Former Secretary of State Pate, thinks victory in Cedar Rapids is great

A former Iowa Secretary of State is the new mayor of Cedar Rapids. 43-year-old Paul Pate defeated three-term incumbent Lee Clancey by a ten percent margin. Pate, also a former state senator, says he’ll focus on the city’s job situation, as Cedar Rapids has had many recent layoffs. 52-year-old Clancey was elected to her first two-year term in 1995 and was the first woman to ever hold the post. A near record 46-percent of voters turned out in Cedar Rapids. Clancey was disappointed by her loss, saying she felt she’s done some really good things over the last six years.Clancy had angered fellow republicans with her endorsement of Al Gore for President last year. She also drew criticism for her support of a gay rights ordinance for Cedar Rapids. Elsewhere, incumbent mayors won their races Tuesday in Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Dubuque and Council Bluffs.