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Health & Fitness

John Zimmerman Runs for Johnson Cty. Attorney Against Janet Lyness

John Zimmerman is running for Johnson County Attorney against Janet Lyness in the Democratic primary five months from now. Zimmerman is a University of Iowa Law School alumnus who worked with domestic violence victims at the Legal Clinic while in law school. He hosted a meet-and-greet at the Iowa City Public Library Wed., 1/8/14, at 12:30 p.m. in Room A.  He is a former Mennonite pastor who was called to the legal profession by the prosecutorial incompetence and racial bias he sees in Johnson County court rooms.

Under current Johnson County Attorney Janet Lyness, Zimmerman alleged, "everything the police bring to her is prosecuted. I will change that."

He intends to screen incriminating evidence, if any, and also screen for racial profiling. He also opposes the setting of cash bond for nonviolent misdemeanors.

"The rich can bond out. The poor can not. Eliminating cash bonds for nonviolent misdemeanors will reduce the jail population of those who've been charged but not convicted."

He will stop prosecuting victimless crimes like marijuana for personal use and victimless public intoxication. He made a point of saying, however, that if crimes are committed while someone is under the influence, they will be prosecuted.

He also plans to favor alternative forms of punishment to jail: substance abuse treatment, for example, will free up resources like overly full jails.

On the other hand, he would step up prosecution of acquaintance rapes and wage theft. He pointed out that he chose to work with domestic abuse victims at the law school's Legal Clinic and helped victims get the protection and restraining orders they needed to be safe.

There are only five months remaining till the Democratic primary.

A phone bank outreach for volunteers will be held from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Iowa City Public Library, Room A, where the meet-and-greet was held today. 

John Zimmerman is currently accepting donations to his campaign. You can donate to 

Zimmerman for County Attorney
P.O. Box 3481
Iowa City, IA 52244

or donate online at

jz4justice.org

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