Kevin Gallaher: 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: NapervilleWebsite: Gallaherfornaperville.comOffice sought: Naperville City Council Age: 51Family: Kathleen Gallaher, wife Tom Gallaher, son Frankie Gallaher, son Meghan Gallaher, daughterOccupation: AttorneyEducation: Benet Academy, 1981 St. John's University (MN), 1985, B.A. Government DePaul College of Law, 1988, J.D.Civic involvement: Naperville TAB Board, West Suburban Mass Transit District Director, Naperville Development Partnership Chair, 2001-2002 Naperville United Way Annual Campaign President, Naperville Responds Hurricane Katrina Director, Turning Pointe Autism Foundation Director, Illinois Autism Society Human Rights Committee, AspireElected offices held: Naperville City Council, 1995-2002Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?As a twenty-six year Naperville and lifelong area resident, I have seen Naperville transform from a small outlying community to one of the largest most diverse cities in the State of Illinois. I served as a member of the City Council from 1995 to 2002 and helped manage the tremendous growth that occurred during those years. Subsequently, I represented some of the most successful business projects that have developed in Naperville, including, Freedom Commons and Springbrook Prairie Marketplace. As Naperville transitions to a mature community from community driven by growth, I understand the dynamic that exists at the intersection of innovative ideas and government. The City Council needs to balance the concerns of Naperville business owners against the City's rules and regulations. For example, Naperville's zoning ordinance is nearly thirty years old and reflects a need to promote the proper balance of and separation between residential and commercial uses. Those concerns have largely been addressed. The City Council needs to understand that many of the big box retail spaces that are prominent along Route 59 will not be filled by similar users. The City needs to cooperatively develop strategies to encourage redevelopment of outdated commercial properties. Sales taxes generated from commercial properties offset the need to increase property taxes. Property taxes generated from commercial and real estate properties also contribute to our schools and park district. Because of my experience on both sides of the dais, I am uniquely prepared to address the 21st Century concerns in Naperville.What is your opinion of your community's present level of local sales and property taxes? Is the tax just right, too low or too high? Explain.One need only drive throughout Naperville to see the large number of retail properties that are underperforming. Consequently, the City has become too reliant on property taxes. Each underutilized retail and commercial property represents a loss of sales tax revenues for the City and property tax revenues for the City, School District and Park District. Furthermore, the City government has relied on growth and development-related fees to fund a significant portion of its budget. First, growth and development in Naperville has largely ended. These fees will no longer be available to fund the City budget. In addition, Naperville can no longer rely on new property taxes from newly constructed homes. The Internet and changes in consumer habits have changed the retail climate, not just in Naperville, but throughout the country. Unless and until taxes can be collected on Internet sales, the City will struggle to collect sales taxes on purchases through the Internet. The City Council needs to work closely with the business community to develop strategies to allow for innovative uses for commercial and retail properties throughout Naperville. The City Council must identify the issues that are causing stagnation in these areas. Clearly, many of the issues are market-driven and construction-related. Nevertheless, the City needs to understand the market and position itself to respond and assist where possible.Early projections for the fiscal year 2016 budget showed a $12 million deficit. What can the city do to avoid future budget deficits? Where can the city save money or make cuts?Historically, budget projections have been inaccurate. Many factors contribute to City revenues and expenses, some of which are outside the City Council's control. Changes in business cycles can result in unexpected increases or decreases in sales tax revenues. Some changes, such as the Internet, result in permanent changes in revenues. The City Council must maintain diverse revenue sources. In addition, the City Council must remain aware of changes occurring in everyday life. For example the City Council should collectively ask specific questions such as, what impact will changes in the cable television industry have on the City? How will federally-mandated increases in fuel efficiency affect the motor fuel taxes collected by the City? What is the status and impact of pension reform in Illinois? The answers to these and other questions have a significant impact on future budgets. In addition, the City Council must continually assess the services that it provides to Naperville residents. The City Council needs to identify services that are absolutely critical for the health, safety and welfare of Naperville. Each of these services must be funded at a level that ensures the highest level of service. The City Council needs to ask whether Naperville provides services that can be outsourced, and, if so, will outsourcing result in savings? Finally, the City Council needs to foster a culture of innovation throughout the government. City employees are the "boots on the ground" and are best positioned to recommend cost-saving opportunities to City management and the City Council.What additional regulations, if any, should the city council impose on bars and liquor license holders to help keep the downtown night life safe? What do you think of the restrictions recently created, such as relating to late-night entry, shot sales, beer sizes, drink specials and security training?I believe that the City Council has over-regulated the bars and restaurants. Possessing a liquor license is a privilege, not a right. City ordinances impose responsibilities on holders of liquor licenses. Restaurant and bar owners are responsible for ensuring that each of their employees receive the proper training. These owners are also responsible for ensuring that their employees monitor the conduct and behavior of patrons of their establishment. The vast majority of restaurants and bars responsibly provide training and enforce Naperville's rules and responsibilities. The City is easily able to identify those establishments that fail to meet Naperville's standards. In addition, Naperville's liquor code has always provided harsh penalties for liquor license holders who fail to properly manage the service of alcohol. The penalties range from fines, to forced closures and ultimately revocation of the license. Rather than impose limitations on drink sizes, etc., the Liquor Commission should impose the penalties mandated in the code. The loss of revenue suffered by a restaurant or bar that is forcibly closed for a weekend, ought to result in a change in behavior by the owners. If the establishment continues to violate the code, they should be closed for an extended period until they either comply or have their license revoked by the Liquor Commission.What should the city council's role be in bringing businesses to town? Should businesses be allowed to bring in proposals under code names, such as "Project Panda"? What do you think of the decision to approve the SKF development at Warrenville and Freedom roads before informing the public of what the development would be?The City must play an active role in attracting businesses. Competition between other cities in Illinois and cities throughout the country is fierce. Businesses contribute jobs, revenues and even prestige to a City. Fortunately, the Naperville Development Partnership has provided outstanding leadership in bringing these opportunities to Naperville. The City Council must continue to promote business development by creating an atmosphere of cooperation and ensuring that City processes fairly allow for an expeditious development and construction schedule. It is critical that these processes include communication and input from Naperville residents and the public. Unfortunately, the City violated this public trust with Project Panda. Where required by law as was the case, under no circumstances should a development be allowed to proceed to public hearing without full disclosure of all the facts. Project Panda set a dangerous precedent. In fact, the secrecy ultimately proved to be unwarranted and SKF is a welcome addition to Naperville. SKF did address all of the neighbors' concerns. Nevertheless, the ends cannot justify the means. Naperville has a tradition of open and honest government. I have certainly participated in my share of contentious meetings over the years. At times, the process felt messy and inconvenient and my position did not always prevail. However, I never felt, either as a member of the City Council or a representative of a petitioner, that my opinion, or the opinion of any member of the Council or public, was disregarded or ignored. Secrecy undermines the process and cannot be tolerated.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?For the past ten years, my family and I have been active in working with disabled veterans and individuals with developmental disabilities, such as autism. Through my experience, I have learned that society has failed to understand the contributions that these exceptional people provide. Local Fortune 500 companies in our community have been at the forefront of creating national programs to train and employ developmentally disabled individuals with outstanding results. In many cases, these new employees have increased overall productivity at their place of employment. If elected, I would ask management to educate the Department of Human Resources of these training programs and identify City jobs that could be filled by graduates from the programs. I would hope that qualified graduates be allowed to interview and be considered for employment. I would also engage the City Council and management in a discussion as to how the City can encourage its vendors and service providers to employ disabled veterans and developmentally disabled individuals.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Pope Francis. He demonstrates compassion and concern for those less fortunate and is willing to confront his own critics.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Team work and loyalty. I am the oldest of five boys. We were taught to work together and keep our disagreements inside our family.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Studying harder in school. As a student, I did not appreciate the wonderful opportunity I was given to expand my horizons.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?History. It taught me there are no new problems - only variations of the same old ones.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Never give up. Life is a journey. There are road blocks on the journey. But they can be overcome with persistence.