Rock Island Today

After a successful term as South Moline Township trustee, Lisa Griffin has decided to run for re-election.

Griffin has been a trustee for 12 years; she was first elected in 2005. She ran for clerk in 2009 but lost and took four years off from politics before being elected back into the position of trustee in 2013.

Griffin, with the help of other members of the Moline Township governance, has lowered taxes by 11 percent.

When the current township supervisor, Tracy Best, took office in 2013, the township was left with a large surplus. Those funds were moved elsewhere to help lower taxes.

“You have to believe keeping taxes lowered is a priority for the citizens,” Griffin told Rock Island Today. 

The money was used for, among other things, repairing many of Moline’s roads and infrastructure.

A large part of the infrastructure repair was done on the senior center. They were able to improve the parking lot, install a new roof and new doors to make the facility safer for the seniors who use it.

Along with improving the infrastructure of the senior center, Griffin and the other trustees were able to give seniors vouchers to get supplies like toiletries.

Not only was the township able to help the seniors in the community, they were also able to help the youth over the last four years.

“A lot that we do that I get excited about is helping the needy kids,” Griffin said.

Griffin and the township provide backpacks for needy students. At the first day of school, two boys and two girls in each grade level receive a backpack full of supplies. Last year, they donated 100 backpacks.

Members also provide vouchers for shoes and clothing to the needier students whose families are unable to purchase much for themselves. In addition to shoes and clothing, the LensCrafters Eyeglass program helps give students access to eye care.

The township also helps the YMCA host summer camps for children who don’t normally get those kinds of opportunities by giving the children money to attend.

When Griffin was elected four years ago, she helped launch a new website for the township.

“We started with a new website right away because we thought transparency was important,” Griffin said.

Griffin is hoping to continue the success of the last four years into the next four years.

“I think we’re on the right track, so let’s stay on that track,” Griffin said.

She plans to continue making improvements on the website, making it as accessible as possible for citizens.

Griffin also hopes to be able to keep taxes low and still make continued infrastructure improvements and maintain and improve the programs for the youth and senior citizens.

The election will be April 4.