Mayor announces re-election bid
Washington’s mayor is seeking another term in office.
Brenda Davis announced Tuesday her re-election bid this year, citing her work to improve the city’s strained finances, restarting the police department’s K9 program and her push to demolish dilapidated buildings in the business district.
“I hope the residents have seen the accomplishments and the positive changes that have occurred,” Davis said. “I’d like to build off that momentum and continue to make Washington a place to be proud of.”
She said one of the biggest challenges facing the city over the next four years centers around the impending countywide property reassessment and how that will affect the municipality’s “two-tiered” tax structure that has different millage rates for land and buildings. Davis said the city might have to revisit that structure and, depending on the reassessment outcome, could streamline the millage rates to tax both tiers at the same rate.
Davis said razing dilapidated properties and revitalizing the city’s main business district with new development also will be a priority if she is re-elected. She said several more buildings, including the former Normain Hotel on North Main Street, will be demolished in the coming weeks.
Davis was a political newcomer when she won her first term as mayor in 2011, and she’s no stranger to disagreements with council over the past three years. That was punctuated last month when Davis raised concerns about the city’s spending on solid waste collection during a heated debate with some members of council. The 2015 budget passed 3-2 despite her objections.
“The residents know they will get my honest opinion, and I’ll be continuously looking out for their tax dollars,” Davis said.
No other candidates have announced interest in the race, but one person who won’t be challenging Davis this November is former mayor and current Councilman Ken Westcott. He said Tuesday that he’s not interested in running for mayor and “hasn’t made up my mind yet” on whether he’ll run again for his council seat this year. Westcott served two consecutive terms as Washington’s mayor from 2000 to 2008.
“I’m going to give myself some time to think about it,” Westcott said about running for council again.
The city council seats currently held by Westcott and Terry Faust are both up for election this year.