Hunter
04/12/21
After appointing someone who requested that their name be taken out of consideration for the post, and another member resigning, the Iowa City City Council appointed two new members to the city’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
The commission had been suspended after a contentious few months. Their last meeting ended with chair Royceann Porter, Vice-Chair T’Shailyn Harrington, commissioner Anthony Curran and, eventually, commissioner Raneem Hamad resigning.
Last week, the Council unanimously selected Wangui Gathua, David Borger Germann, Chastity Dillard and Clinton Johnson to join the commission out of field of 27 applicants. Germann was appointed but due to what the city says is a software glitch, they were unaware that he had taken his name out of consideration for the position.
On Friday, Layana Navarre-Jackson tendered her resignation, citing her work schedule and family commitments. That left two vacancies.
Monday morning, the Council filled both vacancies, naming Christine Nobiss and Daphney Daniel to the Commission. Nobiss is the commission’s first Indigenous member.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission is now fully staffed, with Chair Mohammad Traore, Vice Chair Amel Ali, Eric Harris, Kevin John Rivera, and the five new members. They will be meeting in joint session with the City Council this Thursday.
