(January 6, 2025) Newly elected Mayor Jason Gordon outlined his priorities and introduced the new and returning members of the Davenport City Council during a news conference ahead of the first Committee of the Whole meeting and ceremonial swearing in.
“With a new council and many new faces, it’s important we get on the same page early,” Mayor Gordon said. “That work starts on day one.”
Mayor Gordon introduced the City Council’s leadership team, including Kyle Gripp (At-Large) as Mayor Pro Tem. Committee chairs include Ben Jobgen (Ward 6) for Public Safety, Rick Dunn (Ward 1) for Public Works, Jazmin Newton (At-Large) for Finance, and Matt Lienen (Ward 8) for Community Development.
Mayor Gordon emphasized the importance of a high-functioning government as the Council takes on its first big task of selecting a permanent City Administrator.
“Stability and continuity are critical,” he said. “We need someone who will be here for the long term and provide the consistency we’ve lacked over the past few years.
Mayor Gordon says the process is on schedule to have finalist interviews in February. The special committee leading the selection process meets again on January 15, 2026. The committee includes four City Council members, Mark Holloway (Ward 7), Jade Burkholder (Ward 4), Jazmin Newton, and Tim Dunn (Ward 2) along with seven residents with backgrounds in finance, municipal government, or business administration. The committee chooses the finalists, then recommends the top three candidates to the Mayor. The Mayor’s pick requires approval by two-thirds of the Council.
Mayor Gordon also announced that the mayor, council, and staff will participate in team building and goal-setting workshops on January 23 and 24. The sessions will focus on aligning priorities, establishing focus areas under the city’s operational pillars, and preparing for the upcoming budget process.