Union chief challenges Ross for mayor

A city mechanic is stepping up to the plate to take on more than troubled vehicles for the voters and taxpayers of Superior.

Gilbert "Gil" Davidson, president of the public works union, announced plans today to run for mayor. He's served as a mechanic for the city's Public Works Department for about four years.

Davidson is challenging Mayor Dave Ross, who announced plans to seek a second term in office in the April 3 election.

"I hope they take me serious because I am serious about this," Davidson said, referring to voters, during an interview Tuesday morning. "I've lived in the city 37 years and I would like to see the city get on the right track and start growing a little."

Davidson envisions a municipality where everyone has a voice in major decisions. And he's spent years in a political environment, serving as a union leader most of his working life in Duluth and Superior. When city officials discussed changing the way the Nemadji Golf Course was managed, he circulated a petition to try to bring the issue to the voters.

"Big decisions like that should be put to the voters," said Davidson, who added the city gave away the golf course when it entered into a lease agreement that took management of the facility out of city hands. "It shouldn't be just a few people making the decision."

That experience taught Davidson that more people would like to have a say in local government, he said.

"I'm going to lead the way residents want me to," Davidson said, "or what I consider best for the city to get it on the right track."

Davidson said his union leadership experience has taught him well how to communicate with and lead people. The job requires talking to and negotiating with people to get something done.

"I've got my own ideas, but I also bring it to my membership and listen to them and see what they want," he said. "It's not just what I think or what a few people think. It's what everybody thinks, and that's what I act on."

And it's talk he's heard that prompted him to decide to run for office.

"A lot of people have been talking about what goes on in the city here and things they don't like about it," Davidson said. "I think I can come in here and get the city back on track, get things done that the citizens of Superior want and need."

After all, Davidson said, not everyone is happy with the way things are going in Superior.

"I don't want to run anybody down here or anything like that," he said, but the recent controversy over the demolition of the Palace Theater and Odyssey's and End Zone bars in shows residents' discontent.

Davidson, married 44 years with three children and seven grandchildren, said he would like to see more industry in Superior to build the city's job base. He said his son, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Superior, moved to Appleton because finding work in Superior was difficult. With assets like the university and Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College, Davidson said he would like to see more opportunities available for graduates of those institutions.

He has no illusions he will be able to accomplish the task alone. Davidson said the city has leaders in the business and development community that he will work with to improve the city's economy.

"I'll do my best to do what the voters want," he said. "I'll listen to the voters, not just the special interests."

Shelley Nelson covers Superior/Douglas County. Call (715) 394-4421, ext. 134 or e-mail snelson@superiortelegram.com .