"I have a passion for Davenport, and always have." That's local businessman Dan Portes talking about why he's decided to run for mayor, and join five other candidates who are already in the race.
Initially he did not plan to run, thinking he would back two other possible candidates. But then they decided not to run.
"A group of people came to me and asked me if I would run - it's not the first time that's happened - but this time the timing seemed right. I think I can make a big difference here."
Portes has served on the Davenport School Board, helped pass the local option sales tax that raised millions of dollars for schools, is a board member of the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce, and has served on boards for the Davenport Library, Putnam Museum, and Riverboat Development Authority.
He is the CEO of Management Resource Group - helping companies find new employees, doing job training and assessment, and helping people find new jobs when their companies move or close.
The other five candidates for Davenport mayor are current aldermen Mike Matson and Rita Rawson, former alderman Steve Duffy, Dean Weber who works for the Public Works department, and Elizabeth VanCamp, an employee of the University of Iowa Hospitals.
