Jim Larew is an Iowa City man through and through.

He was born at University Hospitals in 1954, and since then has lived in four houses on the same Iowa City street. He met his future wife, Mary, while a student at Central Junior High, and raised two children in Iowa City. Sixteen years ago, Larew - a graduate of Harvard University and the University of Iowa Law School - founded Larew Law Office, where he practices on Bloomington Street.

So it comes as no surprise that Larew is passionate about the community and the people who make Iowa City the unique place that it is.

"Iowa City's people are unmatched, person to person, by those living in any other city I know of," he said. "A simple walk through the

neighborhood or a few moments spent on a street corner downtown brings one into contact with the most amazing people from all walks of life."

Last year, Larew channeled his passion and vision for the community into his role as campaign chairman of Citizens for Public Power, a volunteer group that worked toward public ownership of Iowa City's electric utility.

"The issue of how citizens are to secure reasonably priced energy, generated at the lowest possible cost and in environmentally responsible ways, is one of the most critical matters facing our community and our nation," Larew said. "For many communities, public ownership of utilities is the most practical way of achieving these ends - and it is an option that Citizens for Public Power wanted to bring to the attention of Iowa City residents."

Though the public power proposal ultimately was defeated by voters, Larew said Citizens for Public Power succeeded in bringing the issue to the forefront of community debate.

"Sometimes good causes do not succeed - at first," he said. "Thousands of citizens who never before even considered the possibility of public ownership of our electric utility have now begun to do so."

Through his professional and volunteer work, Larew has helped spearhead a number of progressive causes in Iowa City. Larew Law Office devotes much of its practice to employment law, civil rights law and railroad law, and is dedicated to pro-bono work for civic groups and indigent citizens.

Larew cites the growing gap between the haves and have-nots and the issues that spring forth from that disparity - affordable housing, public transportation and quality education - as the overarching challenge the community faces today.

Larew says the key to Iowa City retaining and building upon its unique identity is for people to look out for one another, while at the same time respecting and embracing their differences.

"I think we do best, as citizens, when we give our friends and

neighbors as much elbow room as possible, encourage their interests, and minimize our efforts trying to direct others how to live their lives," he said.

- Josh O'Leary