DAVENPORT, Iowa — A former Davenport alderman has demanded nearly a million dollars from the City, alleging they did not adequately defend him against allegations and engaged in "both defamation and malicious conduct," according to a letter obtained through a records request.
In the Jan. 16 letter, former Fourth Ward Alderman Robby Ortiz demanded $950,000 from the City of Davenport in exchange for "a complete release of all claims being litigated and release from future claims against the City of Davenport" and other employees.
Back in late September, Fifth Ward Alderman Tim Kelly, the Council's only Black alderperson, accused First Ward Alderman Rick Dunn and Ortiz of using racist language towards him. At a city council meeting on Sept. 27, Matson said that a task force would be put together to investigate the accusations from Kelly. The results of the investigation have yet to be released as of the date of publication.
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Ortiz filed a lawsuit in October against Kelly, accusing him of defamation. Kelly filed a motion to dismiss the case, which was denied on Feb. 1, according to court documents. There have been no posted updates in the litigation since.
The time-sensitive demand from Ortiz to the City of Davenport expired at 5 p.m. on Feb. 2, according to the letter. It's unclear whether or not the money has been paid to Ortiz. News 8 reached out to the City for comment on the matter and received the following response from Brian Heyer, the assistant city attorney: The City of Davenport will allow this matter to resolve through judicial processes without offering public comment.
Ortiz claims in the letter that the allegations cost him being reelected to the Fourth Ward position, which he lost to Jade Burkholder in the November election. In addition, he said his business, Hawkeye Tap, has seen "a significant decrease in patronage" and that he has experienced public humiliation from the allegations.
Ortiz's letter to the City of Davenport
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