Fischer For Zion 2021

 

Fischer for Zion

2021

 

With all that is happening right now; the ongoing pandemic, and the headlong rush towards the November 3rd Election, it is hard to believe that it is already time to gear up for the April 6, 2021 General Consolidated Election.

 

Whatever the outcome of the November election on the National and State level, I still stand by my belief that local government has the greatest impact on our quality of life every day.  My experience over the past three-plus years, first as Commissioner of Public Works and Engineering  and then as Commissioner of Accounts & Finance, and Mayor Pro-Tem has fully validated that belief. 

Everything from potholes and leaf collection to public safety and economic development is on the table every day at City Hall, and it doesn't stop there.  As I have said many times over the past eight years since I first ran for this office; Zion is a small town with very big challenges, and we have to up our game to meet those challenges.

You can pick whatever analogy you prefer, but I think of it as laying a foundation for the future; setting the stones for the city we want to be.

A lot has been accomplished in this vein since I joined the Council; a citywide Enterprise Zone, a new TIF district, leveraging city owned properties for economic development, and a more activist administration in our relationships with our state and federal representatives regarding grants and alternative funding, just to name a few.  

During my term I have worked to highlight the importance of our infrastructure; the streets, water, storm and sanitary systems, and the need for proper funding for maintenance and improvements. 

I believe in the importance of recognizing the work of our city employees, often under difficult circumstances and with limited resources.  Standing outside for hours with the Water Department crew working an emergency on a cold New Years day, makes you appreciate the high level of dedication to the public exemplified by many of these people every day.  

 

The challenges we face require actions that are both bold and practical, for example; I took the lead on approving the sale of recreational cannabis within the city, and in the annexation for the landfill expansion.  Both items are controversial , but I believe that if they are dealt with in a clear and objective manner it will be to the benefit of the city in the long run.

 

The work that needs to be done is far from finished; we are still pursing fair compensation for hosting nuclear waste storage, and working on getting the city's finances on a stable footing  This pandemic has had a profound impact on how the city operates today, and how it will operate and be funded in the future.  

Decisions being made today will resonate for years and decades to come and I want to be part of making them; that is why I am running for re-election to the office of Commissioner for the City of Zion.  

In the old days (four years ago) I would have issued a statement in the Zion-Benton News, but things being the way they are this post will probably be as close as I get.  However, if you want to read a quick bio that I wrote, I am in the October 15th edition of Happenings Magazine.

 

I have started collecting signatures on my nomination petition to get on the April ballot, and if you would like to add yours, I would appreciate it very much.  You can contact me at fischerforzion@gmail.com, the only requirements are that you have to be a registered voter and live in the City of Zion.

 

I know April seems a long way off, but I ask for your support and most importantly your vote.

Thanks in advance, and if you have any questions please let me know.

Christopher Fischer

547 Votes for the Win

It's been 90 days since the April 4th Consolidated General Election, and I realize that I have been remiss in posting the results.

Final Count

The upshot is that the final tally, once the mail-in and absentee ballots were counted, I maintained my lead and secured one of the two four-year seats on the Zion City Council.  I was sworn in as the new Commissioner of Public Works and Engineering on May 2nd.  Since then I have been busy getting familiar with the Public Works Department, and my other responsibilities as Commissioner.  

As I start to learn more about my new role, I will be writing about those experiences on a new blog that I will be setting up in the near future. In the meantime if you are interested in following my progress I now have an official Facebook page (see link below) for announcements and to answer questions.  Watch this space for where to find the new blog, and if you have a question or a comment I would love to hear from you.

https://www.facebook.com/cityofzioncfischer/

7 Days Out

Whatever it takes.

As I write, Election Day is exactly one week away, and at this time next week the polls will have just closed.  This campaign  that I've put so much time and energy into since I announced my candidacy in September is coming to an end.

This is my third run at Commissioner and with experience comes some advantages. I have a better understanding of how  government  works. I've  learned how to focus my message better.  I'm more comfortable in approaching and talking with strangers than I used to be, which has the side benefit of acquiring new friends I would never have had met if I  hadn't run for office.

Time also takes it's toll, the knee pain I wrote about two years ago when I was talking to voters outside the  post office has migrated to both legs. But out of adversity comes innovation, so I  have been going house to house by bicycle, which has drawn some notice.

You might ask why I have endured all of this discomfort and pain, why put myself through it?

Because I believe it is necessary.  

Democracy, even at the smallest scale demands our engagement, and even a little sacrifice to keep it alive. 

I'm willing to make that commitment, to serve the public as best I can. 

Seven days and counting, I ask for your support and your vote.

Christopher  Fischer

Press Statement for the Zion-Benton News

And here it is, inside the first page.

The following press release is scheduled to run in the October 6th edition of the Zion - Benton News.

Announcement

Christopher Fischer, a homeowner in Zion for over 20 years, and currently a Trustee on the Board of the Lake County Public Water District declared his candidacy for the office of Commissioner in the City of Zion.

Candidate’s Statement

In my first campaign for public office I wrote, “Even small governments make big decisions. Government exists to provide services that we cannot accomplish as individuals.  The decisions that our public servants make today will have a real impact on our quality of life tomorrow, and for years to come.” I still believe that, and since that first campaign I have seen some of my policy proposals enacted, participated in creating a new development plan for the city, and engaged in community building efforts across Zion. As a Trustee to the Board of the Lake County Public Water District, I have gained a deeper understanding of the functions and limitations of governance.

I invite the public to visit my website, www.fischerforzion.com to learn more about my proposals on Financial Stability in the City Budget, Economic Development, Enterprise Zones, Infrastructure Investment, Public Safety, and Property Tax Relief as Compensation for Nuclear Storage. I can be contacted at: fischerforzion@gmail.com with your questions, or suggestions. I look forward to hearing from you.

I truly believe that the people of Zion deserve a representative who is objective, independent, and committed to working for them and that is why I am declaring my candidacy for the office of Commissioner in the City of Zion to be elected on April 4th, 2017.

Sincerely,

Christopher Fischer 

Fischer for Zion 2017

Back in Campaign Mode

Multitasking

I had the day off and I decided to walk over to City Hall in order to get a couple of miles of steps in, and to pick up a petition packet for the April 2017 Consolidated Election.

City offices are behind a security door, so you have to call the extension for the City Clerk to gain entrance. I dialed Diane Burkemper's extension, left a message, and then sat down to wait. Rich Ianson, the Director of Building and Zoning, came through the lobby, said hello, and let me know that Diane was out at the moment. So I called the extension for Sheryl Spooner, the Deputy Clerk, and told her I was there to pick up a nomination packet.  A few minutes later, she collected me from the lobby and took me back to the office.

I checked the packet to ensure all the necessary documents were included, and put my contact information on a notification list just in case any issues arise regarding the petition forms, or the filing process, so that the Clerk would be able to let me know.  Providing the information is voluntary, and sometimes it is useful to see who else has picked up a packet and get an early read on the competition. Except in this case, it seems I am the first on the list.  Sheryl was very helpful, and soon I was on my way home with my papers secured in a portfolio.

The Magic Number

If you have read some of my previous blog entries, you will know, that according to the Illinois statute, the required number of signatures to qualify as a candidate for the office of Commissioner is based on one percent of the total votes cast in the most recent Mayoral election in the municipality.

The formula: 2,197 Votes x 1% = 22

This is confirmed by the cover sheet for the packet, which lists the minimum signatures required as 22. I will probably collect between 30 to 40, just to give myself a safe margin.

The Calendar

 As of today, it is 197 days until the April 4, 2017 election.  September 20th, is the first day that petitions can be circulated, with the first day of filing on December 12th, and the last day on December 19th.  Voting by mail for this election starts March 13, 2017, followed by the start of early voting on March 20, 2017. Then, of course election day on April 4, 2017.

I will be making a formal announcement in the next couple of weeks and sending that off to the local paper. Also I am working on an updated platform to address a range of issues concerning the city and it's residents. If you are a registered voter, live in Zion, and would like to show your support by signing my petition, let me know and I will arrange to meet you. Or, if you like, you can find me at City Hall tomorrow evening attending the City Council meeting that starts at 7:00 pm.  I look forward to seeing you there.

Website updates are coming:  www.fischerforzion.com

If you have a concern of issue that you want to see addressed and discussed in this upcoming election, I want to hear it. Leave me a comment here, or email me directly at fischerforzion@gmail.com

Needed: A Long Term Solution

Nuclear Fuel Storage Casks staged for loading - Zion, December 2012 Author's Photo

 Today, I have been reviewing the press coverage of  Congressman Dold's bill, "The Stranded Nuclear Waste Act", HR-5632-press-release, and while I applaud the fact that this problem is finally getting some serious attention from our federal representative, I am skeptical that the bill will actually be passed during this session.  Beyond that, I don't feel that the proposal goes far enough to address the long term impact of the storage site on the City of Zion and the surrounding community.

The biggest fault is the fact that there is a seven year limit on the compensation. The reason given, is to prevent the community becoming reliant on federal dollars, and supposedly to prompt Congress to take action on the storage problem. Now, the projected $15 million a year compensation is not inconsiderable, but when measured against the projected lifespan for the nuclear storage casks of 50 years or more it's not that much. As for getting Congress to move on a problem because it might cost a few hundred million over a few years ignores history and reality. Even with a best case scenario, in which Yucca mountain opened tomorrow, I have learned that it might take up to 30 years to move all the stored fuel to another site. The fact is the fuel isn't going anywhere for quite some time.

The second problem I have is with the statement from Mayor Al Hill, that his hope is that these funds will allow the city to lower taxes, which will hopefully draw economic development, and kick-start a cycle of development that will improve the economy and ease the tax burden.  As a theory, I think that is a worthy goal.

I would like to propose a better idea, rather than hoping to lower taxes for businesses, let's actually lower the taxes for businesses!

In fact, I already proposed this idea over a year and half ago during my campaign for Commissioner. From my blog post: "Candidate Questionnaire Sneak Peek", Fischer for Zion - February 2015 

Q. Briefly explain how would you address the high taxes in Zion? 

Q. Briefly explain how would you address economic development in Zion?

A. I propose that the city apply for Enterprise Zone Status under the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act, to give us access to special tax and regulatory incentives for businesses.  I also propose that the Act be amended to include the Nuclear Fuel Storage Facility in the same criteria as an abandoned coal mine, or brownfield site, and the Enterprise Zone status should not expire until the spent fuel is removed from our Lakefront. These proposals provide practical means towards growing our local economy while helping reduce homeowner taxes, and obtaining some compensation for the detrimental impact of the nuclear storage site on our community.

 Since I made that proposal, there have been more cases where a business considering locating in Zion has instead gone to Wisconsin or elsewhere because Zion couldn't offer the kind of tax incentives to be competitive. No matter what the outcome of the proposed bill, we still need the leverage of an Enterprise Zone to compete with cross border competition.

Another issue that was mentioned in the press conference, is the increasing rate of poverty in Zion, reflected in the unbalanced proportion of rental property to homeowner occupied which is now 60% to 40%, and the highest number of Section 8 housing in Lake County.

To address the housing problem, and the long-term economic impact on the city, I would propose the creation of a special Homestead exemption for tax assessments that would be tied to the Nuclear Storage Site, similar to what I have proposed for the Enterprise Zone. Just like the existing special exemptions for Veterans and Seniors, this would be an additional exemption for residents living in Zion, Winthrop Harbor, and Beach Park, in order to compensate for the economic impact of the Storage Site. Added to that, there should be an additional incentive exemption for first-time home-buyers that would be available for the first two years in order to encourage conversion from rental properties to ownership.  After that, as long as they qualify for the standard Homestead exemption, they would receive the additional Nuclear Homestead exemption.

As I stated above, seven years of cash payments isn't bad, but before everyone gets caught up in what can be done with that money (which we don't have yet), let's not lose sight of the long term needs and how we can address them.

Memorial Day Remembrance: The Last Casualty of the Cold War

On this holiday weekend, dedicated to honoring those who have fallen in defense of this nation I am going to step away from my usual comments on local issues, politics and campaigns to remember a particular passing that occurred 31 years ago.

  A Classified Briefing

East German Guard Tower, Author's Photo

In 1985 I was an Army Specialist with the 103 Military Intelligence (MI) Battalion, at the 3rd Infantry Division Headquarters in Würzburg, West Germany. For those who weren't around, or were too young to remember the last decade of the Cold War, a quick reminder of the world that we were living in at the time.

Europe had been divided between the Soviet Union's Warsaw Pact nations, and NATO's alliance of Western powers for 40 years. The border separating East and West Germany had been fortified by the communist governments ostensibly to protect their citizens, but effectively imprisoning them. In the previous 15 years, the Soviets had been pushing a massive military buildup in their part of Europe, to the increasing worry of the U.S. and her allies.  The Reagan Administration had countered with the deployment of Pershing II nuclear missiles, nuclear cruise missiles, and a more confrontational stance in it's relationship with the USSR.  For it's part the Soviet leadership feared that Reagan was planning a preemptive nuclear strike against them, and as a result were even more defensive and bellicose about protecting their territory.

This atmosphere of tension and mistrust created a fertile ground where even the smallest mistake could result in an overreaction, with deadly consequences.   The shoot-down of Korea Airlines Flight 007 by a Soviet fighter jet just two years earlier had been such an incident. Members of my unit still had vivid memories of the midnight scramble as U.S. forces worldwide went into high alert afterwards.  As ever, the Cold War between the Superpowers remained balanced on a tipping point, no one knew what might send either side over the edge into a third World War.

That's why, when I and the rest of our unit of Intelligence Analysts and Linguists were called in for a special briefing by the Division S2 (Staff Intelligence), we knew something big had happened.

I can't recall whether this briefing took place one or two days after it happened, but the Captain informed us that on March 24th, a Major Arthur Nicholson a member of the U.S. Military Liaison Mission (USMLM) had been killed by a Soviet sentry when the Major was making observations of a tank shed near Ludwigslust East Germany.  

The members of the Military Liaison Mission have a unique place in the world of Intelligence gathering,  under a 1947 treaty, the officers were allowed to travel (unarmed) in areas of East Germany to observe military installations and equipment. There were strict rules in place for the treatment of Mission officers from both sides, who were essentially acting as acknowledged spies.  The murder of Major Nicholson came as a shock to us in the Intelligence community.

The Captain let us know that the Soviets had prevented the Major's driver Staff Sergeant Jessie Schatz from providing first aid, and that the Major had probably bled to death while the Soviets left him untouched for over two hours. A sense of outrage at this news filled the room, along with the cigarette smoke as several soldiers took a nervous drag.  (Remember, this was when "smoke em' if you got em'" was still a common phrase.)

Most of what the Captain told us in the rest of that meeting has since been declassified, but at that place and time the unspoken question was in all of our minds, could this be the critical moment we all dreaded? Would the balance hold?

The political and diplomatic ramifications between the U.S. and the Soviets after the incident were severe, especially in the face of the Russian's insistence that they were not at fault. But the balance did hold, and within just a few years the Soviet Union itself no longer existed.


We didn't know then that the long twilight conflict that defined the second half of the 20th Century, was coming to a close, and that Major Nicholson would later be officially recognized as the Last Casualty of the Cold War.

Major Nicholson was interred at Arlington National Cemetery, and posthumously promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel by Presidential Order.


The official memorial page for Nicholson can be found here: Army Memorial Page

The Cold War Spies site also has a tribute page with an account of the incident, and links to the declassified report: http://www.coldwarspies.com/reading_room/nicholson/