what they said:
Reporting by Ryan Hansen, Iowa City Press-Citizen / Iowa City Press-Citizen
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