Our community is facing a primary election next week on Tuesday, October 9! Two individuals will then move forward to the general election, after which one will fill the seat of 4th Ward Council member Pat Cline.
The mantra during my tenure as mayor has been the belief that “the next five years will define the next fifty for Dubuque.” As we consider the city’s direction as defined by its vision statement to be “…a progressive, sustainable city with a strong balanced economy and connections to the world…” the upcoming City Council election looms large.
Our life quality has continued to improve due to the collaboration and partnership, investment and leadership from all sectors of our community and beyond. I believe most will agree our city is indeed positioning itself well for the next fifty years. One of the significant factors in Dubuque’s All America City selection was best stated by Mercy Hospital President and CEO Rusty Knight when he told the judges in Anaheim, California, that people in Dubuque “don’t care whose idea something is; rather, we care about coming together around good ideas and making things happen for the good of the community.”
Our Dubuque citizens are fortunate to live in a River City that is bursting with rich history, elegant turn of the century homes, award winning restaurants, charming shops, and a thriving arts and cultural environment! Further, Dubuque is continuing its visibility as a leader in job growth having recently made the prestigious Milliken Institute list of “Best Performing Cities” March 2006 – March 2007, ranking 11th nation-wide.
Good paying jobs and quality of life amenities go hand in hand in a progressive community. Keeping our young graduates and attracting the best and brightest talent depend on a strong economy, diverse educational opportunities, safe neighborhoods, and a thriving arts and cultural community! Companies that have been and are being recruited to Dubuque consider all these elements in their decision-making, not the least of which is an educated workforce. Dubuque has finally become one of the most vital, creative and attractive places to live and work in the area…and arts and culture are key ingredients.
After decades of minimal city support for the arts, the City Council finally stepped forward and made its first decent investment in 2004 and created an Arts and Cultural Advisory Commission. As reported in the first State of the Arts report, the commission members bring a wealth of expertise and enthusiasm to this important element in our educational and social infrastructure. Their goals are to utilize the arts to encourage a better understanding of the cultural diversity of the world, to safeguard the cultural and historic resources of the community, to celebrate the arts as an opportunity to enjoy and enrich community life, and to promote affordable and accessible spectator and participatory arts experiences and cultural events for all ages. Dubuque is reaping a huge return on its minimal investment, economically and socially, and, in my opinion, we need to do more if we want to continue to compete with other cities trying to recruit our local talent.
Therefore, for all the reasons stated, I invite all our citizens to take their civic responsibility very seriously as we consider the stated positions of the candidates vying for your vote during the primary next week, and the general election in November. The national recognitions our city continues to receive and the visibility which enhances our opportunities to be a progressive and sustainable community depend on it!