Hollonbeck making run for mayor

Font Size:

| Sunday, May 22, 2005 12:03 AM CDT | () comments

Tom Saul

After weeks of fending off questions about whether she would run, former Davenport School Board president Denise Hollonbeck announced Saturday that she wants to be the city's next mayor.

At a gathering between John O'Donnell Stadium and the Davenport farmers market, Hollonbeck talked of the need to shape a more clear plan for the direction Davenport takes, greater emphasis on economic development and four-year terms for the mayor and aldermen to offer more consistent city leadership.

"I see a need for a clear, committed plan for Davenport, shaped by people from all walks of life � rich and poor, young and old, east and west," she said in prepared remarks delivered before a group of about 25 family members and supporters. "The plan will take into consideration a variety of interests, such as health and safety, business expansion, the arts, families, transportation and the environment."

On specific issues facing the city, Hollonbeck said she favors the Isle of Capri Casino Inc.'s proposal to build a new hotel, parking ramp and casino complex on the riverfront as a way to eliminate existing surface parking, create more green space and more opportunities for downtown businesses.

On other issues, such as what to do with the Blackhawk Hotel downtown, whether the city should continue to pursue development of the Prairie Heights new urban subdivision at 53rd Street and Eastern Avenue and whether aldermen were correct in passing a new stormwater fee for homeowners, businesses and non-profits, she was less specific.

"I don't know if I would have voted for it. I wasn't that involved in it and didn't have all the information," she said in response to a question about the stormwater fee that a majority of aldermen voted to enact in March.

Hollonbeck, 55, works as a corporate trainer for St. Ambrose University. She lives at 904 Wisconsin Ave. So far, she is the only announced candidate for the post that current Mayor Charlie Brooke said he will vacate after two terms to run for the 6th Ward alderman seat being given up by Bob McGivern.

William Woods of Davenport, who announced his mayoral campaign in February, since has dropped out of the race because of health problems, he said. Alderman Steve Ahrens, at-large, has said he will run for mayor but has not yet made a formal announcement.

Hollonbeck last ran for the mayor's job in 2001. Both she and Brooke survived a primary election that winnowed down a field of seven candidates. In the November election, Brooke beat Hollonbeck by a margin of 54 percent to 44.4 percent with 17,497 votes cast.

She served for six years on the school board beginning in 1993, including a stint as president. During that time, she said, through her leadership public trust in the board was elevated where there had been bickering among members and frustration by citizens before that.

As mayor, Hollonbeck said, she wants to establish a process for taking public input and listening to citizens regarding issues facing the city. To the extent possible, she wants to forge compromises that please most, but said that once a decision is made the city should move forward.

"Too often, everyone is only concerned about their own agenda and how things will impact them," she said. "I want people to know that that they can come in and we will sit down and talk and I will listen. But I also want to be clear that, while I will listen, we may not always agree on everything."

Tom Saul can be contacted at (563) 383-2453 or tsaul@qctimes.com.