Mike Thoms is the incumbent Rock Island mayor facing off against challenger Ashley Harris for the Rock Island mayoral election to be held April 1. (Early voted has already started) As part of our ongoing commitment to providing fair, comprehensive and contextual conversation with local newsmakers, particularly surrounding important elections, QC Uncut has hosted Mr. Thoms and Mr. Harris in separate episodes. To keep the playing field as even and fair as possible, both candidates were asked exactly the same questions, were interviewed on the same day, and their time to speak was within the same parameter of roughly 75 minutes.

We talked to both of them about a wide-ranging number of topics, with many questions submitted by Rock Island residents. Conversation included discussion on the Rock Island downtown, 11th Street development, growing car theft and crime in the city, negative perceptions of the city, the Jakarta Jackson case, and more. Both conversations were in-depth and substantive and offer a wealth of information to help local residents make their own decision on the future direction of the city in their mayoral election. We hope you listen to both and get out the vote on April 1.