Councilman Jeremy Davis Won't Seek Re-Election

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Ames City Councilman Jeremy Davis announced this week that he will not run for re-election next fall.

Davis currently represents the third ward, but redistricting would have put Davis up against councilman Tom Wacha, of the first ward.

Davis said he made the announcement this week to give others who were thinking about running time to prepare.

“This decision was not made lightly, nor was it made in haste. I feel it is most appropriate to announce this decision now, so other candidates may begin to make campaign plans,” Davis wrote in an open letter to the community.

At the start of Davis' term in 2010, the City Council set several goals, but those priorities were realigned due to the August of 2010 flood, which resulted in major damage including the failure of the city's water system, Davis wrote in a letter to the city.

“... What most impressed me was the ability of our community—specifically city staff—working together to help our community recover from the flood. I believe that experience clearly demonstrated the can-do attitude that city staff bring to the job every day,” Davis said.

Davis works in Congressman Steve King's Ames office carrying out constituent and casework services, outreach activities and representing King at meetings and functions. Davis is also working on completing his doctorate degree in education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.


Davis' full letter follows below:

An Open Letter to the Ames Community:

It has been my honor and privilege to serve our community over the past three years as a member of the Ames City Council. When I made the decision to seek election to the City Council in 2009, I did so because I saw a community in need of strong, decisive leadership at the council level, a community that needed to encourage private sector growth and development, a community that needed to be reassured that it was okay to grow and expand, and a community that needed a vision for its future.

After careful thought, prayer, and discussions with family and friends; I have decided that I will not seek re-election to the Ames City Council in the upcoming elections in November. This decision was not made lightly, nor was it made in haste. I feel it is most appropriate to announce this decision now, so other candidates may begin to make campaign plans.

When my term began on the City Council, we established several goals. However, the August 2010 floods changed the course of those goals for the city. As with all plans, external variables can often impact their direction and schedule for implementation; and the significant flooding experienced by Ames and Iowa State University resulted in the council making flood mitigation a top priority for the city. Although the flood resulted in significant damage—including a failure of the city’s water distribution system – what most impressed me was the ability of our community—specifically city staff—working together to help our community recover from the flood. I believe that experience clearly demonstrated the can-do attitude that city staff bring to the job every day.

As a City Council member, I’ve come to realize that we are often asked to make decisions with no easy or right answer, decisions that require compromise to move a process forward, and decisions made today “based on a leap of faith” that will guide our community for many years to come. Although decisions made by the City Council often affect individuals and neighborhoods differently; I’ve tried to make decisions that were in the long-term best interest of the entire community.

As I reflect upon the past few years, I can honestly say that I learned more about the Ames Community than I believed possible. I’m very proud of the fact that we’ve been able to support economic development and business growth, strengthen and enhance neighborhoods, and increase efficiencies in City Government. I’ve also realized that private sector business growth and Iowa State University are critical to our community’s long-term future as both will be essential components of our community’s growth plans and will contribute greatly to our community’s overall quality of life.

For now, I’m looking forward to the upcoming months as I complete my term on the City Council. In the future, our community will be faced with significant decisions regarding land-use, annexation, electric utility upgrades with costs upwards of $100 million, and overall quality of life issues. While I may not be a member of the City Council in 2014 and beyond, I look forward to contributing to the public dialogue and working to advance our community forward.

Finally, I’d like to thank the Ames Community for giving me the opportunity to serve as a member of the Ames City Council. The experience of serving on the City Council has further strengthened my appreciation and love for our community. I am proud to call Ames my home.

All the best,

Jeremy Davis

Ames City Council