advertisement

Endorsement: Dinwiddie in Batavia Ward 1

The city of Batavia is not unlike other towns in that it would like a bustling downtown and streets with no potholes. Batavia also has a troubling contract regarding electrical rates, needs an assistant city manager and will need to replace the city manager in 2016. The council needs as many good people pulling in the same direction as it can get as it considers replacing or upgrading the sewage treatment plant, and studies whether to build a second bridge. In the contested 1st Ward, that person is Carl Dinwiddie.

The former National Transportation Safety Board investigator gets the edge over incumbent Carl Fischer, who was appointed to the council in October 2014 to replace an alderman who moved from the city. Dinwiddie, who is on a first-name basis with just about every department head in the city, has attended council and committee meetings for almost three decades.

He asks good questions, knows the ins and outs of the budget, and has a pulse not only on the city but the park district and school board. He's been involved in the community via the VFW and Loyalty Day parade. He's personable and smart, has the time and wants to immerse himself in the decision-making.

Fischer travels a lot and has taken some meetings by phone, which the council permits, but Dinwiddie is readily available in person. He believes that while communication is improving, there sometimes remains a disconnect between the council and city staff members, and he wants to be a facilitator to further mend that bridge. He also said he wants to get the city out from under the albatross of the electricity contract. Dinwiddie is endorsed.

Slusher: How to use our endorsements

Carl Fischer
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.