Small-town Pulitzer Prize winner snubbed by Republican-led Iowa Senate

Storm Lake Times Editor Art Cullen won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing, but his penchant for hard-nosed journalism hasn't helped him get any honors from the Iowa Senate.

Senate Resolution 108, which would recognize and congratulate Cullen for his Pulitzer-winning work, was filed about two months ago, but it's been stalled in the Senate Rules and Administration Committee ever since.

The Pulitzer Board had praised Cullen last year for “editorials fueled by tenacious reporting, impressive expertise and engaging writing that successfully challenged powerful corporate agricultural interests in Iowa.”

Cullen’s editorials focused on Iowa’s water quality, including the Des Moines Water Works’ lawsuit against drainage districts in northwest Iowa that was ultimately dismissed. He worked with the Iowa Freedom of Information Council to obtain public records disclosing how his home county and two others financed the defense of the lawsuit.

But his work also stirred controversy, offending local officials, farmers and advertisers — and lots of Republicans.

Sen. Mark Segebart, R-Vail, who represents the Storm Lake area, declined to specifically comment on why the resolution hasn’t advanced. But he chuckled when asked if a lack of Republican enthusiasm for Cullen had anything to do with the editor of the family-owned newspaper being critical of groups such as the Iowa Farm Bureau.

“Pretty much. He is critical of anything that Republicans do, starting with Donald Trump and (U.S. Rep.) Steve King. So, yes, he is not one of our favorite newspapermen," Segebart said. "But I get along with him fine. He treats me fine and I know him well. We don’t always see eye to eye.”

Cullen burst out laughing when informed about the stalled status of the resolution to honor him.

“Excellent. That is so fantastic. That is so juvenile. That is tremendous,” Cullen said. “I just think it is so petty. I mean, they honor people for winning the street cleaner of the year award. The Pulitzer is just newspaper people patting themselves on the back. But if they don’t want to honor me, that’s OK.”

Sen. Liz Mathis, D-Cedar Rapids, a former television journalist, and Sen. David Johnson, an independent from Ocheyedan and a former print journalist, co-sponsored the resolution when it was filed Feb. 14 and was referred to the Senate committee.

But no action has been taken on it since then and it appears the session could end soon without it receiving approval.

In contrast, the Iowa Senate approved resolutions Wednesday honoring University of Iowa NCAA wrestling champion Spencer Lee and the Graceland University NAIA national championship basketball team. Both resolutions were introduced about two weeks ago.

A resolution honoring astronaut Peggy Whitson, who grew up near Beaconsfield, was approved Thursday, one day after it was filed.

Other Senate resolutions have been approved this session recognizing Iowa's ties with Taiwan, recognizing the life and work of musician and radio broadcaster Bob Dorr, and on other topics.

However, some other resolutions have not advanced, including one seeking an interim committee to study the state of education in the arts in Iowa, and another recognizing the 50th anniversary of municipal home rule in Iowa.

Mathis expressed disappointment the resolution honoring Cullen hasn’t been approved, especially considering that the Pulitzer is the highest award in journalism.

“To think that someone from a small-town Iowa newspaper received the Pulitzer is outstanding," she said. "I really don’t understand why it is being blocked by Republicans.”

Johnson, who owned the West Branch Times from 1983 to 1993, said that if Gov. Kim Reynolds can sign a proclamation recognizing Cemetery Appreciation Month, as she did Wednesday, he doesn’t see why a resolution honoring Cullen can’t be approved by the Iowa Senate.

Mathis approached Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, R-Ankeny, on the Senate floor Wednesday and showed him a copy of the resolution honoring Cullen and asked him to consider it.

Whitver, who became Senate majority leader in mid-March after former Sen. Bill Dix abruptly resigned, told the Des Moines Register he wasn’t aware of the resolution and promised to take a look at it.

Segebart said Cullen has a habit of saying things about local farmers and people that are “really out of place.”

“Most small towns are supportive of their community and Art doesn’t go that way hardly any of the time," Segebart remarked.

He added that Cullen would "probably overwhelmingly get a thistle from everybody in Buena Vista County who is a Republican,” a reference to the Des Moines Register’s “thistle” awards for those who irk the publication's editorial writers.

Cullen said he recognizes that he has stirred controversy in the Storm Lake area and he is not surprised some Republicans might not admire him. But he said he loves Rep. Dan Huseman, a Republican from Aurelia, and he thinks Segebart is a nice guy.

“All this is going to do is get my name in the Register, and then I am going to write a column about it,” Cullen joked.