Two people are running to be mayor of Monmouth in the April 1 consolidated election.
Incumbent Rod Davies, the city’s longest serving mayor, is seeking a sixth term. He’s facing challenger Sean Cavanaugh, a longtime member of the Warren County Board.
The mayor is a part-time, elected position, responsible for presiding over the elected city council and working with the appointed city administrator on daily operations and governance.
Here’s more about the mayoral candidates, their backgrounds, and their views.
Rod Davies (Incumbent)
Age, as of April 1: 72
Campaign website or Facebook page: www.daviesformonmouth.com
Occupation: I am a Certified Public Accountant and retired small business owner.
Education: I have a B.A. degree from Monmouth College.
Government Experience
- 14 years of service on the Finance Committee for the Warren County Board
- 20 years of experience as mayor of Monmouth
- Over 30 years of experience auditing many different types of units of local government
Community Involvement
- Served on local not-for-profit boards
- Member of the eight-county Workforce Innovation Board of Western Illinois
- Trustee of Monmouth College
- Member of the Methodist Church
Sean Cavanaugh (Challenger)
Age, as of April 1: 54
Campaign website or Facebook page: www.cavanaughformayor.com
Occupation: Marketing Coordinator for Warren Achievement Center
Education: B.A. from Augustana College, with a double major in Political Science and Public Administration, with a concentration in Communications
Government experience
I have had extensive experience within governments, and here are a few where I have had major success:
- I have served 15 years on the Warren County Board. 11 of those years (continuing to this day), I have served as the Chairman of the Buildings & Grounds Committee. Also serve on numerous subcommittees,
- Current Chairman of the Tri-County Recycling and Waste Management Commission
- Member of the 911 Commission
- Was a charter member of the City of Davenport's Abandoned Housing Task Force
- Served on the City of Davenport's Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee
Community involvement
I am extremely proud of my community involvement, and have a list that could go on forever. However, these are some of my involvements that I am most proud of:
- I am an active member of the Rotary Club of Monmouth
- Active member of the Kiwanis Club of Monmouth (served two terms as President)
- 2017 Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year
- Past member of West Central Leadership, seven years as Vice-President
- Past member of the Monmouth Business Council
- Volunteer each year for Merit Badge University
- Have raised money for the Monmouth-Roseville cross country team so all team members can have quality running shoes
Why are you running?
Davies: I’m running on my record of solid accomplishments to lead Monmouth through a critical period in the future. With federal funding uncertain and the state facing a $3 billion deficit, Monmouth needs the experience I bring to lead through difficult times — including the Great Recession of 2008 and the worst pandemic in 100+ years. I’ve been able to keep the city’s portion of property taxes stable and reduce the number of administrative employees in City Hall during my tenure. We’ve invested nearly $100 million building up our infrastructure and are in the process of revitalizing downtown through public-private partnerships and innovative financing. I spearheaded the effort to refurbish downtown buildings which created small businesses and jobs, loft apartments, and beautified the area. I want to continue to oversee downtown revitalization, complete ongoing infrastructure investments and lead the process on hiring a new city administrator.
Cavanaugh: First of all, I love my hometown. I am running for Mayor of Monmouth because I know I can bring people together to make Monmouth a better place for everyone. What I intend to do as mayor is not limited by what appears on my website, printed materials, or even in the answers for this survey. I intend to be a mayor for all the people of Monmouth, which will involve all kinds of approaches — none of which I fear. I have immense political will, and I intend to use it to benefit every single resident of Monmouth — Republicans, Democrats, and everyone in between. It is time for a change. Over the last two decades, we have had five congressmen, three presidents and only one mayor. There are other people that can walk into City Hall and do well, and I am one of them — a person with a fresh perspective and new ideas. I am a man who gets things done, and I want to get things done for every resident of our wonderful town. Again, it is time for a change.
What is the most pressing issue facing Monmouth and how would you address it?
Davies: The most pressing issue facing the city is continuing to fund vital services without raising taxes. There are two ways to increase revenues: raise taxes or generate economic growth that leads to greater revenues. I oppose increasing taxes and fought wasteful spending by vetoing an overly expensive public safety building. I also opposed recommendations to increase water and sewer rates by 40% for a new wastewater treatment facility. We were able to build it through grants and innovative financing methods. I’ve led efforts to increase economic development throughout the city, invest in our infrastructure in all parts of the city, which is vital to job growth, and work with area economic development agencies like the Maple City Area Partnership, legislators from both political parties and community leaders, like Monmouth College, Midwestern Pet Foods and Smithfield, to invest in our community. I’ll continue those efforts in a new term.
Cavanaugh: Asking what is the most pressing issue facing Monmouth is like asking a parent who their favorite child is. It is impossible to name just one. The most pressing issues facing Monmouth is our housing crisis, the ignored south side of town, and our decreasing population.
Far too many people work in Monmouth, but don't live in Monmouth, as there just isn't a good enough selection of homes for sale, or quality rentals available. Galesburg just completed a comprehensive housing study, which outlines their problems, obstacles and solutions. They are working on a solution while Monmouth sleeps. Mayor Cavanaugh would immediately appoint a task force of Monmouth citizens to focus exclusively on this one, single issue. I believe a solution can be found. Without a solution the problem will only get worse.
Another pressing issue has to do with the south end of Monmouth. It has been ignored for the last twenty years, and those who live there have told me just that. They are right, they have been ignored. The south side of town is a blank canvas ready to be painted. I won't ignore one part of town for another, but I will give the south side of town the attention it deserves. Mayor Cavanaugh will be working incredibly hard to bring more to that part of town.
In regards to our decreasing population, this is a huge problem. Over the last 20 years, Monmouth has lost 13% of its population. A decrease in population brings with it several challenges: less customers for local businesses, less sales tax revenue to fund vital services, a smaller pool of individuals to fill jobs, and less funding for schools. The list can go on, but I will stop there. How does someone stop the decline? For starters, you provide an environment where developers can thrive, where they can invest, and where they can build. Build it and they will come.
Bringing in businesses of all sizes can also bring people to Monmouth, and bringing tourists to Monmouth will help as well. By the way, the south side of town has massive potential for development!
Those three points together are the most pressing issue facing Monmouth.
Why should people vote for you?
Davies: People should vote for me because:
1. I have proven leadership during difficult times.
2. As a CPA, I have a background in finance that helps keep city finances stable while funding vital services and finding innovative financing methods for expensive but necessary infrastructure projects.
3. I have experience in overseeing the process for hiring a new city administrator. We must make sure the person we hire has the right skill set but also aligns with the values of our community.
4. A vision for our future that includes more infrastructure investment, revitalizing our downtown, hiring a new city administrator and bringing more housing to town.
Cavanaugh: People should vote for Sean Cavanaugh for mayor because I will be an effective leader who represents all residents, all the time. I bring new ideas, a new perspective, and extreme motivation to make positive change. No single individual should have unlimited time to get things done. Giving someone "one last term" to accomplish what they started decades ago is not what the residents of Monmouth want. I will be accessible, transparent and laser-focused on our future. There is no issue or circumstance I am not willing to confront head on, which is what the residents of Monmouth desire. It is time for a fresh start on building Monmouth for the future, not repeating the past "one last time." The future can be great, and I aim to make it so. Sean Cavanaugh is most certainly for Monmouth.
Is Monmouth better or worse off than it was five years ago? Why?
Davies: Monmouth is much better off than it was five years ago. The downtown area is being remade through public-private partnerships that refurbished old, dilapidated buildings and provided new opportunities for small businesses, jobs and loft apartments. Our largest employers like Midwestern Pet Foods, Smithfield and Holy Family Medical Center are growing and providing more job opportunities. Other large employers are also providing economic opportunity and we have a strong small business sector. We’ve maintained vital services through the pandemic when other local governments have been forced to cut back services or raise taxes. There is more to do, and that’s why I’m running. But we have made great progress under my leadership and that’s why I’m asking voters for another term as mayor.
Cavanaugh: I believe Monmouth's has better days ahead of us. Five years ago, we had more people living here, we didn't have as much of a shortage of quality homes and rentals like we do today, and well, and the south end of town was still being ignored. Monmouth is a great community that I love, but we still need to address these problems.
The fact that these issues still exist is not a mystery, as we have known for some time the answers we need have not been pursued. Change is needed to address these problems, as they have been a concern for some time. Repeating the past to fix problems from the past and present is a notion that does not appeal to those affected. New leadership is needed to move Monmouth forward with these issues that have been front and center for some time.
Monmouth has some catching up to do, and I plan to work tirelessly to catch us up.
Other races
Longtime City Clerk Susan Trevor is retiring. A referendum to make that position an appointed rather an elected position failed in the November general election.
One candidate, Melissa Teel, has filed to run for city clerk. Teel is currently deputy city clerk in the office.
Newcomer Roger Teel is running unopposed in Ward 1 for city council. Incumbent Juan Pinedo is running unopposed in Ward 3.
Incumbents John VanVleet and Kevin Ferry in Ward 4 are also running unopposed for those seats.
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