Rick Lawrence: Candidate Profile

Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: AuroraWebsite: http://www.facebook.com/ricklawrenceorgOffice sought: Aurora Alderman At-Large (4-year Term)Age: 48Family: Married to Annette with two daughters, Sarah and Stephanie.Occupation: President/CEO, Nuyen AwningEducation: Candidate did not respond.Civic involvement: Candidate did not respond.Elected offices held: Fourth Ward Alderman, City of Aurora, 2005-presentHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: noCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Due to failed fiscal policy and economic development over the past decade, Aurora's tax rate is nearly THREE TIMES higher than Naperville, which creates a competitive disadvantage for growth and business, shifting an undue burden on residential property tax owners. We must change this imbalance.Key Issue 2 Correcting city policies and practices that negatively and adversely impact our local schools, including the significant impact of high-density, subsidized, public housing and social service programs.Key Issue 3 Putting the city on a fiscally responsible path that will protect taxpayers from improper spending.Questions Answers Downtown Aurora is undergoing a revival, but there are still a number of vacant storefronts. What should be done to spur more business development?Nearly a hundred million dollars of taxpayer funds spent in the last decade on public projects has not resulted in a revival of private sector capital being invested in our downtown or created a marketable product. 1. A complete overhaul of our approach is necessary and creation of a serious, viable plan that focuses on private sector capital. 2. We must address those factors, including multiple social services being located in economic development areas, that are having an impact our ability to attract private sector capital. 3. TIF's must be used in a targeted and appropriate manner to generate economic development on qualified projects instead of public sector projects that have drained and virtually bankrupted three TIF districts in our downtown.The city recently celebrated an entire calendar year without a murder for the first time since the 1940s. What are your top two ideas for making Aurora a safer place?1. Addressing the chronic failure of subsidized and public housing, such as we did to address Jericho Circle, the largest public housing complex in Aurora with years of chronic crime and poor conditions. 2. Continue to expand the working relationship between the community and police with community oriented policing (COP's) and further increase the communication between the police, community and schools to prevent problems, not just react to them.Residents will be paying more property taxes for the next 30 years to pay for the new library and library technology improvements. What can be done to keep property taxes in check? What are your ideas for streamlining city services or reducing its budget?Currently, the excessive spending by city government is due to a lack of due diligence and vetting the expenditures that come before the city's finance committee and city council to prevent wasteful, fraud and inefficiencies. ALL city services have opportunities to be streamlined with a serious, focused approach and programs must justify their return-on-investment for the taxpayer.What makes you the best candidate for the job?People expect our elected officials to understand each issue, ask the hard questions, find solutions and make responsible public policy decisions for every dollar and advance the best interests of taxpayers. As Alderman of the 4th Ward, we have made great progress in improving our neighborhoods, quality of life and making sure we are taking steps to address chronic problems. As Alderman-at-Large, we would take that same approach citywide.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?Open and clear transparency of city government, from easy online broadcast and replays on YouTube of all public meetings to easy to find details of every taxpayer dollar that is spent.