The Sixth Ward

The sixth ward is currently represented by Charlie Brooke who has chosen to not run for re-election. I hope his health improves.

Jeff Justin

Jeff has been with MidAmerican Energy for 27 years and is currently in management. He grew up in Davenport, went to college in Iowa and has been very active in the community. His issues are Collaborative Leadership, Economic Development to Expand Tax Base, Support for Public Safety Personnel, Infrastructure Improvements, Focused Improvements to Central City, Support for the East Village. He has more issues, go to his website for more information.

Strengths - Jeff talks about all of the right issues. He seems to have an understanding of what people want to hear. He is also already a professional leader and lord knows we need professionalism on our council. I really like his emphasis on attracting new businesses.

Weaknesses -Well, he *does* work for MidAmerican. Kidding of course, I won’t hold that against him. I don’t see a lot of room for negativity on this candidate but I’m sure posters will fill that part in.

Dale Gilmour

Dale is also born in Davenport, he went to college here. He is self employed as a distributor of electrical wiring maintenance products. His issues are, Communication with Residents, Skate Park (charge admission, build fence, no managed graffiti, Isle of Capri (holding them responsible), Make Downtown Safe & Attract Businesses Downtown, Attract Jobs to Industrial Park, Sewers for Industrial Park.

Strengths – Dale does want to attract jobs and make public safety a priority. Improving the sewer to the industrial park makes sense, as does attracting businesses there.

Weaknesses – I absolutely disagree that the amentities we have invested in will not attract people. I feel that is a limited viewpoint and is not recognizing the value we have in our city. I also disagree on his view of the skate park. It seems to be a negative viewpoint of some of our most positive areas.

Dave Fuller

Dave has chosen to not have a website so my information comes from his QCT Q&A. It looks like he wants to attract distribution centers and he wants to increase our police officers. He also says he can work well with other council members.

Strengths – He is right about the need to attract high wage jobs here. I also agree we need to have a council who can work together. I really like his community policing thoughts.

Weaknesses – Besides not having a website, which makes it difficult to see what issues he sees as a priority, I don’t see distribution centers as being a high wage job, or one that will attract our youth back.

Linda Kortemeyer

Linda also decided to go without a website. I will base my review on her QCT Q&A. Linda has served as Davenport School system board secretary and treasurer. Her issues are communicating openly with residents, fulfilling council duties without interfering with city workers, ensuring taxes are assessed properly, ensuring taxes are spent appropriately.

Strengths – Her issues aren’t the norm of public safety and attracting businesses. I would really enjoy it if someone would make sure my property is assessed correctly and not just increased because the budget needs it (housing prices are going down but my assessment continues to increase).

Weaknesses – The reason most candidates talk about public safety and attracting businesses is because they address what is on the mind of many citizens. I think her issues miss our greatest needs and her lack of name recognition along with a lack of website will hurt her.

Jason Strang

Jason Strang is among those who chose to not have a website so again, the answers come from his QCT Q&A. His profession is in the medical field as a physical therapist. It looks like he wants to provide a cooperative city government, attract businesses and opportunity, resurgence of downtown businesses, increased safety through better utilization of resources and manpower.

Strengths – From his Q&A he seems to have a good understanding of our problems and has a good plan of what we need to do to fix them.

Weaknesses – It really is too bad he didn’t choose to have a website to delve further into his ideas. I would like to know more about whether he has been active in the community or if his city council is his first attempt at community involvement.

Matthew Jacobs

Matthew is the last of our candidates for the 6th and he also has not chosen to have a website. His QCT Q&A is all I am basing my review on. Matthew wants a united Davenport with cleaner and safer neighborhoods.

Strengths – I agree with him that we need to have safer and maintained neighborhoods to attract more people and more businesses.

Weaknesses – It feels like his answers to all the questions are clean up our neighborhoods and hire more cops. That makes sense but I think there is a little more to it than that. Like, where are we going to get the money for more officers?

Ugh, I have read so much from politicians in the past couple of days that it feels like everyone is saying the same thing! It comes down to believability. I really like Jeff Justin, especially with his management background and the way he presents his ideas. We need professionalism and he seems to be a good choice for that, as well as some good ideas. I’m sure he will make it through the primary along with either Dale Gilmour or Dave Fuller.

I will be working on the 7th ward next. Expect that sometime tomorrow.