Jean Higgason: 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: Des PlainesWebsite: NoneOffice sought: Des Plaines Alderman, Ward 4Age: 54Family: 4 grown childrenOccupation: Marketing Director-Asbury Court Retirement Community in Des Plaines Education: Dist. 59 214 schools, Oakton Community College-Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Civic involvement: Civic Involvement: Frisbie Senior Center Board Member from 2003 to present Elected offices held: Alderman from 1995-199 and 2007 to present Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: Candidate did not respond.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Fiscal responsibility-I will ensure that budgets are within the revenues of the City. I will continue to trim waste, eliminate redundancies and identify efficiencies to maintain services while decreasing costs and minimizing taxes. Much of the overspending in the budget and reckless decision making with respect to TIF's were done before I was in office. I have worked hard to reverse this. I will continue along this path.Key Issue 2 Economic Development-There are many empty structures and vacant space throughout the City. I will continue to work to create incentives and promote opportunities to encourage businesses to relocate or start-creating jobs and generating revenue to the City of Des Plaines.Key Issue 3 Investment in flood control and infrastructure-Investing in flood control and infrastructure creates a double opportunity. First we help address immediate problems-infrastructure. Second, it creates employment opportunities and encourages development. I support these types of investments with create double opportunities like this. Questions Answers How should Des Plaines use its casino revenues? Name your top three priorities.Des Plaines should use our casino revenues to accelerate our flooding and infrastructure programs. Pay down our debt. Increase our general fund reserve to the 25% mandated by our ordinance.How should the city approach developing the land surrounding the casino?Land around the casino should be developer driven. The city should not put any upfront money to develop the land. The casino being there should be a magnet in itself to attract developers. However, the City should take an active role in marketing this property.Should the city address the question of ethics surrounding the casino, as regards public officials?I personally believe that we should have an ethics ordinance pertaining to the casino. That being said, it will only be useful if there is a way of enforcing the ordinance. The City looked at one a few years ago but it would need work to make it a fair ordinance. With the casino opening soon, it should be discussed again.What should the city do to improve the performance of its failing tax increment financing districts? Do you see the need for any other TIF districts in the city?We have already worked with all the other taxing bodies to extend the life of TIF #3. This is the only way to make this TIF self-supporting. When it was formed, a 6B tax exemptions was given at the same time making it non-productive. Five Corners TIF has sat idle since it was voted on by the Council hours before the voters were to speak on a referendum on if we should have this TIF. It was defeated at the polls by 75% of the voters. My opponent voted for this on Council and 3 other TIF's during his 8 years. TIF #6 was handed to this Council from the past Council also with the promise of hotels to be built. The former council committed over 10 million in up-front costs. When the economy plummeted the developer didn't build. As we speak, we are going out for request for proposals for that TIF. It is important that something be built there because next year we have to start paying for the 10 million, at close to a million a year. I see no need for anymore TIF districts in the near future. We need to get a handle on the TIF's we already have. Although the residents don't directly pay in a TIF, it does cost us in the long run.What is the most pressing issue for residents in your ward and how would you like to address it?Reducing the tax burden on residents and loss of jobs. We need to continue on the path of returning the City to core services and reducing staff while continuing to look to streamline operations. WE have done this by reducing staff by 54 positions in the last 3 years. Presenting a 0% tax increase for 2011 due to budget cuts. Eliminating any non-essential items in the budget and cutting overtime. With the recent opening of a car dealer in our City, I asked that the company hold a job fair for our Des Plaines residents which they were happy to do. The Des Plaines Casino also has promised to host a job fair for our residents, as we asked.