Tom McCarthy: 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: ElginWebsite: http://www.drivertom4elgin.com/Office sought: Elgin City CouncilAge: 51Family: singleOccupation: Started my own business ' Limo Service ' serving the n.w. suburbs. began May 21, 2003Education: b.a. in Political Science , Western Illinois University ,1982Civic involvement: Proud member of the River Side ClubElected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NOCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 The out of control spending by the City of ElginKey Issue 2 The fees and new taxes the city is imposing on the businesses of ElginKey Issue 3 We need to market the City of Elgin to bring new people to our city..Questions Answers What prompted you to run for this office? What makes you the best candidate for the job?After watching the City wonder around in no man's land with the out of control spending . This was the time to stand up step forward and bring my ideas to the people of ElginHow will you deal with declining revenue, particularly in the riverboat fund?Cut the wasteful spending .. 700,000 to a woman's softball team. , 75,000 for a new city slogan , 97,000 to study U.S. 20 , this is just the tip of the iceberg. The residents, the businesses , the shop keepers can't afford keep paying for these wild ideas city hall has.. It's about time for me to Stand up and say "" ENOUGH IS ENOUGH ""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.Its very hard to run the program when the federal government won't back up the workers with their policy.... I herd the Police Chief say last week that maximum number of days they can hold a person in Elgin is 3 days without taking action . If the feds don't take action they leave Elgin with no choice but to let them go.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?The whole budget is in a mess .. the average person don't know the exact state of the budget, when you ask some one with the city you get a different answer every time. I would like to disect the budget line for line to see exactly where the needs are and the waste is. For example the round about the city is about to build true the state is giving us like 80% funding but we still have to come up with 20% that really can't afford.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?I would like to see the City of Elgin , put a marquee out on Randall road just north of I- 90 to inform the 100,000 people that travel up and down Randall "" What is going On in the City of Elgin."" .. Hoffman Est. has one on Beverly rd. just north of Shoe factory. We could sell advertising to the local merchants to let them get the word out what is going on this week in Elgin