Donald Cummings: 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: GenevaWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Geneva City Council Ward 2 (2-year Term)Age: 49Family: Married to Jeanne Cummings who is a flight attendant with American Airlines. We have 3 children, all of whom are in college. One at Georgetown University, one at Coe College, and one at Fordham University.Occupation: Founder and managing partner of Blue Haven Capital, an investment management firm providing portfolio management for individuals, family foundations, and various non profit entities.Education: BA 1986 University of Wisconsin-MadisonCivic involvement: Alderman: City of Geneva Member: Rotary Club of Geneva Member: Geneva Chamber of Commerce Member: Geneva Chamber Membership Committee Past Trustee: Geneva Library Past Board Member: DayOne Network Past Board Member: Geneva Park District Foundation Past Board Member: Rotary Club of GenevaElected offices held: City Council Geneva, 2012-2013Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 My number one campaign issue is the continued intelligent management of the tax dollars entrusted to us by residents in the city of Geneva.Key Issue 2 I would like to see more light industry come to Geneva. The percentage of taxes borne by the residents of Geneva is higher than ideal and that tax burden could be offset by a higher amount of commercial entities. The city is aware of this and continues to try to bring more industry to Geneva.Key Issue 3 I would like to see more people involved in more things in Geneva. Whether that is volunteer, civic, service-club, etc., a higher involvement in activities means a more cohesive community.Questions Answers Does the city spend an appropriate amount of time and money related to its downtown? What is your opinion on allowing non-sales-tax-producing businesses on the first floor at State and Third streets?Studies have shown that an unbroken stretch of retail shops produces more shoppers than the same stretch of retail shops that is occasionally broken by a service business. The city is moving towards a solution to this, but there are issues that need to be addressed in that process.Does the city do a good job balancing the requirements of the Historic District with that of property owners? What changes, if any, would you make?Yes, I believe both needs are met. I would like to see more flexibility afforded to property owners who wish to make improvements to the second floors of downtown buildings. The use of aesthetically matching composite materials for second floor windows could save building owners money and might result in a more maintained look in some of our downtown buildings.Do you think Geneva City Hall needs more room? Is expanding in to the Geneva Library building next door the best option, or are there others?City Hall needs more room and moving to the Library building would give more square footage. I am not certain that is the best solution, but it is certainly one solution.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?Candidate did not respond.Talking with your friends and neighbors, what seems to be their biggest public safety concern? Explain the concern as you see it, and discuss how you think it should be addressed.My friends and neighbors' biggest safety concern seems to revolve around car versus pedestrian and car versus bike. Pedestrians in crosswalks are often ignored by drivers, sometimes on Third Street and quite frequently on State Street. Recreational biking can be dangerous for bikers when biking on the street, yet sometimes recreational biking can be dangerous to pedestrians on the River Path. The key is increasing driver awareness of pedestrian and biker rights along with increasing the awareness of obligations bikers have to drivers. We live in a wonderful area that is fun to explore and it really shouldn't be dangerous for us to do so.