Endorsement: Burns for Geneva mayor

Elected officials who stick around for any length of time can't make all the people happy all the time. Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns, aiming for his fifth term, can't make Alderman Tom Simonian happy hardly any of the time. It has reached the point that Simonian decided to spend $75,000 of his own money and challenge Burns, who's been mayor 16 years.

With Simonian saying Burns is in "career politician mode" and no longer putting residents' interests first, he and Burns have been trading jabs the last several weeks.

Burns, who appointed Simonian to the 5th Ward post in 2013 after the death of Ralph Dantino, said last fall, "I'm proud of my record of achieving greater financial security, enhanced transparency and accountability ... "

Simonian says the city is upside down with an organizational chart of city staff first, elected officials second and citizens third, and the current structure lacks input from and communication to residents. He also would like to see a two-term limit for mayor.

A business owner who has lived in Geneva since 1998, Simonian said the budget has gone from $63 million in 2010 to $92 million in 2016. "We get the budget dumped on us Thursday and we're expected to vote on it Monday," he said.

Burns, who has served the city more than 30 years, says providing quality services at affordable prices will always be a priority for him. He's a booster of affordable housing and the arts, and he strongly favors the 2 percent Places for Eating tax the council passed and which could be implemented in May. It could raise about $1.5 million. Geneva candidates estimate between 70 percent and 80 percent of restaurant-goers come from outside the city. Simonian said he would like to rescind the tax.

Economic development remains strong, the Geneva brand is robust. More than a decade's worth of budgets have been balanced and the last three budgets have been passed unanimously. The city is running leaner than it has in 10 years, reserves are healthy and the city has a AA+ bond rating.

"We can always do better," says Burns, who works in nonprofit fundraising and marketing.

Elected officials who stick around long enough also do so because they keep getting re-elected. That happens for a reason, too. And almost nothing happens without the council's approval. Burns is endorsed.