Friday, August 10, 2007

Family Ties

All through my campaign and before, my wife Mary and I have discussed the demands being an Alderman will place on our family. Without her support, I would not be running. My family is the biggest reason why I am running. I want my children to grow up in a safe city that they can be proud of and want to stay. As Alderman, I want to promote events that are family friendly. Events like the summer concerts at the band shelter on Sunday nights, or the movies that were shown at Vander Veer Park, are great opportunities for families to get out and enjoy Davenport. The young, single adult may feel that this is not their scene at that point in their life, but the city does well to cater to their needs in other ways. What these events do provide though, is the knowledge that when they do go to settle down, Davenport will be a great place to raise their families. I believe we have three main categories of citizens, families, the older crowd, and young adults. All of them have a basic need for safety and basic amenities. Identifying their recreational needs though is where a city begins to shine. As Alderman, I will work to promote and get people involved in coming up with events that satisfy the recreational needs of these groups. Getting people to stay in Davenport to have fun is a win for everyone. I love to see my kids laugh and play. If elected, my decisions and goals will be to provide as many opportunities as possible for families to enjoy the city they live in.