As the April 1 elections approach, East Moline's municipal candidates answered our questions about what their priorities are as potential future leaders of the area. Elections in East Moline are nonpartisan, with candidates running unopposed for the offices of mayor, city clerk and city council seats in Wards 5 and 6. The Quad-City Times/Dispatch-Argus repeatedly sought comment from the candidates of every contested races in East Moline over multiple weeks, but only five of seven responded.
In the 1st Ward, incumbent Ald. Olivia Dorothy is running against Stephen Ramirez. In the 3rd Ward, candidates Larry Jones, Mereleena Olvera and Belinda L.
Rusch will compete in a three-way race. Olvera didn't submit a response in time for publication. In the 7th Ward, incumbent Ald.
J.R. Rico is running against Johnathan Simon.
The Quad-City Times/Dispatch-Argus could not reach Simon for comment. Olivia Dorothy I've only been in office for two years but accomplished a lot in East Moline. Including: - Lowering property tax rates every year.
- Establishing a new office of Community Development. - Identified and fixed broken road, water and pedestrian infrastructure throughout the ward. - Cleaned up properties that were deteriorating or neglected throughout the ward.
- Removed trash along the railroad and initiated a maintenance agreement with the railroad to enforce no-dumping and improve the space aesthetically; - Advocated for and passed a project labor agreement that ensures contractor w.