The man who gained nationwide attention defending Davenport during the recent flood says he won’t run for a third term as mayor in November.Phil Yerrington says his decision is a financial one. He makes 36-thousand dollars a year as mayor and says that’s not enough to put his son and daughter through college. Yerrington says he’ll take advantage of a provision that allows him to return to his old job as a Lieutenant on the Davenport police force, where he can make 27-thousand dollars more a year. Yerrington says it wasn’t an easy decision, as he calls being mayor “the best job he’s ever had.” Yerrington says it’s been an honor, privilege and pleasure to represent the people of Davenport.Yerrington gained national fame last month when he spoke out against critics who said Davenport shouldn’t get federal funds because the city doesn’t have a floodwall. Yerrington has also been at the center of several disputes on the local level. He says he’s proud of what he’s accomplished even though it’s drawn criticism from local folks. He says the reputation of being someone who couldn’t get along, isn’t something he likes. He says he was trying to get something done, and some of the personality clashes came from running into people who weren’t committed to the challenge of getting things done.Yerrington says he may run for mayor again sometime in the future. He is finishing up his second two-year term.
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