The slate of candidates for Davenport's 2008-9 city council has been decided.

Davenport residents were fairly deceived, during the last campaign, by several of the elected officials currently serving, so this time it is "voter beware."

It is important to know the professional backgrounds of those running, as well as the inspiration, incentive, or both, to vie for a council seat.

It's getting harder and harder to stomach the barrage of misinformation masquerading as journalism in the Quad Cities' mainstream media. Most especially egregious is the constant sin of omission that defines most stories and editorials.

Here's the thing: If good people, without personal agendas, don't run for local political offices (mayor, alderman, etc.), then Davenport will be stuck with the same unacceptable performance we are experiencing from our current mayor (Ed Winborn) and five aldermen (Jamie Howard, at large; Ian Frink, at large; Charlie Brooke, Ward 6; Barney Barnhill, Ward 7; and Brian Dumas, Ward 8), who consistently vote as a political bloc in favor of special interests, imposing legislation that often conflicts with the citizenry of taxpayers.

I hope I am proved wrong, but it looks like the Isle of Capri (IOC) is going to renege on its $10-million obligation to Bettendorf to help build and operate a $15.8-million events center as part of its development agreement that was included in the city's Vision Iowa grant. This would likely cause Bettendorf to forfeit $4 million because of IOC's nonparticipation. Why should IOC care? It has its new hotel, doesn't it?