Elgin City Council Candidate Forum steams up

The Blackhawk Residents Association's City Council Candidate Forum steamed up Saturday night when Moderator Bill Neylon asked the candidates if they were pro-life, one candidate Craig Dresang shot up from his chair and said it was "Rude to even ask it because it had no relevance to the city". Other candidates then spoke at once with some varied responses, some in favor, some against. One candidate Rosemarie Kahn then stood up and shared about her losing a pregnant child then soundly testified that she was "definitely pro-life". After some debate Mr. Neylon was able to calm the candidate's down after Mr Shaw spoke how he did think it was a topic to address, claiming it was a issue that maybe not was relevant to the election in Elgin but if any candidates would run for a higher office it would be something the people would like to know how the candidate stood on the topic of pro-life. On the rain tax issue, Mr. Gilliam challenged the candidates if they could come up with some way to pay for the combined sewer separation project that he said would cost around 78 million with out cutting the police and fire and public works he would be happy to hear it. After all was said and done many candidates were able to get their views out on other topics including bison in Lord's Park, crime, image problems, loss of businesses, the ESO debt problem and the City's budget. Mr. Dunne shared the council each earns 10,000 dollars plus gets a cell phone, laptop use and a chance to get in on the city's healthcare plan. Most candidates who this writer spoke to after said they enjoyed the spirited debate and praised the Residents Association for sponsoring it.