Letter to the Editor: Brink excels at building strong relationships, while interactions with Troup as mayor were disappointing

As someone who has worked closely with both candidates running in the Republican primary for mayor of the City of Quincy, I feel uniquely positioned to offer insight into their leadership qualities.

My professional experience includes five years supervising Dan Brink when he served as a Labor and Safety Specialist at Quincy Compressor while I was Vice President of Human Resources, as well as nine years on the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners for the City of Quincy, three of which overlapped with Mike Troup’s term as mayor.

Effective leadership requires key qualities such as relationship-building, teamwork, emotional maturity, approachability, critical thinking, preparedness, and financial acumen. Based on my direct experiences, Dan Brink demonstrates these qualities far more effectively than his opponent.

While on my team, Dan Brink excelled at building strong relationships with employees and leadership, including the Machinist Union. He was a true team player, consistently seeking win-win outcomes, engaging comfortably across all levels of the organization, and fostering a positive and approachable environment. He was well-prepared for his responsibilities, conducting safety meetings and training effectively, balancing the often conflicting interests of union and corporate leadership, and managing budgets within corporate expectations.

In stark contrast, my interactions with Mike Troup during his tenure as mayor were deeply disappointing. Despite the independent role of the Fire and Police Commission, Troup avoided cooperative conversations, frequently resorted to intimidation tactics, and failed to find common ground. His approach demonstrated a troubling misunderstanding of how Quincy’s government is intended to function. Though Troup portrays himself as a skilled financial manager, his mismanagement of employee health interests speaks volumes to the contrary.

For these reasons, I strongly endorse Dan Brink for the Republican nomination for mayor of Quincy. I believe he has the leadership qualities necessary to unite our community, prioritize effective governance, and ensure Quincy thrives.

Steve Meckes
Quincy, Illinois