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Mike J. Robins: Candidate Profile

Mike J. Robins, running for Elgin City Council
Elgin City Council

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: ElginWebsite: http://Under ConstructionOffice sought: Elgin City CouncilAge: 53Family: Married for 24 years. No childrenOccupation: Cook County Court System, 24 years.Education: Bachelor of Arts, Northeastern Illinois UniversityCivic involvement: Animal Assisted Therapy Program at Sherman Hospital and area nursing homes.Elected offices held: NoneHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Community leadership, which is something that I intend to provide. I'm an everyday citizen, not a politician. The Elgin City Council needs a breath of fresh air. I want to give a new voice to the citizens of Elgin, both young and old alike. I will never speak like a politician because I'm not one. I will only speak and vote my convictions. There's nothing wrong with Elgin that can't be fixed by what's right with Elgin. As a city, we are the sum of our parts. It's my ongoing goal to be a good part. And that comes from passion, not position. At the same time, however, I sincerely believe that I can help enrich Elgin as an outsider working inside the city council.Key Issue 2 As an everyday citizen running for city council, I think it's absolutely essential that people out in the neighborhoods---people who are the backbone of our city---feel like they're part of the political process. I'm committed to creating a higher level of openness in local government. I will work personally with groups and individuals throughout the city, facilitating and ensuring public trust and establishing a system of transparency, public participation and collaboration. Transparency promotes accountability and provides information for Elginites about what their government is doing. I will disclose information rapidly, and in forms that the public can readily find and use. Public engagement enhances the Elgin's effectiveness and improves the quality of its decisions. Information is quickly dispersed in today's world, and public officials at every level benefit from having access to that dispersed knowledge.Key Issue 3 Under the leadership of Elgin Police Chief Jeff Swoboda, we must continue engaging everyday citizens in tackling crime and halting the erosion of community spirit.I have had a long career in the field of criminal justice. The starting point for any discussion about crime prevention is an understanding that without public action, support and confidence, the police and other criminal justice agencies cannot make communities safer, including ours in Elgin.However, for the public to play their part, they need to see and experience services that tackle crime effectively, give them confidence and back them up.Chief Swoboda is making marvelous strides in community policing, as well as in making Elgin a safer place than it has been over the past decade. I would support his efforts in continuing an approach that's tough on crime. I would also support the continuing upgrade in the technology that the police department uses to combat crime. Questions Answers What prompted you to run for this office? What makes you the best candidate for the job?I am not, nor ever intend to be, a career politician. I want to bring a new voice to the Elgin City Council. I want to represent people who feel that they have lost their connection to local government. I ran a spirited campaign for city council two years ago. It was a grassroots effort, which led to my meeting thousands of Elgin residents. I learned a great deal about what the average person wants and needs in terms of city services. I'm ready to bring that perspective to the city council. Working with and for many groups of people in each seperate agency in government will allow me to make a smooth transition on the council with the many city departments. I will fit right into the many tasks of a council seat with my experience, all I need next, is the data and current topics to work on.How will you deal with declining revenue, particularly in the riverboat fund?As has been widely reported, the last revenue report for 2010 shows the Grand Victoria in Elgin took in about $5.8 million less than in 2009, down to about $287 million in gross revenue. That's an obvious and significant concern. Not-for-profit groups and organizations are taking the hardest hit from the dwindling riverboat funds and perhaps it's time for those groups to seek out other means of support, although I would support some sort of city-sponsored matching funds program for those qualifying organizations that have raised revenue on their own. I will be aggresive to oppose any use of funds that are not needed, we must spend our money wisely, not for the purpose of a legacy.How well has the city addressed the issue of illegal immigration? Has it done what's appropriate or is there more to do? Please offer specifics.In going door-to-door during the last campaign, this issue seemed to be a major concern for many, many citizens. I'm not trying to skirt the issue, but it remains a federal issue. That said, there are things that the city is doing to combat illegal immigration, which often provides a funnel for crime. In January 2011, the Elgin Police Department conducted Operation Clean Sweep, during which officers worked with 250 other law enforcement officials from federal, state, county and local departments to pick up residents here with outstanding warrants, check on parolees and sex offenders, or find those with revoked Firearm Owners Identification cards.Four people who had been previously deported were handed over, again, to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This type of enforcement, which is an effective approach to fighting crime at the local level, is something that I'd like to see continue. The Elgin Police Department is doing a good job in addressing illegal immigration. Outside the police department, the city needs to further establish relationships with local businesses, informing them on ways to avoid hiring illegal immigrants. While there apparently has been some movement in that direction, I don't know how far it has gone. If there aren't already, there should be realistic penalties in place for businesses that circumvent the law and either tacitly or knowingly hire illegal immigrants. I will continue to monitor our new code enforcement laws established for living conditions and square footage in residential areas. Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to? Does the city need to reprioritize the funds it puts toward municipal projects? Non-profits?Right off the top of my head, the city needs to stop spending money on unnecessary studies. For instance, the possibility of Elgin funding a $97,715 study to look at changing a 5-mile stretch of Route 20 between Randall Road and Shales Parkway. As of this writing on January 26, 2011, the city council has not yet decided to proceed on funding the study. No matter, really. It should not have even been under consideration. I will always watch where our money is spent and for what purpose. I will obtain feedback from communities before a final decision is made. I will continue to fight for a stop light at Shales Parkway and Rt.58, working with I.D.O.T. and the county.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?I haven't heard any other candidate talk about the city as a collaborative body.I believe that collaboration can actively engage Elgin residents in the work of our local government. From the mayor to city staff to those in public works, all Elgin employees should use innovative tools, methods and systems to cooperate among themselves, across all levels and departments. Collaboration includes working with nonprofit organizations, businesses and individuals in the private sector. It also includes each of us---every citizen---becoming part of something special. In other words, a community that truly is pulling together.

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