2nd Ward Discussion

I am sure some of you may have noticed the announcement that I am seeking the State Senate District 42 seat. My goal is to keep this blog going for announcements pertaining to my aldermanic position. I will open a new website to discuss state politics. I intend to discuss this announcement at my ward meeting on February 9th at 9:30 at the Fairmount Library. I hope to answer any questions any of you may have. Below you will find a copy of the release which was sent to the local media. Hope to see you at the Ward Meeting!

Alderman Shawn Hamerlinck Announces bid for State Senate
Hamerlinck will focus on pro-job, pro-growth, fiscally responsible agenda.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Shawn Hamerlinck
1/28/2008 (563) 388-6338

DAVENPORT – Today Davenport 2nd Ward Alderman Shawn Hamerlinck (R-Davenport) announced his bid for the Republican nomination in State Senate District 42.

“It has been humbling to have so many residents of Senate District 42 ask me to run for the Iowa Senate,” stated Hamerlinck. “Serving in my second term as an Alderman in the City of Davenport I have had a front row seat to the disastrous economic policies coming from Des Moines.”

Hamerlinck was first elected as Alderman in 2005 and was reelected for a second term in 2007. Professionally, Alderman Hamerlinck is a Youth Field Specialist in the Iowa State University Scott Country Extension office where he develops youth programming and oversees programs such as 4-H. In addition Hamerlinck is an Adjunct Faculty Member at Augustana College and Black Hawk College.

“The Democrat majority in Des Moines will have increased spending by 1 billion dollars in 2 years,” said Hamerlinck. “While at the same time they have ignored a looming 500 million dollar increase on Iowa’s property tax payers over the next 5 years.”

Hamerlinck is a life long resident of Scott County growing up on an Angus Cattle Farm in West Davenport. Shawn is married to Melissa and has two sons, Ashton and Bennett.

“It is time for the citizens of Iowa to reclaim their government from the special interest groups that set the agenda in Des Moines,” stated Hamerlinck. “The State Government is more than willing to watch itself grow at the burden of tax payers. The Legislature has forgotten that it is your money they are spending, not theirs.”


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Our December Ward Meeting will be held this Saturday at the Fairmount Library. Our meeting will begin at 9:30am. I hope that everyone knows that they are welcome to attend.

I have found a book published in 1922 titled Them Was the Good Old Days, by W.L. Purcell. In this book the author outlines the “good old times” of life in Davenport from 1870 to 1915. In the text the author documents those youth who participated in the Rogertown Gang in East Davenport, Patch Gang, Goosetown Gang, Flatiron Square Gang, Kiwanis Gang, Gyro Gang, and Adclub Gang. In the early years of Davenport it seems these gangs acted more like neighborhood groups than the gangs we are seeing in Davenport today. These gangs at one time stole nuts from Ashfords Pasture. Ashfords Pasture was a prominent meeting ground for the Daddy Davis Clam Chowder Club. Does anyone know where Ashford’s Pasture was located? I think I have narrowed the districts where each gang ran, however, I am wondering if Ashfords Pasture were they stole nuts is now Davenport West High School.

I wanted to take time and say thank you to the 2nd Ward for giving me the opportunity to be your Alderman for a 2nd Term. There are a number of items I would like to see completed before the end of this second term. Yesterday the City signed with a contractor to begin work on Northwest Blvd. Letters will be sent to the Ridgeview area containing an outline of the work to be completed this fall.

I also want to remind everyone that we will be hosting our November Ward Meeting this Saturday at 9:30am at the Fairmount Library.

I have been trying to pick up my signs as quickly as possible. If you see one out, I welcome you to grab it and bring it to our Saturday Ward Meeting. You are also welcome to report its location here and I will swing by and pick it up. Thank you again for all the help in this campaign!

Shawn Hamerlinck

Our November Ward Meeting will be held on the 10th at 9:30am at the Fairmount Library. We will be discussing issues which have come up over the past two months and issues which may rise before the end of the year. We welcome everyone to attend.

By Thursday's Finance Committee we will have an update on the recent thefts which have been occuring in Ridgeview. I was asked by the Police Chief not to comment on these at our last Committee of the Whole so that we could avoid letting the criminals know that we knew who they were and that we were looking for them. I must compliment the Police Department on their hard work on these cases and congratulate them on the items they quickly recovered.

Though construction on Locust Street has completed for this fall there are a number of items which must still be cleaned up and yards which must be repaired. I am currently working on the replacing of your topsoil and property which was unnecessarily damaged during the project. Let me know if you are experiencing any other conflicts with the wrap-up of this project over the next two weeks.

Shawn Hamerlinck

Each month we hold a Ward Meeting on the second Saturday. It seems in the time between canceling the October Ward Meeting and yesterday our Zoo’s Youth Development Program had claimed our meeting space. I do not want to ask the program to move again. Therefore, we will leave our October Ward Meeting canceled at this time. We will be holding the November Ward Meeting as scheduled.

I would like to thank all of those who attending our Community Discussion this past Sunday. I hope everyone had a great time and you were able to have your questions answered. You are also free to post your questions here.

Shawn Hamerlinck

This is to inform you all that Shawn and Melissa have a new addition to the family. Mother and baby boy are still in the hospital and hope to be home soon. Shawn apologizes for any missed messages or contacts but as you might expect, they have been very busy.

Also at this time, I would like to invite everyone to a meet and greet for Shawn Hamerlinck that Jim and Dotty Bainbridge are having at their home at 4404 Ridge Drive in Davenport. Date and time of the event will be this coming Sunday, September 30th from 2:00 - 6:00 P.M. Hope to see you there!

Thanks,
Gary

We will not be having a Ward Meeting in the Month of October. My wife is due with our second child on this day. I apologize for not meeting with you. If you have any questions, know that you can post them here, call me and/or send an email.