What would you do if you were mayor? A local boy entered a state wide essay contest, writing about his ideas if he was mayor of Davenport.
Kody Craddick is a 7th grader at St. Joseph's in DeWitt. He lives in Davenport and entered the essay contest sponsored by the Iowa League of Cities. Kody has some good ideas, because he beat out 900 other students.
"If I were mayor I would want to create a high way system from Interstate 280 to downtown Davenport," says Kody.
The St. Joseph's 7th grader would like to bring more business downtown.
"I would want to re-route traffic so more people would drive through downtown and take advantage of the businesses there."
His plan also includes opening a north Davenport police station.
"I think this will make Davenport a better place to live, because it would make people who live farther away from the downtown precinct feel safer."
Kody also wants to protect downtown from floods by building a levee.
"Every time we have a major flood businesses have to close and traffic has to be re-routed," adds Kody, "This creates a loss of revenue for the city and for citizens."
Creating more green space is also at the top of his agenda.
"I want to attract more people to the beautiful Mississippi River front. I would take away some of the asphalt parking lots and abandoned buildings from the banks of the river."
Kody's ideas not only won him the regional "If I were mayor" essay contest. He is the winner for the entire state.
"I couldn't believe it," says Kody, "I was so happy, it was so exciting and I thought it was a dream."
Kody's big win has his school celebrating. He was honored at an assembly with the entire school.
"It was unbelievable, so many people cheering and all the lights on me, it was crazy."
Kody is hoping this could be the start of a political career.
"I would like to be mayor of Chicago."
Kody won a $500 scholarship that he plans to use for college.
