Home Rule - "I don't think that means what you think it means."

Zion IL, City Hall. Author's Photo

The Magic Number - 25,000

After attending a number of City Council meetings, doing my research on how local government functions, and speaking with a number of people, I began to notice a couple of recurring themes.

First, an almost reflexive negative response on the part of Council members to any kind of regulatory change or ordinance amendment that might result in a very minor cost to homeowners or businesses.  Being good stewards of the public's funds is admirable, but in comparison to the millions of dollars that were doled out to patch the city budget, or to pay for the Fielder's fiasco, the adage "penny wise and pound foolish"  is totally appropriate when looking at the performance of past city councils (see my previous blog post "One Time Dollars" ).  In my opinion, this almost overt aversion to raising fees or taxes, for any reason, has placed the City government into a trap of it's own creation. Even after a number of measures taken to cut costs and services, operational costs have continued to rise, and by not raising the tax levy for a number of years, and expending all of the cash reserves to cover the gaps, the city is now behind the curve and facing a deficit of $1.6 million dollars in the next fiscal year. In their unwillingness to face the ire of taxpayers over what would be a minor increase a few years ago, they kicked the can down the road until it grew into the problem we face today. Balanced budgets require a realistic view of revenues and expenses, ignoring one in favor of the other will result in disaster.  The current impasse in Springfield is exhibit A of this truth, and Zion has placed itself in a similar bind.

Second, is what I refer to as the "our hands are tied" response when confronted by citizens upset over these changes, when there is a cost involved, or just as often when no action is taken over an issue of concern.  Nuisance ordinances, and rental property licensing were two topics that often received the "we really can't do anything, our hands are tied" response for years. Immediately followed by "If we had Home Rule, then maybe we could do something about it, but we haven't hit that 25,000 population mark, so we really can't do much." An answer which ignored the fact that home rule can be obtained by referendum, and that there are alternative avenues available to governments to deal with those issues without home rule powers.

Invoking the magic effect of Home Rule is a bit of a dodge, it's another way of deflecting criticism and justifying continued inaction on the part of government. In and of itself, Home Rule does offer another set of tools for municipalities and counties, but it is not a free pass for those governing bodies to do whatever they want in every case.

Under the Illinois Constitution, Article VII, Section 6 (a) " A County which has a chief executive officer elected by the electors of the county and any municipality which has a population of more than 25,000 are home rule units. Other municipalities may elect by referendum to become home rule units. Except as limited by this Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs including, but not limited to, the power to regulate for the protection of the public health, safety, morals and welfare; to license; to tax; and to incur debt."

Now, the interpretation of home rule powers is fairly liberal, except in any area where the State has already determined a legislative interest, or where there is a broader interest involved.  That is why in cases of Home Rule, the actions almost always are related to local taxes. Primarily alternate revenue taxes; Municipal Retailers and Service Occupation Taxes, Hotel/Motel Tax (home rule lifts the tourism promotion restriction and allows other uses for the funds), Gasoline Tax, Use Tax, Cigarette Taxes, and the ability to raise Property Taxes beyond the State imposed 5% cap, or to impose limits on the governing body to raise those taxes.

Another area where home rule is often used is in rental property regulation, and this takes us back to the "our hands are tied" theme that was often invoked.  When I was researching for my first campaign, one of the things I learned was that a Rental Property inspection and certification program was a recommendation in the city development plan that was passed in 1992. By state law an inspection program was restricted for non-home rule communities, in that the fees could not exceed the administrative costs, otherwise it would be considered a revenue generating tax, which is not allowed for under non-home rule.  In bringing up this proposal during the campaign, I would often get the "don't we need home rule to do that?" in response.

In the intervening decades the unwillingness of City government to deal with the issue of residential rental properties, unless we happened to hit that magic number of 25,000, set the stage for our current housing crises. Today, in the wake of the 2008 economic disaster, and the collapse of the housing market, Zion now has a rental to ownership ratio of 60% to 40%, which is not a healthy situation for any community.  Circumstances have finally brought the City Council around to acting on the problem by implementing a certification program starting this year.  Unfortunately, the legacy of decades of avoidance have come back to haunt them, because now the costs of implementing and administering the program is much greater than it would have been if it had been adopted when first recommended.  So, instead of an inspection program that is just part of the duties of the regular Building and Zoning department, with a moderate fee, what is being proposed is a high fee per unit ($100) that is necessary to pay for the additional staff to carry out the program now.

This is the price of avoidance, in the short term I don't doubt that doing so helped some people get re-elected a number of times, but the long term damage to the City may not be known for years.

Water Sense - a broader interest

 The incident that prompted my writing this article occurred at a recent City Council meeting during a discussion of amendments to the municipal code regarding water use conservation.  These amendments were required under the directive of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the agency that holds the responsibility of administrating the allocation of Lake Michigan Water to Illinois communities.  The legal basis of which is:

The a U.S. Supreme Court Decree [Wisconsin v. Illinois, 49 U.S. 48 (1980) that limits Illinois' diversion of Lake Michigan water also contains language directing Illinois to implement a water conservation program. The Level of Lake Michigan Act [615 ILCS 50] incorporates the Decree language which states that:

"all feasible means reasonably available to the State and municipalities, political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities shall be employed to conserve and manage the water resources of the region and the use of water therin in accordance with the best modern scientific knowledge and engineering practice." [615 ILCS 50/5]  

This is the operative judicial and statutory language that directs the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (Department) to develop and implement a water management and conservation program covering all  permittees of Lake Michigan water.

- Water Conservation and Efficiency Program Review Illinois' Fifth Report to the Compact Council and Regional Body, December 8, 2014

Water conservation of the Lake Michigan watershed isn't a small matter, water service over the long term to a growing population is a matter of the broadest interest.

In its mandate to carry out conservation measures as noted above the IDNR had set out new requirements regarding unaccounted water losses, lawn watering, and the use of Water Sense approved fixtures in new and replacement plumbing.

Water Sense fixtures are certified to save consumers up to 20% of their water costs over the lifetime of the equipment. It's similar to an EnergyStar rating on electronics. In the long term their use will be a benefit to the consumer, and to the environment.  Saving money and water are generally good things, I think most people would agree with that.

At that meeting, when the requirement for Water Sense fixtures was brought up, the specter of avoidance and the invocation of Home Rule raised their heads in a single exchange.

Commissioner McDowell (Public Safety) queried Director Ianson, of the Building and Zoning Department on how much the use of Water Sense fixtures will add to the cost of new construction, or repairs. (avoiding possible short-term pain in lieu of long-term benefits)

Director Ianson, replied that he did not know.

Commissioner McDowell then asked if Zion had Home Rule, would they be able to get out of following these directives?

I knew the answer before it left Ianson's lips. No. In this case Home Rule cannot trump State regulations, and I have to say, I was somewhat surprised that the Commissioner would even suggest using Home Rule in such a manner.

Home Rule has it's uses, if it implemented properly by a government that understands it's limitations.  Whether home rule is achieved by population or by referendum, lets hope that the City of Zion will exercise the wisdom and judgement necessary to use it successfully.

I highly recommend the work of James A. Banovetz on Home Rule issues in Illinois. In particular: Illinois Home Rule: A Case Study in Fiscal Responsibility, JRAP 32:31 (2002).

A Comment on the Waukegan Coal Plant Permit

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is holding a hearing on the Waukegan coal plant tonight, at 7 p.m. at Illinois Beach State Park Resort in Zion.

I have prepared a comment to present at the hearing, the text follows:

Good Evening,

I am Christopher Fischer, a twenty year resident of Zion, and I’m speaking tonight as a concerned citizen.

This is not the year 1902, we know that the sky is not limitless and we know that the lake cannot carry away everything we deposit into it. We cannot feign ignorance of the environmental and economic costs that will continue to fall upon the citizens of North East Lake County if the operating permit for the NRG Coal Plant is renewed as currently written.

Today, we who live here are paying the tab on an environmental legacy resulting from short-term decisions made over decades. Ignorance of the long-term toxic effects certainly played a role, but all too often economics and expedience were the driving factors in those decisions.

We know that expedience in the service of short-term profit is no bargain. The five Superfund sites in this area alone, testify to the price of expedience. It is long past time we stop subsidizing corporate profit margins at the expense of our health, quality of life, and ultimately with our tax dollars.

It is 2015, and we know better. Therefore I ask that the IEPA re-draft this permit to include the current air quality standards, and stronger inspection, monitoring and record-keeping protocols to ensure compliance.

Thank you for your attention.

Christopher Fischer

This is an issue that effects everyone in Waukegan, Beach Park, Zion, and Winthrop Harbor. If you live here, you should be concerned about the outcome of this permit process. If you can join me at the meeting tonight, I would love to see you there.

A Trip to Springfield and Some Family History

H. R. 223 and the legacy of John W.E. Thomas

Dr. Joens biography and a copy of H. R. 223. Author's photo.

On April 28th, I accompanied my wife Christie on a special visit to the State Capitol in Springfield to witness the passage of House Resolution 223, to honor the life of her great-grandfather John W.E. Thomas, who was the first African-American elected to the Illinois State Legislature in 1876.  A former slave, he became a successful lawyer, and legislator who achieved passage of the first Civil Rights bill in Illinois.

To describe Christie and I as history buffs would be an understatement, our bookshelves are stacked with volumes on just about any topic and time period, and she has a B.A. in History with Honors from Barat College.  We love history.

One of the truisms of history, is that the significance of a person or an event often doesn't become clear until much later. John W. E. Thomas was one of those people, though his considerable accomplishments were noted during his lifetime, and passed down as family history, his official legacy was largely forgotten over time and perhaps even deliberately obscured by his political rivals in later years.

Thomas might have remained a footnote in the annals of Illinois political history if not for the efforts of David A. Joens, the Director of the Illinois State Archives, who spent 14 years researching Thomas's life and career, that resulted in the biography "From Slave to State Legislator, John W.E. Thomas, Illinois First African American Lawmaker".  Here is a video of Joens lecturing about Thomas at the Abraham Lincoln Library.

In 2008, my brother in law, Gregory Thomas and his wife Sherma, learned about Dr. Joens, and that he was giving a talk about John Thomas at the National Archives in Chicago. We all went to the event, and during the Q&A session, Greg introduced himself as Thomas' descendent.  Joens was so surprised, I thought he might have a heart-attack. Afterwards, we had a backstage tour of the Archive, and later he was kind enough to send us a copy of the galley version of the book.  Ultimately, the book was published in 2012, and speaking as an avid reader of history, it is an eye-opening study of late 19th century politics, as seen through Thomas's life and career.

Bringing us forward to 2015, Greg and Christie were contacted by State Representative John D. Anthony (R-Morris), as an African American legislator he had become interested in John Thomas, and learned that he had never been honored by the House for his work.  He decided to introduce a resolution in the current session to do just that. So we made the trip to Springfield and sat in the House gallery to witness the reading of the resolution.

This was my first visit to the State Capitol, and if you have never watched the House in session, you might be surprised at the amount of noise coming from the floor as the session is being conducted.  Legislators and staff are all holding conversations as the chair reads out the resolutions and announces the vote results at the same time.  Until Representative Anthony started reading House Resolution 223, and after a few moments everyone became silent, and many stood up.  Dr. Joens later said that he'd never seen anything like it in the House before.  Here is a YouTube video of the reading of the resolution.

Afterwards, Representative Anthony came up to the Gallery to meet the family, and we had our pictures taken, of course.

L-R Gregory Thomas, Christie Thomas-Fischer, Representative Anthony, Sherma Thomas, Christopher Fischer. Photo Courtesy Rep. Anthony office

Then when the session had ended, we were taken down to the House floor, for more photos, and to look at where John Thomas sat, then Dr. Joens took us on a tour of the Capitol and the State Archives. Here are a few photos I snapped with my trusty phone.

Chatting with Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago)

The restored ceiling of the House Chamber

Statue of General John Logan, who played a major role in Thomas career.

In the Senate Chamber Gallery.

Our backstage tour of the Capitol concluded in Dr. Joens office at the State Archive, where he showed us the original sleeve that held the Civil Right's bill Thomas sponsored.

And the Oath he signed upon taking office.

 

I don't think there is a greater privilege than to have the opportunity to talk with someone who is so passionate about his subject as David Joens, it was a real joy to see.

We had a broad ranging discussion about how we might be able to get some official representation of John Thomas in the State Capitol with a statue or a portrait, or perhaps even as part of the future Obama Presidential Library. As with everything, timing is important, and now 116 years after John W.E. Thomas passed away, perhaps it's time for him to emerge from the past and be recognized for his achievements in the post-Civil War decades, often in the face of tremendous difficulties. Time will tell.

Postscript

This was my first trip to Springfield, and what a wonderful introduction.  As I have written many times over the past few years, and expressed in my campaigns for office I truly believe in the fundamental importance of our self-government in bettering our lives. Whatever the difficulties and frustrations with our politics we face in the present, we must keep in mind the challenges faced by previous generations, and how they persevered. 

I have to say that it was an honor to take part in this long-overdue recognition of a true pioneer, and that through my marriage to Christie I can claim kinship to him, and in turn she is linked to the German, Irish, and Dutch immigrants that formed my family (even all the way back to a Prime Minister of Great Britain), truly a snapshot of the American experience. A little family history.

I'll close with one final pitch for David Joens book, it's well worth the read, and you can find it on Amazon .

473

April 7, 2015 Election Results

This election is now in the books. 

After six months of campaigning, standing in front of the Zion Post Office for twelve Saturdays in a row, and knocking on over 2,000 doors all the while going on foot throughout the city in the snow and the cold for another three months, talking with hundreds of people and passing out literature. After carefully crafting opening and closing statements, detailed factual proposals, and posting videos on YouTube.

After all this outreach, and speaking and effort, listening to homeowner after homeowner decry the high taxes that they have been paying, and how they don't know if they can stay in this town.

After all this, 473 citizens had the courage to vote for something new, a vision for the future.

13.55% of the votes cast for the office of Commissioner were given to me, and to those people I am deeply grateful for the validation they gave to my efforts.

I had hoped to repay them with the next four years of dedicated service, but that is not to be.  Now that this election is finished, I will place my focus on serving the people of Zion and Winthrop Harbor as a Trustee of the Lake County Public Water District, and do my best to ensure that their water service is as safe and affordable as possible.

Beyond that, I will not speculate. The future is always filled with opportunity and possibility, we just have to have the courage to work for it.

Thank you for your support, and as always I look forward to hearing from you.

Christopher

Election Eve - The Power of Choice

Good Morning. Today is Monday April 6th, the day before the election.  It's early, my dogs, who have their own agenda woke me up just after 5:00 am, and before I head out for a final day of planting signs and walking to another 300 houses I just want to share some thoughts about the choice you have tomorrow at the polls.

Zion Precinct Map

Two years ago on election eve I wrote about the power of ideas to move people to action, and that core belief has continued to drive me through all the months of campaigning; the walking, speaking, and hours of door-knocking throughout the fall and winter all over Zion.  I spent all that time and endured the harsh weather because I believe in the importance of this election, that the choice we make tomorrow will shape the future of this City and lives of the people who live here.

It's that important.

Local government is mostly unknown, ignored, and invisible to the average citizen, until they see the quarterly bill, or take a close look at their property taxes. The elections for those offices get even less attention, and the choice is often reduced to simple name recognition.

I have read and listened to what my competitors in this race have been saying regarding their reasons for seeking office and their proposals, and with all due respect for their willingness to serve I don't believe they are up to the job.

The office of Commissioner is not a hobby, something to fill the time during retirement. It's not merely a title to be conferred upon someone just because they are nice, popular, and grew up here. It's a position that carries real power, authority, and responsibility for the quality of life for the 23,000 people in this city.

It's that serious.

As I have said before, I couldn't be more serious about taking on this job and the challenges of building a new future for Zion.   I have the vision, I've done the research, and I'm ready to get to work. To do that, I need your vote tomorrow.

The choice is yours.

Sincerely,

Christopher Fischer

Avoid the Rain - Vote Early!

Next Tuesday, April 7th is Election Day, and the forecast is less than great. So, why not vote while the sun is shining?  

Early Voting continues this week through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm at Zion City Hall, 2828 Sheridan Road.  The last day for Early Voting is this Saturday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, and the weather is supposed to be great.

Don't Wait! Go Vote!  Because Every Vote Counts!  I hope to be able to greet some of you at City Hall on Saturday, but I will be focused on going door to door to try to get people out to vote.

This election is too important, and I need your support and your votes.

If you have any questions, or comments, I would love to hear from you at fischerforzion@gmail.com

Thanks!

Chris

Zion Minority Caucus - Opening Statement and Q&A

This evening, I participated in a Candidate Town Hall, hosted by the Zion Minority Caucus.  The evening went very well, but we only were able to get to a couple of the selection of questions that were provided to the candidates in advance.  Presented here for your information, is the text of the questions and my written responses. Starting with my Opening Statement and answer to the first question, followed by the Closing Statement and the selection of random questions, with my answers. 

I want to thank the Zion Minority Caucus for putting this event together, and I look forward to working with them in the future.

Opening Statement

Intro Question: Please briefly introduce yourself and answer the following question: If you had to select one thing in which the city of Zion needs to improve, what would it be and what is your experience to achieve your desired outcome?

Answer. Opening Statement – New Leadership (follows)

Good Evening. I want to thank our hosts for putting this event together, and my fellow candidates for participating. I’m Christopher Fischer, candidate for Commissioner and to the public I offer the experience and judgment acquired in over thirty years of professional life.  For the past sixteen years I have been employed in Human Resources at the American Medical Association, in Chicago. I have over a decade of management experience in the Private Security field, and I served in the U.S. Army as an Intelligence Analyst. This is my second campaign for the office of Commissioner, and in the two years since that election I have served the public as a Trustee on the Board of the Lake County Public Water District, and as a member of the Steering Committee for the new Comprehensive Development Plan. Where does Zion need to improve? I’ve often said, “Even small governments make big decisions.” Government exists to provide services that we cannot accomplish as individuals.  Zion is faced with many challenges; economic, financial, environmental, and social. To meet these challenges, we need new leadership with a fresh perspective, able to respond with innovative and creative solutions. Leadership that will act as strong advocates for our interests at all levels of government. I believe that for this city to grow and prosper, we need to up our game, both locally and regionally, and work together towards making Zion a better place.  I’ve done the research. I have the drive and determination. I’m ready to get to work, for you. I look forward to your questions, and hope that this will be an informative evening for all of us.   Thank You. Closing Statement and Questions Closing Question: If elected, what are three (specific) things you plan to do for the city of Zion. Answers: We face a lot of serious issues, so picking three is just scratching the surface. Restore Fiscal Balance to the City Budget, through necessary cuts and increased alternate revenue wherever possible. We face a $1.6 million deficit and need to deal with it quickly, because this affects the public services that we rely on.  Pursue Aggressive Economic Development by obtaining Enterprise Zone status and begin to jump start growth in our local economy.  Target the acquisition of federal funding for critical infrastructure by collaborating with Winthrop Harbor and Beach Park to develop a regional water infrastructure project, and lobby our State and Federal representatives for additional grants and funding assistance.    Conclusion Governing is more than just a checklist of tasks to be done; it’s the means by which we determine the quality of our lives in this community.  It’s also about combining aspiration with action to remake the present, and to build the future we all want.  Building the future is serious business, and we need serious people do the job. I couldn’t be more serious, and I’m ready to get to work if given the honor of being your new Commissioner. I ask for your support and your vote on April 7th. Thank You. Questions If elected, what is your strategy to lower taxes for home and business owners? Answer: I have proposed that the city apply for Enterprise Zone Status under the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act.  This status would grant us access to special tax and regulatory incentives for businesses.  New businesses will help create the revenue needed to reduce the tax burden on homeowners.  Further, I propose that the Enterprise Zone Act be amended to include the Nuclear Fuel Storage Facility in the same criteria as an abandoned coal mine, or brownfield site, and that the zone status should not expire until the spent fuel is removed from the lakefront.  I believe these proposals provide practical means towards growing our local economy while helping to reduce homeowner taxes over time, and obtaining some compensation for the detrimental impact of the nuclear storage site in our community. There are several houses and buildings that are destitute, vacant and old that needs to be cleaned or torn down. What are your plans to beautify Zion in areas that aren’t so attractive? For home properties, will you be committed to getting the health department actively involved in either, evicting these individuals or assuring they clean their property both inside and out? Answer: Enforce existing codes, firmly and fairly. The city should do what it can to help homeowners keep up their property.  The Abandoned Property Registration program I proposed two years ago has since been enacted, and is working. The greater problem are slumlords that are just taking money and damaging our community. A Rental Certification and Inspection program will help weed out the bad actors. I also proposed such a program two years ago, and we need it now. How do you plan to position the city for future economic growth, including attracting new businesses and home owners and what experience do you have to help move Zion forward economically? Answer: We need to break the current cycle of stagnation. High taxes keep new businesses away. TIF Districts can help, but I believe we need a bigger lever and that is why I propose an Enterprise Zone.  Tying the Zone to the Nuclear Storage site also provides a small measure of compensation for the burden of storing that material on our lakefront. The experience I bring to this effort is my ability to identify solutions and the actions needed to achieve them. Youth under the age of 18 make up a large majority of our city. What are your plans to create more opportunities, activities or programs that keep our youth engaged as active participants in Zion? Answer:  Commissioners also serve as Trustees for the Township, and I look forward to the opportunity to partner with Supervisor Neal to develop programs in cooperation with the School and Park Districts.  Arts and Culture programs especially, and I think we need to use new economy resources such as “Kickstarter” to raise funds to support those programs. When driving in certain neighborhoods in Zion, for example 29th and Gideon, you rarely see any campaign signs in residents’ yards. This is representative of the lack of engagement between certain parts of the city and Zion leadership. How do you plan to engage community residents in those particular neighborhoods? Answer:  This has been a concern of mine for a long time, and not just for specific parts of the community, but all of it. I even wrote about it on my blog Fischer for Zion, it’s titled A Public Hearing – An Empty House, posted on March 30, 2013. I went to a meeting at City Hall about Electric Aggregation, and I was probably the only member of the public in the audience. Since 2011 I have attended over 80 meetings of the Council, and often I can count the public attendance on one hand and have fingers left over. Self –Governance requires us as citizens to participate.  So, I plan to do what I have been doing, encouraging everyone to become involved, using every and any means I can think of. With the growing population of Zion, specifically the West side, do you support moving toward a form of government where commissioners represent specific precinct/area of town? Why or why not? Answer: The Commissioner form of government is truly outdated in many ways, so I think in the future to move to an Alderman form would be positive. To do so will require obtaining Home Rule status, either through population growth or by referendum. It is extremely apparent that in the city of Zion, the leadership does not reflect the diversity of the city. What are your plans to help diversify Zion leadership in regards to age, socioeconomic status and culture? Answer: This is another facet of the question about the lack of engagement between the public and the government.  I love the quote “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens can change the world; in fact it’s the only thing that ever has.”  There is another quote that I think applies here “Decisions are made by those who show up.”  If you want to see change, you need to go to the meetings, do the research, volunteer, and vote.  End.  And that is it. Election Day is just around the corner and I am doing everything I can to get the word out.  If you believe that Zion is ready for change, please give me your support and your vote on April 7th. Thank You.

Library Forum - Extra Q&A

After the Candidate Forum at the Zion-Benton Public Library on March 15th, there were a number questions that had been collected from the audience that weren't asked because of the time constraints. So, those questions have been provided to all the candidates and they have been asked to respond by March 23rd with their answers.  All of the questions, answers and omissions will be posted on ZBGuide.com.

Here are the questions, as provided to me, with my answers.  I encourage everyone to look at the responses by the other candidates when they are posted on ZBGuide.com.

QUESTIONNAIRE STARTS NOW - (We've removed any limitations as to the length of your responses)

1. Are you willing to live by the character traits chosen by the ZB community, be held accountable to them, and hold other elected officials to the same standard?

A. I fully support the Community of Character initiative, and the traits espoused because I already live by them in my daily life. In my experience, leading by example is the best way to get others to raise their standards.

2. Please identify 3 things you wish to accomplish in order of priority if you are elected. 

A.  The highest priority is to reestablish fiscal balance in the City Budget; currently there is a projected 1.6 million shortfall that has to be dealt with and quickly. Next is to begin the process of applying for Enterprise Zone Status, as I have proposed, in order to jump start growth in our local economy.  Equal to that is pushing for grants or alternative funds to begin serious upgrades to our infrastructure.

3. We have a huge amount of mayoral candidates. Would it have been a wise leader to meet prior to and decide who to support if it were not you that was considered "able to win"?

A. Anyone who is willing to step up and run for office should do so, and present their qualifications to the public. Let the Voters decide. Ultimately it is up to each candidate whether to continue to run in an election or bow out gracefully.   

4. If you are not the winner of this election, what plans do you have to push the agenda that you are campaigning on?

A. I will continue to serve the public as a Trustee on the Board of the Lake County Public Water District, and as a member of the Comprehensive Development Plan Steering Committee. I also will continue to comment on public affairs through my Fischer for Zion Blog, as I have done for the past few years.

5. Did you serve in the military? If so, can you tell us about that?

A. After graduating from High School I joined the U.S. Army and trained as an Intelligence Analyst. I was stationed with the 3^rd Infantry Division, 103^rd MI Battalion in West Germany and then with the 224^th Military Battalion in Savannah Georgia.  I was also twice awarded the Army Achievement Medal for exemplary service. Most importantly I met my wife Christie (who outranked me), and we have now been married 29 years.

6. Are you in favor of term limits?

A. There already are term limits, they are called elections.  If you think someone should be voted out of office, get off the couch, run for office yourself, or support a good candidate, because that is what a participatory democracy is all about.

7. What distinguishes you from the other candidates? What experience and knowledge do you bring that sets you apart?

A. I offer the experience and judgment acquired in over thirty years of professional life. For the past sixteen years I have been employed within Human Resources at the American Medical Association.  I also have over a decade of management experience in the Private Security field, and I am a U.S. Army veteran where I served as an Intelligence Analyst.  I also currently serve as a Trustee on the Board of the Lake County Public Water District, which provides water for Zion, Winthrop Harbor and the State Park. I have a deep interest in the areas of government and public policy, and I believe I can bring a fresh perspective to the issues facing the city.

8. What is your agenda? Why are you running for office?

A. Over the past several years I became more aware of the importance of our local government in our lives. With this awareness came a feeling that I had a duty to serve the public in some capacity.  After a great deal of thought and research, I decided that my skills and abilities would best serve the public on the City Council. I have now lived in Zion longer than anywhere else in my life, it has become my home and I want to help make it a better place to live.

9. Speak from your heart and plainly tell us your vision for Zion.

A. I want to see a revitalized city that is progressive, prosperous, and growing. I believe it requires new leadership that is able to tackle the many challenges we face in order to achieve that vision.

10. How will you improve communication between the city, its departments, and the community?

A. By being open to communication through as many means as possible.  The internet and social media offer a multitude of channels for communication and interaction.

11. What do you know about the 20 year plan for Zion and how have you been involved?

A.  I proposed a New Comprehensive Development Plan as part of my campaign platform over two years ago after I discovered that the existing plan had not been updated since it was passed in 1992.

I proposed that the city obtain a technical grant from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, to create a new plan.  Wisely, the city did so, and I currently serve as a member of the Steering Committee. Information about the plan is available at Plan4Zion.com   As Commissioner, I will see that this plan is enacted, and not put on a shelf.

12. Where do you see this city five years from now?

A. I would hope that with a more active and engaged city government at the helm, we would start seeing improvements in, economic development, improved public services, and a lowering of property taxes on homeowners.

13. With a possible $1.2 million loss of state funding, what do you propose to do regarding the next Zion fiscal year?

A. A 50% reduction in the Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF) would be devastating for the city. Such a loss would most likely result in severe cuts in services, impacting public safety and health.  As noted above the city already is facing a shortfall of $1.6 million, effective budgeting and aggressively seeking alternative revenue can be brought to bear on that issue, but I would lobby forcefully against a cut in the LGDF, as will every municipality where those funds are used to support essential services.

14. What businesses or industries do you plan to bring to Zion?

A. Businesses look for locations where they can operate and generate a profit. The goal of the city government should be to create conditions that attract businesses to locate here. 

I have proposed that the city to apply for Enterprise Zone status under the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act.  Once granted, Zion would then have access to the taxing and regulatory tools necessary to help establish new businesses here and build long-term growth in our local economy.

Additionally, I propose that the City lobby our State Legislature for certain amendments to the Enterprise Zone Act, in consideration of our unique status as a host community for the Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Installation, which will be located on the site of the former Zion Nuclear Power Station.  I propose amending the Qualifications for Enterprise Zones to include long-term nuclear material storage in the same criteria as an abandoned coal mine, or brownfield site.  I also propose amending the zone duration standards in the Act by granting Zion an automatic renewal of the Enterprise Zone status, until the spent fuel is moved to a permanent site by the federal government.  These amendments would be moderate first steps towards compensating for the detrimental effect of the nuclear storage site on the future development of Zion’s Lakefront.

15. What are you going to do about the abandoned properties in Zion and the property owners who do not maintain their property?

A. In my first campaign I proposed the creation of an Abandoned Property registration program. That program has since been enacted, and is reported to be working well in identifying the parties responsible for these properties and holding them accountable for their maintenance.

16. What opportunities do you see for building the Sheridan Road Corridor?

A. Plan4Zion has a number of suggestions for the area, including bringing in more integrated residential/retail establishments that would appeal to younger professionals and to retirees looking to downscale from a single family home. Angled parking and other traffic improvements will help make the downtown area more accessible for pedestrians and shoppers.

17. What are your thoughts about strip malls, and what would you do about vacancies?

A. Strip malls have their place, but I would prefer to see an emphasis on building shopping and entertainment centers that fulfill the goals of being environmentally friendly, and aesthetically pleasing as outlined in the new development plan.  Obviously, vacant storefronts are best filled with new businesses, but I would like to see a program, possibly in cooperation with the Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce to utilize empty spaces for pop-up art exhibitions or other events. It also could help the owner of the space advertise it to attract new occupants.

18. How do you propose to entice taxpayers to move to and/or do business in Zion?

A. By doing all that is possible to make the city an attractive, safe place to live and work.

19. What do you plan to do to reduce taxes? How firm are you on lowering the tax burden on home and business owners in Zion?

A. I covered that in my answer to question 14. Economic development is crucial to reducing the tax burden on homeowners; the Enterprise Zone can help us do that.

20. What will you do to make our city safe?

A. As a community, we need to take more responsibility as citizens to maintain the common welfare. Our police and fire professionals are here to help in an emergency, but we bear some responsibility too.  I talk about this in more depth in my video commentary on Public Safety is a Community Value. It can be found on my website www.fischerforzion.com, or at ZBGuide.com.  I intend to continue supporting community building efforts such as BridgeBuilders in cooperation with the Zion Police Department.

21. How will you address transportation needs to help people take advantage of (Wal-mart) jobs in surrounding communities?

A. I do know that there have been discussions about expanding Pace bus routes in Zion and through the surrounding area. Some of those suggestions are in the new development plan. We need to work with Pace to start bringing these changes about.

22. Do you think the make-up of the police department accurately represents the population of Zion?

A. I do not know, but if I happen to take on the role of Commissioner for Public Safety, that will be an issue to look into.

23. Regarding law suits around the Ball Field, what are you going to do to settle? Why are the persons involved not prosecuted?

A. I do not know the current status of the various legal challenges between the City and Grand Slam Sports LLC, so I can’t give a factual answer to that question, or the follow up question. 

24. Please speak to your viewpoint of a unified school district and its impact on taxes.

A. As a taxpayer, my thought is that if an expanded or unified district improves student performance and finds ways to reduce costs through consolidation of services and purchasing, then that would be great.  But, based on the conclusions of the Local Government Consolidation Commission ((20 ILCS 3987/) Local Government Consolidation Commission Act of 2011) in it’s report; often the combining of local governments and districts result in little or no reduction in costs, and should be treated on a case by case basis dependent on local needs.

25. What are your plans to improve the schools in Zion? How can you insure that each child receives a quality education?

A. Other than the city working to provide good public services and a safe environment, I think this question is more suited to the candidates for the School Board. It really doesn’t fall into the purview of the City Council.

26. How long have you lived in Zion, and based on that answer, how does that make you qualified to be mayor?

A. Obviously, I am not running for Mayor, but I would like to address the question of length of residency, with my own question.  How long is long enough?  Good people with good qualities come from everywhere. To set an arbitrary time limit for whether someone is qualified to do a job or not, and you lose a tremendous wealth of education and experience obtained in other places that could be of great benefit to the city. 

27. How long have you lived in Zion, and based on that answer, how does that make you qualified to be mayor?

A. See answers to 26 above, same question.

28. How has your experience prepared you to effectively serve as Mayor?

A. I will be glad to answer that if or when I ever run for Mayor.

29. Use this space to address anything else you'd like to say to the Zion voters.

A. See my closing thoughts in 31 below.

30. Question for ALL Commissioner Candidates Only: In that you also become Zion Township Trustees, with a $million plus annual budget, would you consider dissolving the township government and giving its responsibilities (and budget) to the city?

A. My answer to question 24 covers this issue too. I would have to see that there are real cost savings or efficiencies to be realized from dissolving the Township, without compromising the services provided before considering such a proposal.

31. Anything else you'd like to say can be said here.

I’ve often said, “Even small governments make big decisions.” Government exists to provide services that we cannot accomplish as individuals.  Zion is faced with many challenges; economic, financial, environmental, and social.  To meet these challenges, we need leadership with a fresh perspective, able to respond with innovative and creative solutions. Leadership that will act as strong advocates for our interests at all levels of government.  As I said in my first video commentary, “This isn’t small town stuff, this is big league stuff.”  For this city to grow and prosper, we need to up our game, play above our level, and work together towards that goal.  I’ve done the research. I have the drive and determination. I’m ready to get to work, for you.

I ask for your support and your vote on April 7^th, Thank You.