A Request

Two years ago, when I ran for office the first time, I paid for everything out of my own pocket.  This time around, the circumstances are a bit different, and I could use some help getting the word out about the campaign.

If you can spare a few dollars, please go over to my website: www.fischerforzion.com , click on the Donate button and make a secure payment via PayPal.

Any donation is greatly appreciated. Thank You!

Sincerely,

Christopher Fischer

Video Commentary - Tax Relief and Quality Public Serivces

This is the second of my video commentaries about my campaign platform, the transcript as prepared follows:

Introduction

Welcome.

I’m Christopher Fischer, candidate for the office of Commissioner in the City of Zion Illinois. This is the second in a series of commentaries about my campaign platform and my vision for the future of Zion.

High property taxes are the top concern of almost everyone I talk with.  The large number of foreclosed and abandoned homes in the city have diminished our tax base and placed more of the burden onto fewer homeowners.  High tax rates discourage the very home sales and new business development we need to establish a solid tax base that can support the public services we expect and deserve.

Proposals

There isn’t an easy solution to this problem, but dealing with it will take innovation, determination and decisive action on the part of our city government.

That is why I offer the following propositions for action if I am elected, with the goal of helping Zion begin to break free of a fiscal cycle that is stifling future growth and development.

To address the burgeoning costs of our aging infrastructure I propose that Zion join with our neighboring communities of Beach Park and Winthrop Harbor in developing a regional infrastructure improvement project that would qualify for funding under the federal Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Authority.  Enacted by Congress in 2014, this law provides special low-interest loans for large water and wastewater infrastructure projects.  Obtaining alternative funding to fix our very real infrastructure needs while also easing some of our tax burden should be a priority for the City.  More importantly these infrastructure improvements would provide some much needed relief to our neighbors who currently can’t use their basements due to backups and flooding.

In growing our local economy, we can create the jobs and revenue that will help alleviate the tax burden on the individual homeowner.  If Zion had a greater ability to offer businesses incentives to locate here, we could overcome the economic barriers that drive them to other communities, including those on the other side of the state line. To achieve this I would encourage 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.

I believe that by building upon existing law, my proposals offer a realistic means to help Zion build a foundation for growth and development that will help ease our overall tax burden, and provide for the quality public services we deserve.

Conclusion

If you agree with me that Zion needs new leadership with a vision to move the city forward, I ask for your support.  Please share this message with everyone you know who cares about our community and let them know there is a real choice on the ballot this April.  If you have a question or suggestion, please contact me at fischerforzion.com, I look forward to hearing from you, and I look forward to seeing you on Election Day, April 7^th.  Thank You and Good Day.

Chicago Tribune Article

I was recently interviewed by Julie Wernau, a journalist with the Chicago Tribune about what transpired at the recent meeting of the Zion Community Advisory Panel to the nuclear plant decommission.  I was quoted about our concerns for the completion of the project and the future development of the lakefront.  Here is the quote:

"That lakefront is key to any future development," said Christopher Fischer, who is running for Zion city commissioner. "We want the lakefront to be a point of attraction, to bring visitors, to try as much as possible to make it a showpiece for the area. Having a bunch of empty buildings and the storage pad there is a hindrance."

I will be making some proposals for action related to the storage site, property taxes, and economic development in my next video commentary.

The Field of Candidates for April 2015

The field for the April Election has been set. Here is the list of candidates, as published in the Zion Benton News for January 1, 2015.

Candidates for Mayor:

Kasey D. Burton, 2701 Salem Blvd.

Charles Fitzgerald, 1818 Gideon Ave.

Al Hill, 2111 Edina Blvd.

Christine McCullough, 4203 Barberry Lane, 2C

Beverly Ann Mull, 2902 Gilead Ave.

Shantal R. Taylor, 4100 Sarah Drive.

Candidates for City Commissioner:

Patricia Ayers-Stephen, 1713 Gilead Ave.

Richard L. Cochrane, 2122 Gilboa Ave.

Christopher Fischer, 2100 Ezekiel Ave.

Frank A. Flammini, 1300 Wilson Ct. (Incumbent)

John Idleburg, 1804 Gilead Ave.

Mike McDowell, 2314 Edina Blvd.

Jim Taylor, 1503 Barnhart Ct. (Incumbent)

As for my competitors in the Commissioner race, I look forward to seeing their proposals for the future of Zion. My platform has been available for months. Now, let's see if they have enough respect for the voters to put their ideas before the public. You can read my platform at www.fischerforzion.com

New Leadership - A Video Commentary

Here is what I hope will be a series of commentaries about the April General Consolidated Election and some of the many issues facing Zion.

Above all, I want to inspire some real communication with my fellow Zion residents and get their input on what we need to do to move Zion forward.

Please feel free to comment here, or send me an email to fischerforzion@gmail.com

I look forward to hearing from you.

Getting on the Ballot - Fun Facts

When I started posting on this blog, in conjunction with my first campaign for office, one of my goals was to help demystify the electoral process, and try to make our system of self-governance more accessible. With that in mind I felt it was time for a short post about the process of getting nominated for office.

Another step in the process.

Today, I made a quick trip down to the Lake County Clerk's Office to file my Statement of Economic Interests. A stamped copy of the statement is required as part of petition packet that I will submit on December 15th, to get on the ballot for the General Consolidated Election next April.

I like to get things out of the way early if I can, and since I have a meeting of the Lake County Public Water District tonight, I took today off work to run some errands, and this was one of them.  For those who might be curious, I had nothing to declare on my statement, no financial or business interests that qualify for disclosure.

How many signatures?

Perhaps the first question that comes up when considering whether to run for public office is how do I get my name on the ballot?  The basic requirement is that the prospective candidate must gather the signatures of a certain number of registered voters that live in the area to be represented. Depending on the level of government, the office sought, and whether a primary election is required, the required number can range from a few hundred to several thousand.

So, I am running for office again, and in conversations with people who hold office, have run for office, or are just interested, the question often comes up; how many signatures do you need, minimum?

The answer almost always comes as a surprise to them; ten (10).

When I first ran for Commissioner, I was advised to get twice as many signatures as required, in case anyone challenges the validity of the petition. As of today, I have twenty signatures, so I am pretty much set for this round.

In a city with a population over 23,000, how is it that a person can petition to run for the office of Commissioner on the City Council, with only ten qualified signatures?

The answer lies in Illinois State Statute 65 ILCS 5/4-3-8. As quoted from the 2015 Candidate Guide, for the Commission Form - Municipal; Signature Requirements: Equal to at least 1% of the total vote cast for mayor at the last preceding mayoral election of the municipality.

If you are mathematically inclined, you realize that means that there were only 1000 votes cast in the last Mayoral race four years ago. Mayor Lane Harrison ran unopposed in that election, and whether the low turnout was due to satisfaction with the mayor's performance, or general apathy among the voters, the result is a general lowering of the bar for office seekers in the next election. This will encourage a number of people to become candidates, who might not otherwise seek an office. By the way, the same signature requirement applies to candidates running for the office of Mayor in the April 2015 election too. 

I expect that there will be large number of candidates for both Commissioner and Mayor in the April election. Determining which ones have the qualifications and temperament to effectively serve the people of Zion, will ultimately be the responsibility of the voters.

Let's help them make an informed decision.  This is the part of the campaign where I ask for your help in getting the word out to the public that there is a alternative to the status-quot in the coming election.  I am running for Commissioner because I believe that I have the qualities and determination to make our city government work better for everyone.  Go to www.fischerforzion.com and check out my campaign platform, follow the campaign on facebook and also on twitter.  Talk to your friends and neighbors; tell them that local government effects their daily lives more directly than anything else, and they need to get involved in the process to make a difference.

As always, I look forward to hearing from you, either in the comments, or email me at fischerforzion@gmail.com

Fischer for Zion 2015 Press Release

With the publication of the following press release on the ZBGuide.com website, and later this week in the Zion Benton News, my candidacy in the April 7, 2015 General Consolidated Election is now officially announced.

New Leadership for Zion

Announcement

Christopher Fischer declares his candidacy for the office of Commissioner in the City of Zion in the April 2015 election.

Candidate’s Statement

Our city government is confronted with a number of challenges; including tight budgets, aging infrastructure, and providing quality public services.

Meeting those challenges require leadership that is objective, independent, and able to bring a fresh perspective to the tasks at hand.

I will bring those qualities to the City Council, and that is why I am announcing my candidacy for the office of Commissioner in the City of Zion.

Visit my website, www.fischerforzion.com to learn more about the campaign, and contact me at: fischerforzion@gmail.com if you wish to ask a question, make a suggestion, or volunteer.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Christopher Fischer