Welcome

I, being a life long resident of Elgin love this city and believe it to be a good place to live and see many strengths and great potential within this community to make Elgin and even better place to live. I believe by becoming a council member I can help actualize these strengths and help develop future policies to greater benefit the citizens of Elgin and the city as a whole


Elgin has many unique challenges that currently face it and will continue over the next few years. Also Elgin shares many of the same problems facing communities in America presently. The economy is one of these issues that Elgin and America currently are in need of addressing. When dealing with a struggling economy, many local initiatives need to be developed and refined in order to help promote economic growth within the community and encourage entrepreneurial endeavors, job creation, and sustenance. Lowering taxes levied on businesses is one way to help encourage business within Elgin and promote job growth within the community and furthermore retain the jobs Elgin currently does have. Rarely has it that a strong local economy within a community has created problems that both citizens and council members have not looked forward to addressing.


Secondly, and somewhat in tandem, I believe fiscal responsibility on the part of city government to be a major concern. As a council member if elected I would make it a priority to first review current spending practice within city government to see if more efficient use of funds could be established. If all other measures failed to address the problems within city spending, a reduction in services would be called for to once again better meet the needs of the citizens of Elgin while still reducing the tax burden on all.


Lastly, I believe local government and its representatives need to be more accountable for the performance of its services and should create an environment in which all city departments function at their highest level. Simply put I think local government should promote and foster the opportunities for other public services, such as law enforcement, social services and code enforcement, to carry out their intended functions and allow them to operate in a way that fulfills their role as intended. Local government needs to let “itself” work and not stymie its own effectiveness. City government owes its citizens at least that much.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Campaign Promises

1. To be a proactive council member and not a reactive one.

2. To meet with local groups on a regular basis to stay in touch with the citizens of Elgin.

3. To vote against ANY tax or fee increase in excess of what the city already has in place and to LOWER TAXES when possible, while still maintaining quality services to residents.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Why You Should Vote for Me

I believe that I have the conviction, dedication and humility to take seriously the needs and desire of the citizens of Elgin. I will work hard each and every day I am in office, and will do so with pride and distinction, just as the citizens of this fine city do. The thing that I want to let the voters know first and foremost is that Elginites are the city government, and I want to the run the city in fashion that lets them feel that with each passing day, all the while encouraging stewardship within the community. Many council members want to run the entire city and make every little decision for the city, that’s truly not my intention. Sometimes less is more…

Businesses

I would hope to accomplish is for the city of Elgin to be known as the best place in the western suburbs to set up a business and invest in the community we have here. I would want a business to be able buy/lease land on day one and be able to set up shop the very next day. Bringing in businesses is the only way to ensure the survival of this beloved city and the prosperity of not only the community, but the very resident that comprise it. I would accomplish this by streamlining the process in which business open and operate within Elgin, in hopes of making Elgin and more business friendly city.