Experience vs. fresh perspective issue in Batavia mayoral race

To say Jeff Schielke is running a low-key re-election campaign might be an understatement.

Less than two weeks before the election and there is nary a yard sign trumpeting him.

It's not like there are a lot out there for opponent Jason Stoops, either.

The two are waging a genial contest.

"Our mayor has served our community well and respectfully, in my opinion," Stoops said. But still, 40 years is too long to be in office, he said.

Schielke doesn't need signs for name recognition since he's been mayor since 1981.

Why not ride off into the sunset?

Schielke said he asked several hundred people, "Do you think it is time for me to go?" before he decided.

In particular, he is interested in governing during what could be a turbulent time if the state holds back income tax money from the city, or freezes the property taxes the city collects.

"This is an extremely challenging time for elected officials at any level," Schielke said. " ... Do you grab your hat and run out the door just when things are getting bad?"

Stoops is a Batavia school board member whose term expires in April. It was his first time in elected office.

"There was a type of movement we're (Batavians) not used to," he said of the 2013 election. It was about getting "new perspective and new people in elected positions" on the park, school and library boards and the city council. "We were asking the questions of 'Why do we do it this way? Because we are not used to the rigmarole of a rubber-stamping board,' " Stoops said.

Stoops also started attending city council meetings, taking notes.

"I wanted to see what my next step would be," he said of running for mayor. He considered running for 6th Ward alderman. But he said he likes the job Alderman Nick Cerone is doing, so he didn't see the point of running against him.

Issues

Schielke did not vote on matters related to the controversial One North Washington Place apartment-and-commercial development, including the financial incentives the city is supplying. There was no tie to break.

He supports the development. "We need to continue to do stuff that continues to bring people downtown," he said. "There is a tremendous need for this kind of housing."

He ticks off "other highly controversial" downtown projects in his time: development of the Fox River Trail, the Riverwalk, the Riverrain apartment building, the Batavia Library, the new Walgreens store.

"Controversy is not something new here," Schielke said, and opponents often later said they liked the projects.

Stoops supports the project but would have pushed harder for design changes to reduce the height along North River Street. He also wouldn't have offered as much incentive, he said.

"I feel this is going to address a large portion of housing needs that were lacking in our community. I believe it is going to lead to even more development opportunities," Stoops said.

The two disagree a bit on the role of tax increment financing districts in boosting development.

Stoops said the city should not create TIF districts unless there is a specific project in mind for the land. And it should not be done unless the city closes another TIF, to reduce the impact on other taxing districts.

He cited the West Town TIF, created two years ago, as a TIF without a project.

Schielke cited the use of TIF in redeveloping former industrial sites along the river in downtown; that in the West Town TIF, the money may help pay for removing pollutants from a former foundry site; and that he suspects the city may need to form a TIF for the site of the former Siemens-Furnas factory on Van Nortwick Avenue.

Schielke said this year is the 50th anniversary of his graduation from Batavia High School. When he speaks to classmates returning for reunions, they say, " 'My goodness gracious, what have you done to this place? When we left here, this downtown was a dump, and now it is a garden!' " he said.

Stoops grew up in St. Charles and has lived 11 years in Batavia.

"I really love that Batavia is a large little town," he said. "There's no 'Six Degrees of Batavia' here. It seems like two."