Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Might as well make a thread....

Davenport alderman charged with assault -QCTimes

Update on Wednesday morning: More drama... so I guess I'll leave this up here at least until this afternoon so people can discuss the developments. Today's QCTimes article about it can be found here. Nowhere does he explain why he would violate a protective order if he was going to cleared of the other charge, which he says he's innocent of. I guess now people from the surrounding area have new stuff to make fun of Davenport for at least.

I will post something to at least get this off the top of the blog today though.


I know its going to get talked about, so it might as well have its own thread, as distasteful as the comments will surely be. I'd prefer you folks kept the discussion directed at what will happen with the remainder of Alderman VanFossen's term if he is proven guilty.

Also, remember a few things.

1. This is America, he's innocent until proven guilty in a court of law

2. Keep in mind that the guy has a family

3. People do make mistakes... even several in one year

4. There's no need for name calling, ever

5. If we all agree that he's not a good Alderman, there's no sense trying to convince anyone of that fact. I don't remember the last time I heard anyone on this blog say something good about the 1st ward representative, so lets not beat a dead horse here.

So lets try and keep this remotely civil.

41 comments:

Anonymous said...

Conservative Demo here:
Geeze, with all your rules (1: the alderman _is_ sitting in jail this morning) (2: it _is_ his family / wife who is the apparent complainant) (3: mistakes are the things that define some people) (4: aw what the hell, you sound like a Fly Jr) (5: " If we all agree that he's not a good Alderman, there's no sense trying to convince anyone of that fact. " ?????) there's nothing left to talk about.

What the hell Man, this is a perfect case to gossip and snipe about. This guy is a one-man Peyton Place begging to be cluck-clucked about. Get serious young man.

Anonymous said...

The real losers are his contits. Too bad,.

Dave said...

If the rumors mentioned are true and he's finally been 'outed' by his family maybe he'll do the right thing, resign and check himself in for some help.

No need to drag it our further than that.

Anonymous said...

He has been absent from meetings for the past two weeks. Makes one wonder if this has anything to do with him being gone.

QuadCityImages said...

Think I should move to the first ward?

Just kidding.

Anonymous said...

I believe it is us, the Davenport tax payers, that have been victimized as well. I expect to hear of another closed door meeting and nothing to become of it. Its a sad day for the Van Fossen family and a bad day for the City of Davenport reputation.

Anonymous said...

X-alderman McGovern only did a small amount of time behind bars, then got a slap on the wrist with a short home detention for drunk driving. This is strike 2 for van fossen since he's been elected, and it's time we make an example of him.

QuadCityImages said...

McGivern's thing was on September 30th, 2005. In other words, only a tiny bit left of his term left to serve once the legal stuff was done with. This incident is slightly earlier, but still in an election year. It will be interesting to see what happens, if he is found guilty. A quick search of the city code didn't turn up any obvious rules on this, although I remember there was discussion before about what it takes to get kicked off the council.

Anonymous said...

We have many social problems in our city even though we can point to endless bricks and mortar projects. Respect for authority tops the list. More than ever Davenport needs strong, upstanding leaders. We need admirable examples of positive community behavior. The Mayor should request Mr. Van Fossen's resignation and replace him until the first ward can elect themselves a new alderman. No special meeting required. Pull rank Mr. Mayor.

Snarky Chick said...

Sally, I couldn't agree with you more. Even though he hasn't been found guilty the charges are serious enough he should voluntarily resign.

QCI - the reason no one has said anything good about Van Fossen is he hasn't really done anything to stand out and be commended for. We have two types of aldermen, those who are elected and have plans, who try to make the city better, and those who are elected and wait for things to happen. I don't recall any plans or ideas coming from Van Fossen.

Anonymous said...

Did Jackie come down to bail him out, or did she do like Mrs. McGivern did and let him sit in the cell for awhile?

QuadCityImages said...

Well, that's not what it is for me.

I'm just using all my willpower not to post "I told you not to vote for him" in 24 point font...

I'm trying to be fair by being overly nice to someone who has done nothing but disappoint.

I suppose this is hypocritical, but I'm trying to give him the same sympathy I would give if this had happened to one of the Aldermen that I like.

Anonymous said...

you like an alderman on this city council?>

Anonymous said...

This white, alcoholic, wife abuser is no better than the black, pot smoking "baby mama" abuser. Yet, I hear no call for sympathy and understanding for the latter. An adict criminal is an adict criminal not matter the color or the adiction.

Anonymous said...

Conservative Demo here:

_I'm_ not being selective here. _I_ see a jerk I call him a jerk. This guy's a jerk. He can't stay out of trouble, as I type this he's in jail again. Fly, you're screwy, this guy's not "one of us" He damn-sure doesn't "think and talk like" [me]. And city leaders who screw up do it on my nickle and that gives me (collectively we're all _me_)the right to rag on them for it.

Anonymous said...

Yup, this sucks. But, we are all sitting at home annonymously behind our computers taking pot shots. Look at the alderman's actual voting record. Time and time again he has stood up for limiting the burden of taxation and smart spending. If you don't apporve of the guy's personal life, fine, but don't confuse the man's performance in office with his personal demons. I say give him a break. He is not the President, just a local alderman, and in that role what counts the most is how he votes. On that score, I give him an A+.

Anonymous said...

8:41, take a look at the video, he has no idea what he is doing. During the vote, he will lean over and ask the other aldermen which way to vote. He eigher ha no idea what he is doing or a severe case of A.D.D. You tell me which! This clown has to go.

Anonymous said...

This guy gives Hammerlink two votes instead of one. He can't vote without Hammerlink telling him what to do. He doesn't deserve to represent the 1st ward because of his shameful behavior.

Anonymous said...

He sits there in his council seat looking like he's waiting for the next bucket of beers to be served.

Anonymous said...

Vanfossen is the only alderman with velcro on his chair back to keep him upright. He and his buddy QCRPA whores Bildo Lynn and Hammerlink need to face the music and vanish from Davenport politics forever.

Anonymous said...

If Ronnie v's wife want"s to keep him in jail, all she needs to do is hang out at the Enchanted Inn. The guy is tethered to the place.

Anonymous said...

QCI-do you know anything about Mr. VanFossen having been to treatment recently and having it paid for by the City of Davenport?

Anonymous said...

There is a difference between the McGivern and the VanFossen arrest. From day one on the council, McGivern had a "better than thou" attitude, so when he was arrested, people wanted his patootie handed to him. Not many were shocked when VanFossen was arrested, because we knew when he was elected, that he was an alcoholic, and people with that problem beat their wives and girlfriends. So that was not a surprise to see that happen.

QuadCityImages said...

You guys are getting a little too far from politics with some of this stuff.

Anonymous said...

Van Fossen is an elected official, he pledged to represent us. Whether you like him or not, he has a duty. He is currently distracted and there is no way he can effectively perform his dutues when he is preoccupied by these issues. He should step down or see about a leave of absence from his position. There is NO WAY he can focus the attention on his job that the people deserve.

Anonymous said...

Well, I disagree. Being a City of Davenport alderman is a part time job, and if he is not in jail then he can serve. I agree with the earlier poster that Van Fossen votes his conscious and has done well so far. Maybe he even has conuslted his fellow aldermen from time to time, but that is a good and thoughtful thing to do. And, if the previous poster is correct, then he does well by conulting Mr. Hamerlinck and Professor Bill Lynn.

Anonymous said...

Well said Ron.

Anonymous said...

Thanks dan, wondering when you would be back!

QuadCityImages said...

6:40 is just worried that Hamerlinck's extra vote might go to someone who could occasionally vote with the other "side."

VanFossen has never initiated anything of note during his year on the council. Despite not having another job, he seems to put less effort into it than others who work full time. Hard to say what the 1st ward was thinking.

Anonymous said...

I think unless he cannot serve, he has the right to serve. I may not agree with all of his votes, but his domestic life is something a little different then his life as an alderman. He ran a campaign, got enough votes to win fair and square, and I believe he has the right to govern. I don't think anybody is worried about Van Fossen's vote tipping an outcome, it is just that he won the right to vote and should be allowed to do so until or unless he does something to stop him from being there. As to what other employers may or may not tolerate, that is irrelevent, this is his right. Thank goodness some of these haters are not in a postion to call the shots.

Anonymous said...

I find it very interesting that VanFossen is being critized about appearing under the influenze while on the council and Hamerlink tells him how to vote. Apparently you are not watching the other end of chambers - Barnhill looks to Brooke for voting and at times appears to me to be under the influence. Just an observation.

Anonymous said...

Maybe this whole thing will be a wake up call for Ronnie and he will change his lifestyle, we could even get lucky and he will start paying his proprty taxes in a timely manner.

Anonymous said...

If this were one of the alderman on the right side (of the dais) those on the other would be screaming for him to step down. Van Fossen has never bothered to view an issue from any side other than that of those who put him in power, those who pay for his lunch. His vote (yes this one vote) has been a factor in many issues which evenly divided this council. Thought and cognitive process may have swayed him to vote differently, but he decided to side with the likes of Lynn, and Hammerlink rather than be his own man. He gave no consideration to the NEO folks who lost their jobs when he voted to slash that department, so we will get none in return. Rot in hell VanVossen. We'll drink to that.

Anonymous said...

If Ron won't quit on his own, the mayor should put him on leave without pay, until his two trials occur in the near future. If he's found guilty, he's done on the council.

Anonymous said...

Innocent until proven guilty, at least for some but not all. Tell me that Mike Loos that he was treated fairly and I'll go along with you. Van Fossen had no idea what the NEO was and what they did, but made the vote to dismantle the department. What a sack of crap!

Anonymous said...

Channel 6 did an interview with Howard and Lynn after the committee meetings on Thursday. It was obvious that Dan hadn't told Lynn what to say, as Billyboy didn't have anything to say with substance. It was a little surprising that Jamie Howard didn't have half the Black Clergy Leaders standing there to crusify VanFossen, like she did after Black Christmas. She must like Van Fossen better.

Anonymous said...

Well, that is ridiculous. I don't even like that Dan guy, but Bill Lynn is a professor of economics with a PHD and he speaks his own mind. Jamie Howard is her own woman and always has been, and she has never taken orders from black clergymen. Mike Loos quit his own job and has nothing to do with any of this, he was treated fairly because he quit. The old NEO never did their jobs very well in the first place. And finally Van Fossen made some mistakes but neither the Mayor or anybody else can force him to quit his job, and there may be more his story then meets the eye. On the news, he said he is looking forward to his day in court.

Anonymous said...

Again I ask "WHO IS DAN?????"
What does he have to do with anything?

Anonymous said...

You can be a Professor of Economics with a PHD and still have no common sense and I have just as much faith in those engineers that build cars. This fits Billy Lynn well. Some of the smartest people like Bill Gates didn't graduate college but has "applied common sense". Read a book, write a paper, and get a PHD. Big Whoop!!

Anonymous said...

If you want to know anythig about anyone, Google the name and the rest will fall into place.

Anonymous said...

Are you talking about Dan Lubell?