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Candidate Sal Mohamed spends day stumping on corner

By Hieu Pham
Iowa City Press-Citizen
Posted on Tuesday May 23, 2006

Democratic candidate for governor Sal Mohamed of Sioux City stands Monday at the corner of Riverside Drive and Grand Avenue waving to motorists. Press-Citizen / Jason A. Cook

During an era of million-dollar campaigns, Iowa Democratic gubernatorial candidate Sal Mohamed is hopeful that a simpler, hands-on approach will distinguish him from his challengers.

Mohamed, who has raised $6,000 for his campaign, spent an entire day at the corner of Grand Avenue and Riverside Drive on Monday talking to passersby and waving to motorists.

“This is the most effective way to get direct contact with the people. ... Politicians don’t have to raise a lot of money to get into office,” said Mohamed, who held a 3-by-5-foot sign, a small American flag and an umbrella in case it rained.

Although Mohamed’s campaign funding is paltry compared to his challengers in the June 6 Democratic primary, the Sioux City resident said he remains undeterred. Currently, Iowa Secretary of State Chet Culver leads in campaign funding with nearly $2 million, while former state economic director Mike Blouin has raised about $1.3 million. Ed Fallon, a state representative from Des Moines, follows with nearly $500,000.

This is Mohamed’s second venture into politics. Two years ago, he ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for Congress in the 5th District. Still, Mohamed said he does not consider himself an underdog.

“I am not intimated. I am the candidate who represents the people,” he said.

Mohamed, an engineering manager at Diosynth Inc., a Chicago pharmaceutical company, said he remains confident about his science-based plan to invigorate the state’s economy and improve education.

His plan is based on a “management system” that includes a designated steering committee assigned to oversee collaborations between different governmental agencies, schools and industries. Mohamed, who holds degrees in chemical and bioengineering, said applying scientific principles to create a systematic approach toward economic development would guarantee positive results.

According to the 2000 U.S. Census, Iowa ranked 32nd in the nation with a $19,674 per capita income, a rate Mohamed said his management system would help raise. In addition, Mohamed said he planned to make reforms to the country’s immigration policy.

“Immigration is a two-way street,” said Mohamed, who emigrated from Egypt in 1977 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1983. “It contributes to the advancement of our society, (and) it has negative points. However, we can’t ignore the positives.”

Helen Tokou , a University of Iowa graduate student who was on her way to class before stopping to speak to Mohamed, said she appreciated his unique campaign tactic.

“Usually (candidates) have big events that are very organized. This shows that you don’t need to have a nice place or a lot of money,” she said.

Although still undecided, Tokou said she liked Mohamed’s pro-choice stance and support of gay marriage.

The primary victor meets Republican Congressman Jim Nussle in the Nov. 7 general election.