Kevin Burns: Candidate Profile

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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:BioQA Bio City: GenevaWebsite: www.burns4mayor.comTwitter: @burns4mayorFacebook: Mayor Kevin BurnsOffice sought: Geneva Mayor Age: 52Family: Girlfriend, Aimee BychowskiDaughter's - Emma (27), Grace (25), Florence (23)Granddaughter - Micah (18 months) Mother (Ann) and Father (John) Brother's John, BrianSister, ColleenSisters in Law - Trish Autumn Brothers in Law - Dough CuscadenOccupation: Vice President of Development (non-profit fundraising and marketing)Education: St. Peter School ('78)Geneva Community High School ('82)Augustana College ('86) Bachelor of Arts Degree (focus areas of Speech Communication Political Science) Graduate work in non-profit leadership from Northwestern's Kellogg SchoolCivic involvement: I have served Geneva in multiple ways for than 30 years. Including referenda committees for the School District, Park District and Library District. Serving on the Geneva Community Chest Board of Directors, Geneva Academic Foundation Endowment Campaign and actively supported more than a dozen local and national non-profit organizations by volunteering my time as auctioneer and emcee. I have also proudly served as the "Voice of the Vikings" for football, basketball (girls and boys), soccer (girls and boys) and the IHSA State Baseball Tournament at Cougar's Stadium. I have served on the Historic Preservation Commission and Geneva Plan Commission.Elected offices held: Trustee - Geneva Public Library District (1989-1990) Alderman 1st Ward - City of Geneva1997-2001)Mayor - City of Geneva (2001-Present)Questions Answers In some village board or city council races, we have more specific questions for some candidates based on special issues they face in their community. Please use the drop down menu below to choose your specific race. If none apply, please select "None apply" and continue to the next page.Candidate did not respond.Do you support what the Downtown/Station Area Master Plan's suggests for redevelopment of several opportunity sites, including the Cetron factory site and the Mill Race Inn site, including calls for higher-density housing than currently allowed? Discuss in light of recent decisions against an apartment building at the Cetron site and townhouses/duplexes at the former Geneva Greenhouse site.I support the Each and every redevelopment opportunity presented to the City must be vetted by multiple commissions before being considered by the City Council. As Mayor, my job is to facilitate the discussion when it arrives on the Council's desk. It is also my solemn responsibility to avoid commenting - positively or negatively - on any and all proposals for risk of violating the due-process each applicant deserves. I will continue to carry out my duties as Mayor in that fashion to ensure that everyone receives a fair-hearing before the City Council regardless of how controversial or complimentary a development or redevelopment may be considered by the community.Should a city employee (the administrator or her designee) negotiate city union contracts, given that they, like other employees, will receive the same benefits as union members?Your premise "given that, they like other employees will receive the same benefits as unions members" is inaccurate and gives credence to false statements made by certain individuals. The fact is, the City of Geneva's comprehensive health benefits and personnel benefits package is different for employees represented under a collective bargaining unit than those not so represented. The Geneva City Administrator has never negotiated contracts that he/she is party to. The Illinois Municipal Code (Section 3.1-55-10) is clear that no such "conflict" exists. Moreover, utilizing the skills of an experienced and knowledgeable professional staff member to lead such negotiations has resulted in hundreds-of-thousands of dollars saved. To now, "outsource" this responsibility will add hundreds-of-thousands of dollars to the city's budget at the taxpayers expense. It's also worth noting that the City Council is the ultimate authority on what benefits are approved based on frequent updates from the negotiating team which has been the case and should remain the case.Mayoral candidate Tom Simonian has said he won't take the salary of mayor/liquor commissioner, or would donate it to charity. Is that a good idea? Why or why not?Philanthropy is, and always should be, a personal matter between the donor and the beneficiary.To intertwine philanthropy with politics is not my style.Should the city do something to increase the amount of affordable housing in Geneva, as the Chicago Metropolitan Agency on Planning study calls for? If so, what?Yes, and we have. In fact, the City has already identified multiple locations where "affordable housing" (based on State formulas that define what is affordable) and have publicized these parcels as opportunities for housing options to meet the demands of our residents young and old alike.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I am proud to have created and cultivated multiple programs that engage and inspire our community - Art for All at City Hall and the Art on Fire (fire hydrant painting design)and the Snow Plow Design program (Geneva's snow plow blades were painted by Geneva students). Moving forward, I am interested in working with the Cultural Arts Commission to expand the opportunity to display public art throughout Geneva. For instance, the planting knuckles that lay dormant during winter months are an ideal location for display of sculptures from local and visiting artists.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.https://fs30.formsite.com/tbroderick/files/f-17-40-8968190_Re5RseKP_KB_4_Mayor_Photo.jpgWhat is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Wendy Kopp - Founder, Teach for America; current CEO of Teach for All. Nancy Lublin - Founder, Dress for Success; current CEO of Do SomethingIf life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?No matter how busy you are at work or home, find the time to serve others.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?-na-If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Speech. I learned how to organize my thoughts and verbalize them in a cogent and impactful way.