Mohammad "Mo" Iqbal: 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: ElginWebsite: www.IqbalforElgin.comOffice sought: Elgin City Council Age: 69Family: Wife, 2 married sons, one grandchildOccupation: Attorney at Law, Civil ElginneerEducation: Law degree - NIU college of Law post graduate law degree - John Marshall Law School MBA - University of Chicago PhD - Civil engineering - Washington University at St. Louis.Civic involvement: â#8364;cent;Commissioner, Elgin Image Advisory and Human Relations Commissions â#8364;cent;Board Member, Eagle Heights Resident Association â#8364;cent;Board Member, Gail Borden Public Library Foundation â#8364;cent;Volunteer Attorney, Prairie State Legal Services â#8364;cent;Volunteer Attorney, Administer JusticeElected offices held: Precinct committeeman Eagle Heights Resident Association Board MemberQuestions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?My wife and I have lived in Elgin for more than thirty years. We raised our family here. It's home. I believe that Elgin is perfectly located for success. The city has grown over the years and so have the challenges. I believe those challenges can be met. I believe they can be turned into opportunitiesâ#8364;#8221;opportunities for a stronger tomorrow. I believe that my background as a corporate attorney, civil engineer and businessman will bring a higher level of professionalism to the city council. I'm confident that my experience and expertise on budget and financial matters will help make Elgin a better place for all of us. I would be a responsive and fair city council member. I would never focus on myself, but on the residents of Elgin. I would also be easily accessible. I would listen to people, then try to resolve whatever issues they have with the city. I would be a strong taxpayer advocate, bringing a new sense of responsibility for every dollar that is spent. I've been fortunate in my life. I've done okay financially for my family, which now allows me the time to give something back to the city I love. I want the same things that other Elgin residents want: safe, secure neighborhoods, with a firm commitment to quality police, public works and fire department services. I want responsible, restrained spending in the city. I'm informed and capable. No one will work harder or smarter for Elgin than I will.City Manager Sean Stegaall says that the city's property tax levy -- which is staying flat this year -- is projected to increase by 5 percent in 2016 and 2017 unless cuts are made to public safety. However, some believe public safety budgets are untouchable. What is your stance? Would you make such cuts? If not, what alternatives would you propose?One of my strengths is analyzing budgets. According to my research on the 2015 budget, the property tax levy is projected to increase by 5% per year for the next two years (2016 and 2017). This increase in the property tax levy will bring in $1,340,000 in 2016 and $1,412,000 in 2017. The budget provides expenditures for public safety for 2015. It does not, however, provide expenditure projections for public safety in 2016 or 2017. Therefore, I don't know how or why an increase in the property tax levy is needed for public safety. But assuming that the expenditure is justified in order to maintain public safety, increasing the levy should be our last option. We need to cut other expenditures first. The level of compensation for city employees is a public concern, for example. There are about 600 full-time employees working for the city. The median earning and benefit package is $91,000 per employee. And it's increasing. The pay hike this year is projected to be 8%, followed by 5% in both 2016 and 2017. On the other hand, per capita income in Elgin is $23,610. The median income per family in Elgin is $58,500. There's a considerable gap between the income of city employees and the income of Elgin residents. A review is needed. I would oppose the tax levy increase. The city should show that there is a connection between the levy increase and public safety expenditures and that all discretionary expenditures have been reduced or eliminated.Talking with your friends and neighbors, what seems to be their biggest public safety concern? Explain the concern as you see it, and discuss how you think it should be addressed.There are several public safety concerns, depending on each resident's situation: 1.Street Lighting: It is long-known that Elgin needs new and improved street lighting. Many intersections have inadequate lighting. Good lighting is important to deter gang activity and other potential criminal conduct. I would support the improved lighting plan being developed by Elgin City Councilman John Prigge. 2.Police Protection: Almost everyone is talking about the police. Elgin has an outstanding police department. But across America and right here in Elgin, too, police officers often hear only the negatives in their community. I would encourage people to communicate directly with Police Chief Jeff Swoboda and other police officials. Don't shy away from a complaint, but, at the same time, let the police know when they've done something right, which is the vast majority of the time. Police officers put their lives on the line every day for residents regardless of race, creed or color. That needs to be supported. Elgin has exemplary police performance under Chief Swoboda. Problems are handled immediately. Community outreach is at a high level. Officers are promoted from within. 3.Fire Safety: Most people I've talked to support the city's efforts to purchase up-to-date, state-of-the-art fire and safety equipment. Fire Chief John Fahy says that Elgin is safer today than ever before in history. That type of commitment needs to continue. 4.Public Works: People seem satisfied with snow removal. I have heard negatives, however, about street resurfacing and maintenance. Those concerns must be addressed.The city of Elgin has invested resources into promoting arts and entertainment downtown, which Mayor David Kaptain and others believe can be a long-term economic engine . Do you agree with the approach? If so, why? If not, what would you propose instead?This is a question on which there is little public consensus. The question arches over two issues. First, whether we should spend public funds on arts and entertainment. Second, since the question specifies the downtown area, the issue becomes whether our center city should be revitalized at the expense of tax dollars. The answer lies in the vision. The revitalization of downtown has been an ongoing issue with the City Council for at least the past several decades. Because of functional obsolescence, vacancies in downtown Elgin abound. Some statistics show that arts and entertainment can help bring back people to the downtown district. Some, if not most, of those people have a certain level of disposable income. However, with the per capita income of Elgin at $23,601 many residents may not be inclined or able to support the arts. On the other hand, according to City documents, there is a strong base of arts and artists in Elgin, which, with continued growth, could attract more and more professionals to our city. If Elgin wants to draw middle-class families, it needs to revitalize its blighted areas and needs to invest in initiatives such as arts and entertainment. As one example, the City Council has financially supported the Art Showcase in the Professional Building. And while I agree that supporting the arts is a potentially viable growth engine to revitalize the downtown area, a fiscally responsible comprehensive plan is needed for downtown Elgin, with the Grand Victoria, for example, as a partner.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?In going over a new idea or new ideas for Elgin, it's important to not only think like a city council candidate, but to think like a citizen. I've been in Elgin for more than thirty years. I know Elgin inside out. And I love Elgin. Even though I have a history here, my name might not be totally familiar to other residents. I can assure them that I've done my homework on the issues. I've talked at length to two current council members. It's no secret that Elgin has distressed areas, most notably the Central Area TIF District, which, of course, includes the downtown. My idea is to start cleaning up that area through strict code enforcement. It's a project that should start immediately. With the 2020 Census approaching, a significant share of Elgin's financial future depends on positive reporting numbers. Businesses look at census data to identify new markets for their goods and services. Billions of dollars in federal funding for schools, senior centers and other important services also depend on the census. Strict code enforcement throughout Elgin, starting with the Central Area TIF District, can ensure stable improvement to quality of life through safer neighborhoods, higher property values and attractive streetscapes. Elgin cannot turn its blighted neighborhoods around with the leadership it has now. Properties must be brought up to code standards so that businesses and middle-class families feel safe to move in and help Elgin grow. The city needs new leadership with a new initiative.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I firmly believe that good fiscal responsibility on the part of our local government is a necessary key to revitalization of our blighted areas. Taxing our way to prosperity is not fiscally responsible. I pledge: 1. To protect the tax dollars of every Elgin resident, making sure that the city always lives within its means. 2.To maintain and promote safe, secure neighborhoods by supporting our dedicated police officers and firefighters, as well as ensuring they always have the best equipment that is available and economically feasible. 3.To help revitalize our middle-class through economic development, new jobs, infrastructure improvements and proactive public investments in Elgin's neighborhoods. 4.To promote and work to provide opportunities for retail and commercial growth. 5.To work harder and smarter at improving the quality of life in Elgin, matching the same high standards of those in some of our neighboring communities 6.To protect property values by enforcing building codes. 7.To enhance Elgin's image by finding ways to improve all entryways into the city. 8.To continue to diversify city revenues, putting Elgin in a better financial position. 9.To work to repeal the city's natural gas and electricity taxes. 10.To be accessible to all Elgin residents.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.John F. KennedyWhat's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Tell the truth.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Continue what I have been doing: helping family, friends, community, profession and clients.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Mathematics. It is a powerful tool to analyze and solve problems. It has increased my foresight and ability to connect dots which is extremely invaluable.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Tell the truth.