Frank Klipsch is adjusting to his new title as Davenport’s Mayor-Elect. He claimed the job with 67% of the vote to defeat incumbent Mayor Bill Gluba, who spent eight years in office.
Klipsch is known to say he’s bringing, “A new kind of leadership,” to Davenport, meaning he wants to lead the city in the direction that its citizens want it to go.
“I’ve heard what their interests are and what they want to see better, and now it’s a matter of engaging them in that process,” Klipsch said.
Although he won the race for mayor of Davenport, he says,”It isn’t about me, The mayor doesn’t neccessarily need to be, will be out in front if that’s the role that needs to be played, but in the most part, the work is done by a team of individuals and highlighting that team.”
Klipsch embraces the idea of letting the people decide which direction government needs to go. He says his 25 years running the Scott County Y.M.C.A. gave him the leadership background he needs to lead Davenport, saying, “The biggest thing that transfers very well is the fact is we’ve done all of those projects that we did in Davenport, collaboratively, we work with the school system, we worked with most other non for profits and churches, well that’s what this job is with the city, it’s partnership, collaboration, a lot of participants bringing them all together to come to a common goal.”
He thinks Davenport needs to move forward, complementing the growth he sees in the Quad Cities.
“We want to make sure that if we grow the whole region, Davenport is going to get more businesses as part of that as well, so I think it’s a mixed thing. Listening to the people of Davenport, make them feel a part of the process, but at the same time reach out to the people around us, to make sure we’re part of that larger Quad City process…We want to make sure that our doors are wide open and our arms are extended welcoming not only individuals and families but also businesses in the community,” Klipsch said.
Klipsch thinks it’s time for a new set of eyes governing Davenport.
“I don’t look at things like, well that’s how we’ve always done it, or we don’t do it that way here, all of that’s out the window. I think everything is up for a new look and a new way of doing things better more efficiently,” Klipsch said.
He added, ” I love meeting people, I love engaging people, so I’m really excited about this opportunity,”
Not only is he excited about his upcoming term, Klipsch says he’s humbled by the opportunity to serve the people of Davenport. He will officially take over as mayor January 2016.
