Jason Gordon announces candidacy for Davenport Mayor, calls for a ‘time for change’

DAVENPORT, Iowa (KWQC) - Incumbent Davenport Mayor Mike Matson will have a new challenger for the position of the City of Davenport’s mayor.

Jason Gordon announced his candidacy at the Putnam Museum Tuesday afternoon. In his announcement, Gordon said there is a “desperate need to bring trust, professionalism and decorum back to City Hall.”

During the speech, Gordon outlined his top priorities:

• Restore trust and transparency in Davenport city government
• Focus on economic growth - with a renewed focus on Davenport’s west side
• Invest in basics: public safety, streets and sewers, and fiscal responsibility

“The last few years of Davenport government have been marred by infighting and finger-pointing, a secretive and large payout to the former city administrator, and overall diverseness. Bottom line... it’s time for a change in City Hall,” Gordon said.

Gordon outlined his professional experience which includes 1/3 in government, 1/3 in non-profit, and 1/3 in for-profit, combined with his eight years as Davenport Alderman At-Large, a media release stated.

“During my right years serving the people of Davenport, I was proud of our approach to increasing investment in capital improvements like streets and sewers, holding the line on taxes, and continuing to grow our tax base with increased retail and industrial growth, with Costco and Sterilite as just two examples.”

Additionally, Gordon said he is the Client Development Manager for Terracon and is located in their Quad Cities office where he oversees the Client Development strategies for the entire state of Iowa.

Gordon is a former VP of Business Development for Valley Construction, and VP of Public Affairs for the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce. He currently serves as Chair of the Greater Davenport Redevelopment Corporation and is a member of the Putnam Board of Trustees.

Gordon said he stepped down from his fourth term in January of 2018 as Davenport’s Alderman At-Large.

More background information on Gordon is that he is a nearly life-long resident of Davenport and a proud Central High graduate, according to the media release. He holds a degree in political science from the University of Iowa. He is married to Emily, and they have two sons and two grandchildren.

Citizens who want to join Gordon’s campaign can sign up at GordonforMayor.com.

TV6 has reached out to Mayor Matson to see if he plans to run again in the upcoming election.