Letter to the editor: Mayor’s stance when it comes to public safety makes it clear Moore is best choice

I’m all in for Linda Moore. I’m all out and against the current mayor, especially when it comes to public safety.

It started when Bernie Vahlkamp was selected chief of the Quincy Fire Department. This was at the beginning of the current mayor’s term. The current mayor didn’t like Vahlkamp getting the job and wasn’t afraid to say so in public.

The current mayor wanted somebody else. The three-person Police and Fire Commission uses an exhaustive and comprehensive system to hire chiefs. The commission did its job. Suddenly, the mayor was angry. Lo and behold, two of the commissioners were fired (one illegally), despite many years of good service. Kerry Anders and Steve Meckes deserved better.

The current mayor wanted to get rid of the third commissioner, Barry Cheyne, but Barry screwed up. He was named the Citizen of the Year by the Quincy Service Club, a prestigious honor. Our mayor had no choice. He kept Barry on the commission. Thankfully the three people have sailed along and have simply done their jobs. Congrats, Steve Salrin, on becoming the new fire chief. It was well deserved, and the commission got it right.

Then there’s the whole police chief debacle. I’ve gotta be careful here. It’s no secret Adam Yates is one of my best friends. However, that whole thing was a sham and disgusting. I’m amazed there wasn’t more blowback, especially after the mayor decided a Springfield attorney should do an “investigation” into the police chief hiring process. There were no findings of any wrongdoing. Maybe there was blowback after needlessly spending a lot of money, our taxpayers’ money, on this investigation. Maybe there were other issues like the police union contract and the city health insurance not working. Maybe City Council should have had enough and given the mayor a vote of no confidence.

Wait. That did happen. I almost forgot. Sorry.

Hey, Mayor: Just because you hear something coming from around the corner at the barbershop doesn’t mean it’s true. Our mayor rigged the system so he could get his guy in as police chief. Thankfully this man turned the job down. I would love to get some honest answers why. All we know is Adam Yates eventually did get the title of chief. The mayor himself says Adam has done the job well. Sometimes the good guys do win, and things work out.

A good mayor works things out with department heads and works with City Council. No doubt that will get a hair easier now with two new City Council faces.

A good mayor encourages debate and discussion on Monday nights.

A good mayor works hard at getting people onboard and moving forward with what’s best for the city.

That will happen if Linda Moore is elected mayor.

Rodney Hart
Quincy, Illinois