Mayoral Race – Election Discussion

I started off with the mayoral race in the primaries and am ending there for the election.  I think Walnut will approve  

Bill Gluba

Gluba’s issues are to End the Bickering, Economic Growth, Infrastructure Needs, Public Safety, Gaming Industry in Davenport, and Improving our Neighborhoods.  Bill’s current job is as a real estate agent.  He has had some success in politics in the past and is familiar with the political environment.

Strengths – Bill’s past political experience tells me he is likely to know what is expected of him, of how to reach a cooperative agreement and of how to conduct himself.  Two important attributes for a  mayor.  The current mayor has dealt with many tie votes and has consistently sided with one side.  Wouldn’t it have been better to try to reach a consensus?

Weaknesses - He is a realtor.  With all of the conspiracy theories of corruption with city deals and real esate/development, unless he is able to stay at arms length I could see some conflicts of interest arising.  And he really didn’t need to bring up Phil’s firing from the DPD at the last debate, although with as low as Phil’s supporters have gone, reaching as far as Bill’s sons myspace page, at least Phil’s firing could be relevant.

Phil Yerington

Phil’s issues are Strengthen Public Safety, Citizen Input on Spending, Stop TIF’s for Development, Accurate Home Assesments, Rein in the City Administrator, Lead the Search for New Jobs, etc.  There is more, you can go to his web page for more information. 

Strengths – Phil isn’t afraid to take the tough and unpopular view on issues.  He knows the issues in the police department andhas experience as mayor.

Weaknesses – Phil has a tumultuous past with the city.  From taking on the nation pushing us for a flood wall to being fired from the DPD for faxgate (which was, actually, quite ridiculous).   But all of his past seems to add up to a prediction of 2 more years of circus like antics at city hall.   He has NOT helped this by taking contributions from the landlords.  In fact, besides his family, he hasn’t had much financial support besides the landlords.

Summary

I was really disappointed to see Phil take from a group with such a negative history in our city politics.  And the actions of Phil’s supporters have lived up to expectations.  I like Phil, but I think voters will be afraid he will contribute to the circus atmosphere downtown and people have expressed they are sick of the landlords campaigning in our city.  Add to that Bill received 45% of the vote in the primary, I think it’s easy to say Bill is the winner.  I’ll point out I was wrong about Phil in the primary though.  He beat out Jamie Howard in spite of my prediction.  **shrug** – you can’t win them all! 

At-Large Race – Election Discussion

Ian Frink

Of course, we start with the incumbent.  Ian Frink has represented us as alderman at-large for the past two years.  Ian’s issues are City Services, Davenport Infrastructure, Public/Private Partnership, Low Taxes & Fees, Communication & Efficiency, and Solid & Professional Representation.  He has a few more, go to his website for the whole list.

Strengths- In his time on council he has been one of the most pro-active members of the council and has also managed to get along fairly well with all members, even those whose views he tends to disagree with.  He seems to understand the neighborhoods SOLO need revitalizing and is willing to look for different ways to bolster them. 

Weaknesses - I don’t recall him ever taking a tough stance on crime and I think the entire council could have done more to make the police chief concentrate efforts better.

Jennifer Olsen

Jennifer Olsen is a familiar name around town for those who follow politics.  She has been a strong neighborhood advocate for years.  Jenn’s issues are Common Sense Approach to Policy, Basic Services, Adopting and Enforcing Policy that Works, Restoring Trust in Staff and Allowing Staff to do thier Jobs, Working Together, and Community Input.

Strengths – Jenn seems to also have a strong understanding of what the neighborhoods of our city need.  She has accurately predicted the failure of past policies and, unlike others, has put out suggestions for improvements.  And, unlike Ian, Jenn actually lives in one of the areas of town which has experienced the trouble from bad landlords, crime, and lack of investment.  She knows what hurdles to overcome.  Jenn seems to have a good, common sense approach to issues.

Weaknesses – Jenn’s advocacy for neighborhoods in the past has won her some enemies in those who have nothing to gain by changing their ways.  I look to her, and any other neighborhood advocate, to be the target of negative campaigning.  What I wrote for the primary is in italics.  Hmmmm, can I call it or what!  What I didn’t predict however, is how irrelevant the items they came up with for their last minute mailer would be.  Her weakness turns to a positive as it has inspired many to vote when they otherwise wouldn’t have cared.

Gene Meeker

Gene Meeker at one point worked with D-One.  He has put together a website since the primary.  His issues page is just a regurgitation of his QCTimes Q&A.

Strengths – Gene has worked with D-One and likely has powerful allies.  He doesn’t support the casino moving into the Rivercenter.  He seems to have a very rosy view of Davenport.

Weaknesses – He seems to be out of touch with Davenport today.  He leads his website with his D-One experience in spite of a large number of people feeling D-One has not been doing their job effectively or listening to citizens.  He thinks we have been successful at providing amenities and basic services in Davenport.  While I appreciate his positive view, we can’t begin to fix problems if we intentionally overlook them.  I would realy like to know more about these neighborhood revitalization projects he says he’s worked on. 

Tina Gillispie-Clawson

Tina says her issues are crime, housing and infrastructure.  She has chosen to not have a website this time around but does have an e-mail address. 

Strengths -  Her QCTimes Q&A shows at least a superficial understanding of some of the problems facing Davenport, including the west side sewer tunnel, crime and housing.

Weaknesses – Tina’s lack of a website along with voter’s inability to recognise her name will weigh her down in spite of whether her ideas were viable or not.  I have, to this point, not received any mailers from Tina, and have not visited with her.  I do know she’s held some meet the candidate events (I didn’t get around to those as I would have liked to). 

I predict the winners will be Ian Frink and Jenn Olsen.  Jenn garnered the most votes for at-large in the primary.  Ian was almost tied with her. And I do think they’d make a good balanced pair.

The First Ward – Election Discussion

Sorry I didn’t get this out last night like I wanted.  Here you go.

 The first ward has, to put it lightly, had some difficulties in the past 2 years. With an alderman in jail, facing a harassment lawsuit, with a restraining order – this ward needs some class in its representation. There are needs in the first which have not been addressed.

Nathan Brown

Nathan Brown Issues are Building Neighborhood Groups, Listening to Voters, Crime, Fees and Taxes, and Frivolous Spending.

Strengths - He has a good grasp of what it means to be alderman, to listen, to involve the public. I also enjoyed his statement that he wants to make Davenport better for his children, meaning he is looking to the long term. So many aldermen are shortsighted.  He also has a *TON* of signs in yards around his ward.  I see he’s quickly made up for the gap in name recognition.

Weaknesses – No time for that, voters, fill it in yourselves!

Pat Gibbs

I think everyone knows Pat as our former mayor. Pat’s issues are Crime, Excessive Fees, The City being a Support not a Developer, Streets, Sewers, Infrastructure.

Strengths - He has strong name recognition in a crowded field. He has a history which brings him supporters. 

Weaknesses – No time for that, voters, fill it in yourselves!

Summary

So now it comes to my predictions. Nathan edged out Pat Gibbs by a couple percentage points in the primary and I think, from what I’ve heard from residents of the ward and seen from the number of signs in different neighborhoods, that Nathan will make it through onto the council.