I believe I possess characteristics that would allow me to most adequately represent the citizens of the 6th ward.  These include an excellent ability to:  listen, analyze data, and carry out a plan.  while I have never held a political office, these are characteristics I utilize each and every day in my profession, and I believe are key in being an excellent Alderman.

Listening is the most important characteristic needed for an Alderman.  As mentioned before, I believe any elected official's primary goal is to represent the people.  In order to do so, you must listen to the concerns of the constituents.  Each day as  a physical therapist, I have multiple patients, and clients, that express their concerns and issues.  They tell me where they feel pain, and what activity with which they are limited.  I need to listen carefully to what each of these patients and clients are saying in order to be successful in providing them excellent care.  This skill translates directly toward being an excellent Alderman.

Being able to analyze data is also key for being an excellent physical therapist, and politician.   As a physical therapist, you  must analyze the patient's ROM, strength, endurance, medical history, etc. to make an appropriate assessment.  Within the city council realm, being able to analyze data in order to properly vote on a proposal, or work on a balanced budget is essential.

Once the issue has been identified, and the data has been analyzed, an appropriate plan must be monitored and completed. For a physical therapist the end goal is to utilize a set plan of interventions in order to return the patient to his or her prior level of function.  At a city government level, I believe being able to carry out a plan means:  voting to ensure proposals and ordinances correlate to the already created strategic plan for the City of Davenport, and ensure every project started does not whither away on the vine, leaving residents to wonder why their tax dollars are being wasted.

Furthermore, I possess the characteristics of hard work, determination, compassion, and diplomacy.  These characteristics, can be coupled with the aforementioned listed skills.

Utilizing these core skills will help me be the true representative of the 6th Ward.  They will also help to keep Davenport a vibrant city, which is: clean, safe, plentiful of places to play, abundant of things to do, and fostering  of business.