Candidate Q&A: Shawn Hamerlinck

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| Thursday, September 27, 2007 |

Shawn Hamerlinck (FILE PHOTO) Buy this Photo

Office sought: Davenprot, 2nd Ward

What are the most significant challenges facing neighborhoods? How would you address them?

It is essential to promote urban gentrification. As the city grows and new homes are built, the council must also remain cognizant of well-established neighborhoods and their needs. It is essential for the Davenport City Council to make home ownership affordable by controlling the rise of property taxes and eliminating unnecessary additional fees for services. There is no reason why homeowners must pay for services twice through both property tax increases and the creation of service fees. Promoting investment in communities becomes more appealing for homeowners when we place a priority upon basic city services like our sewers, roads and public safety personnel. I firmly believe this community is once again interested in seeing their tax dollars work directly to improve their communities rather than funding nonessential amenities.

What’s most important, providing basic services or adding amenities for residents and visitors? What approach would you take?

Necessary community investment has been neglected as public funds have been utilized to develop amenities which have resulted in little return. The next council must re-examine their priorities and place attention and resources back into infrastructure improvements which will better assist in sustaining neighborhoods. Only once we fully fund necessary and long-needed infrastructure improvements can future city councils look toward amenity development. Recently the city has invested heavily in amenities and it is time for us to digest these projects before moving forward with new amenities.

What are the city’s most important infrastructure needs?

Our next city council must find ways to move forward, fund, and find an alternative means by which to improve the city sewer and stormwater system in the 2nd Ward. While we invest in amenities, we fail to invest in the Northwest Diversion Tunnel. This project will bring much-needed sewer improvements to the 2nd Ward and open up the northwest corridor to development and expansion. As the northeast corridor continues to grow, politicians often turn a blind-eye to one of our greatest untapped resources in the 2nd Ward. Putting in this tunnel is critical to the future of the entire city.

How would you approach economic development?

Our first destination in promoting economic development is to improve procedure, conduct and image in City Hall. Initial interest is often turned off by political drama and infighting. In order to attract investment in our community, we must be willing to lobby for it as a unified cohort.

As a council, we must be willing to show this community and others that we welcome ideas and projects with open arms rather than becoming a source of burden. City Hall should be a place where questions are answered and investment is encouraged. Council members must support a one-stop-shop mentality where answers are easily obtained and aldermen routinely show support toward private investors. We should then be willing to invest in infrastructure necessary to allow these projects to occur.

Does the city have enough police officers? Are they deployed properly? What is the council’s role in promoting public safety?

Although the Davenport Police Department currently has more officers than it ever has, true crime statistics show that there clearly are not enough. This is why I fought for the police department under the Operating Budget of 2007 and petitioned for a reallocation of the Local Option Sales Tax to supplement the 2008 Operating Budget. The city council should look to reproduce the success of community policing and duplicate the NETS Program in other high-crime areas of the city. Investing in community policing is the direct responsibility of aldermen when choosing where to prioritize city funds. Aldermen must be held to the responsible standards of first taking care of our public safety and infrastructure needs.

How would you handle situations in which you disagree with another council member or members? Or does it matter?

A variety of opinions should always be welcome at City Hall. If I disagree with an alderman on an issue, I still find the alternative opinion to be valued. City direction should be left up to votes and not devolve into personal attacks which sustain unnecessary drama.

Should the Isle of Capri take over the RiverCenter South? If not, what should the City encourage the Isle to do?

As the River Center is owned by the taxpayers in the city of Davenport, gambling has no place utilizing this facility. A potential move of the IOC into the RiverCenter South would have forced the city to expand the RiverCenter North and it would have monopolized convention space in the Iowa Quad-Cities under the IOC’s Bettendorf facility. My motion to end discussion of the RiverCenter failed at the committee level, however, I was successful at motioning for a lease payment of $2 million, which will now protect the taxpayers’ investment in the future.

Gambling should not be catered to. The IOC should be strongly encouraged to find a home near Interstate 80.

What is your vision for Davenport?

My vision is to see a city hall, which holds representative government to the highest standards. I want to see government return to holding the dominant ideology that our purpose is to service a population and not just deal with them. I would like to see government return to focusing upon the fundamental needs of their citizens. Low crime, good streets, strong neighborhoods and well-paying jobs are our goals. I desire a responsible city government who understands our potential impact upon our governmental neighbors like our school district. My goal is to meet the wants and needs of Davenport residents.