Drew Davis’s Background:
Drew Davis originally came to Moscow in 2012 with his wife to finish school. He graduated from the University of Idaho with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in architecture. Now he works at Knit Designing Communities, an architecture firm in downtown Moscow.
“We [Knit Designing Communities] work in the western United States. I mostly specialize in affordable housing in the greater Seattle area,” Davis said.
Davis also teaches part-time at UI as a lecturer for the College of Art and Architecture. He teaches six credits in the fall for graduate students for the Technical Integration Studio, and a three-credit class in the spring about digital tools for architecture and interior designers.
“Then I am currently on city council, so those are my three areas of focus. It’s busy, but it’s fun,” Davis said.
What are your main campaign goals and what do you want to change in Moscow?
Davis was on the City Planning and Zoning Commission before Mayor Bettge appointed him to the City Council. Davis is passionate about continuing his work on different zoning and planning issues, and affordable housing.
“A lot of people talk about housing and affordable housing, but a lot of people don’t know the zoning and planning that drives all of these decisions,” Davis said.
Davis said he wants to work on the parking requirement for certain buildings that do not need excessive parking.
“I would like to see districts or areas in town where we could lessen the requirement for parking because that gives you more housing options. If you look at any parking lot at any store or any apartment complex, the largest part of that is the parking lot,” Davis said. “And so, if we can find ways to reduce that, that would be something I am really keen on.”
Davis hopes to educate the public about housing.
“There is a lot of misinformation about what housing is,” Davis said. “So, I am really passionate about starting a housing summit on the Palouse and really start talking with our neighbors about how we’re going to address our housing crisis.”
Davis acknowledges it is a global issue.
“I can only solve what we’re doing in Moscow, so I really want to focus efforts on educating the public on what cities and policies can do, but there needs to be a private and a public interest to solve this.”
In what ways can the relationship between the University of Idaho and Moscow community be improved?
“This is always a topic of conversation. For me, I think the bridge is built. I just want to increase the frequency of how the bridge is being used,” Davis said.
Davis expressed that he would like to see a liaison from the City Council be able to attend meetings at the UI campus like ASUI’s weekly meeting. Similarly, he would like to see student representatives at City Council meetings.
Davis also said he would like to have conversations with local businesses about how to increase hiring UI alumni who wish to stay in Moscow after graduation.
Davis also would like to see some type of resource or technology that could show community members when events are.
“I think there needs to be some type of resource technology, like an app, where calendars align with the university and city schedule,” Davis said. “So people from the public, if they are not from the university, could see when events like the Borah Symposium are. If you are a student, you could see when a Parks and Rec meeting is. I think those are really important things.”
Any oversights or mistake city is making now:
Davis expressed that he did not think there were any oversights or mistakes the city was making currently.
“I will say, being on City Council this last year, I’ve learned a lot about how the city operates in another way. Even being on the Planning and Zoning Commission for two years, being on Council for a year, I have had another perspective,” Davis said.
Davis said the City of Moscow does a lot with a little bit of finance.
“I think practices could always be changed,” Davis said. “We’re constantly adding measures to protect people’s dollars. How we allocate funds and how we spend those funds, there is a method to that so there cannot be fraud.”
Why should people vote for you:
“I know a lot about infrastructure. I know a lot about buildings and architecture. I review general contractors’ contracts for work that I do professionally,” Davis said. “So public works, things we do here at the city, this is something I do professionally, and I think that is an asset for city council, to know how to bring that forward.”
Davis added that he works in cities in the western United States and can bring back the perspective of other cities to Moscow.
Davis also said being a dad is also an important perspective to bring to the city council.
“I have a family here in Moscow and I think I’ve experienced a lot of phases of Moscow,” Davis said. “I have four kids that go to public school here. Moscow is a family town also, so as a dad, I also think representing children and what our children need is really critical. I can’t make decisions for the School Board or anything like that, but I really am in tune to what that needs to be and how we go about doing it.”
Davis also talked about public city facilities.
“I spend a lot of time at our city facilities. I’m always at the pool in the summertime with my family. I’m always at the parks at least once a day, playing with my kids. We’ve had birthday parties at different city buildings,” Davis said. “That’s an important thing about the city of Moscow, to be part of the city.”
“I love Moscow. I want the small businesses to develop. I work for a small business in Moscow. I shop at small businesses,” Davis said.
Additional comments:
“When you look at candidates, you need to look at the individual and look at their experience. Look at what they are doing professionally and what they are able to bring to the council. I think the areas that I bring are that I am connected to the university, I work for a local business, I’m a dad, I have a family. Those are voices that need to be heard. I’m of the opinion that if you are doing this just because you are retired or you don’t know what to do, I don’t think that is a good reason to run for city council. So, I recommend to the community, look at qualifications, and look at their purpose and I think that if you want people to get things done, find a busy person.”
Georgia Swanson can be reached at [email protected]