Out and About/5th & 7th Wards

I spent my Thursday evening and Saturday morning out and about in the 5th and 7th Wards. I am supporting the petition drive to place the 4-year staggered term issue, for mayor and city council, on the ballot. My position has not changed since I completed a QC Times survey during last year's campaign. In that survey I stated:

"I support four-year terms. A reduction in turnover allows plans to be implemented with fewer interruptions. Most cities have four-year terms. We are definitely in the minority. I believe we would be better off on a multitude of fronts with this direction. I would support staggered terms for the aldermen. This would allow for smoother transitions for new councilpersons and for some mentoring to ease the learning curve. "

I believe the pros out-weigh the cons, with regard to this issue. I do respect the opposing position for holding elected officials to higher levels of accountability with the two-year cycle. It has merit. However, in the long run I think more continuity might exist and stronger binds could be tied with constituents in the 4-year cycle.

Door knocking and visiting with citizens is always informative. I target high-frequency city voter lists, provided by the county, so I am not going to every household on my rounds. This allows for interaction with more people that are likely to vote and with folks that may have stronger opinions for what is going on within their community. I went out in the neighborhoods surrounding Van DeVeer Park in the 5th and 7th Wards.

I spent half of my time discussing the 4-year term issue and the remainder of my discussions centered on current issues within Davenport.

The majority of folks, in these neighborhoods, seemed to think 4-year terms were a good idea, some were opposed and others undecided. It is tough to get a real feel for things with such a small sampling.

The "current issue" conversations included a mix of genuine concern and praise. Some are looking for a more professional council; others are concerned with spending, while still others believe the city is on the right track with services, development and new amenities.

I enjoyed meeting with folks and thanked them for their time. We have good people in Davenport and I enjoy visiting with them. Citizens care and want a better Davenport. I think this is what we all want in the long run. I am fairly certain the required signatures will be collected and this will be for the voters to decide. Regardless of the outcome, it will be up to the council to continue building relationships with citizens and to strive for that better Davenport.