Elgin City Council candidates claim diversity

In a race where 10 candidates are vying for three spots, it becomes the job of each to stake out a place in the lineup. All of the Elgin City Council candidates are touting at least some level of diversity and a new perspective the council needs to be effective.

Two women candidates believe the all-male council is lacking a vital perspective.

“Considering half of our population is women, it’s important that we’re represented in our elected body,” said Anna Moeller, whose primary campaign issue is effective financial management of the city’s budget.

Tish Powell brings the perspective of an unrepresented gender and also an underrepresented race as a black woman. Powell’s central campaign theme is jobs, which applies communitywide, but Powell said she has heard residents commenting on the lack of diversity on the board.

“I’m not running just to represent women or minority groups,” Powell said. “But as I’m talking to the entire community, I’m hearing that from people.”

Shane Nowak’s fresh perspective comes from what he argues is relative youth. His campaign focuses on bringing businesses and jobs to Elgin but said his age makes him a good pick for the council.

“As we age, we get kind of stuck in a rut in how we think,” Nowak said. “Since I’m one of the younger candidates, we see things differently.”

At 30 years old, Nowak is edged out as the youngest candidate by Michael Curtin, 28. Curtin, who is campaigning to lower taxes and put more money in individuals’ pockets, points to his training in mathematics and research as his unique claim to candidacy.

Curtin said there is no one on the city staff or council that has training to analyze the studies that are funded.

“A lot of them use very simple mathematics that are very easy to bias,” Curtin said. “In the end you see resources being allocated inappropriately.”

Toby Shaw, campaigning for sound leadership, points to his own technical education and work experience in IT. He said this background has lent a frugal perspective lacking on the current council.

“They’re frugal with the dollars that come from local residents, but I don’t see the frugality on things when the money comes from a state or a federal grant,” Shaw said.

Manfred Czymmek, a candidate focusing on illegal immigration as the solution to most city problems, said he will bring a diversity of perspective to the board. Czymmek said he thinks outside the box and won’t be afraid to address hot-button issues.

“We’re taking people that have the same qualifications, have been indoctrinated by the system, we put them in office and expect them to do something different,” Czymmek said.

Similarly, Mike Robbins counts himself as a necessary breath of fresh air for the council.

“Mike Robbins is an independent thinker and he’s not an insider,” Robbins said.

Robbins plans to focus on increasing community leadership to better the city.

Tom McCarthy, known as Driver Tom to residents patronizing his limo service, plans to represent the community based on his experience being out and about every day.

“I want to be the voice of the people, where you can stop me on the street and tell me your problems,” said McCarthy, who thinks the city should reign in spending and put marquees up so local businesses can market themselves.

Incumbents Mike Warren and John Steffen claim their own level of diversity as current councilman adding necessary perspectives.

Warren, whose main focus for the city is to promote fiscal strength and, in turn, attract businesses and jobs to Elgin, points to his business background as his unique perspective.

“My experience running businesses and being involved in businesses is unmatched on the council now and in my challengers,” Warren said.

Steffen said he has lived in various neighborhoods of Elgin throughout his life, giving him a diverse perspective of the city. He also said his dual focus on macro and micro issues is novel for a councilman.

“I’m working on both the big economic development items like bringing new businesses or retaining businesses while also working at the neighborhood level,” Steffen said.