Larry Morrissey
Encyclopedia
Lawrence J. "Larry" Morrissey (Born in 1969 in Rockford, IL) is the Mayor of Rockford, Illinois
. As an independent, Morrissey defeated Democratic
incumbent
Doug Scott
in the 2005 mayoral elections after trying in his first run in 2001 with a populist
campaign promising road improvements
, education reforms, lower property taxes and a revitalized downtown
. In an attempt to reduce the city's reliance on property taxes to fund road projects, Morrissey proposed an increase to the city's sales tax. A sales tax increase referendum was defeated in the March 2006 primary but passed in the April 2007 election.
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
. As an independent, Morrissey defeated Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
Doug Scott
Douglas P. Scott
Doug Scott served one term from 2001-2005 as mayor of Rockford, Illinois, United States, after serving from 1995-2001 as a member of the Illinois General Assembly. He was elected mayor after Charles Box declined to seek a fourth term. A Democrat, Scott was appointed to head the Illinois...
in the 2005 mayoral elections after trying in his first run in 2001 with a populist
Populism
Populism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social...
campaign promising road improvements
Pothole
A pothole is a type of disruption in the surface of a roadway where a portion of the road material has broken away, leaving a hole.- Formation :...
, education reforms, lower property taxes and a revitalized downtown
Downtown
Downtown is a term primarily used in North America by English speakers to refer to a city's core or central business district ....
. In an attempt to reduce the city's reliance on property taxes to fund road projects, Morrissey proposed an increase to the city's sales tax. A sales tax increase referendum was defeated in the March 2006 primary but passed in the April 2007 election.