Brenda Rodgers: Candidate Profile

Back to Elgin City Council

<p style="height:1px;margin:0;padding:0;overflow:hidden;">&nbsp;

<p class="disclaimer" style="font-size:16px;color:#666;"><strong>Note:</strong> 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.

<h4><strong>Jump to:</strong></h4>

BioQ&A

<p style="height:1px;margin:0;padding:0;overflow:hidden;" class="clearFix">&nbsp;

<h3 class="breakHead">Bio</h3>

<strong>City:</strong> Elgin

<strong>Website:</strong> Candidate did not respond.

<strong>Twitter:</strong> electbrendarodgers

<strong>Facebook:</strong> electbrendarodgerselgincitycouncil

<strong>Office sought:</strong>

Elgin City Council

<strong>Age:</strong> 53

<strong>Family:</strong> I have one daughter.

<strong>Occupation:</strong> Realtor

<strong>Education:</strong> Bachelor of Arts

<strong>Civic involvement:</strong> Elgin Public Museum

Elgin Hispanic Network

Realtor Association of Fox Valley

<strong>Elected offices held:</strong> Elgin City Council 2003-2007

<h3 class="breakHead">Questions & Answers</h3>

<h3 class="briefHead">The Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin is funded by a $135,000 yearly contract with the city, and future funding will be discussed by the city council. The DNA could continue to be funded by the city, or by a new special tax imposed on downtown property owners, or by a special sales tax increase for downtown only. Or by a combination of all three. How do you believe the DNA should be funded? Please explain.</h3>

According to an article that I read DNA was going to send out a survey to the downtown property owners, asking if they support the SSA for downtown. In order for this to pass 51% of the property owners would have to agree to the SSA. If the property owners agreed; I would support it.

I would work with DNA as I did in the past on ways to raise money for them. One of my suggestions would be a food truck fundraiser, where some of the proceeds would go to DNA from the event. The Food Truck event downtown last year was a big success, people were standing in line for over and hour and some of the food trucks ran out of food. The overflow of people went to downtown restaurants.

We are the eighth largest city in the state and I want us to continue to attract new companies and people to our community. Our residents enjoy the events that DNA plan.

<h3 class="briefHead">Elgin straddles Cook and Kane counties. Cook County approved increasing the hourly minimum wage from $8.25 to $10 effective July 1. Elgin, as a home rule community, can opt out. Do you support opting out or allowing the $10 minimum wage to take effect? Why?</h3>

We have had trouble in the past filling space on the east-side Cook County portion of town. This increase will put us at a bigger disadvantage with companies looking to relocate and with current businesses that have a company on the west-side of town. I want to make sure we are attractive to companies that are looking to possibly relocate into our community and that pay a prevailing wage. The minimum wage should be handled by the state.

<h3 class="briefHead">A task force told the city council in summer 2015 that the Hemmens Cultural Center should be expanded with a new performance space for up to 450 patrons, new restrooms, dressing rooms, a box office and more. The cost hasn&Atilde;&#131;&shy;t been estimated but it would be in the millions. Do you believe an expansion is necessary? Please explain.</h3>

The Hemmens does draw people to our community and it is important to have a variety of music genres in any community especially one our size. The Hemmens has had this discussion for a few years. I would like to see if they can raise the majority of the funds or what percentage could they raise on their own.

<h3 class="briefHead">The city council set a policy of gradually spending down the city&Atilde;&#131;&shy;s reserves to 30 percent of operational expenses. By the end of 2017, the general fund will have $37.9 million in reserves, or about 32 percent, as per this year&Atilde;&#131;&shy;s budget. Do you agree with the policy? Or do you believe the city should be more prudent with reserves? Or should it spend down reserves even more? Why?</h3>

I read some newspaper articles recently that some communities are spending their reserves to balance their budget. I do not want our community to become one of those communities; therefore I am in favor of us saving the money as oppose to spending it.

<h3 class="briefHead">The city is working on a creating a &Atilde;&#131;&not;code compliance academy&Atilde;&#131;&reg; for residents who want to find out more about property-related regulations, and help keep an eye on problems. Do you think this is a sound approach? If not, what is your alternative?</h3>

We have the citizens Police Academy that has been very successful and I am a graduate of it. If the program will inform the residents about minor violations and maintenance then I have no problem with it. I have always liked that our residents are active, involved and want to be informed about the community; I embrace this. This would have been terrific when we had a lot of foreclosures in our community.

<h3 class="briefHead">What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?</h3>

I will hold quarterly meeting with the residents in order to keep them informed about city council and the non-for-profits that the city funds.

Economic Development is very important in our community. I want to make sure we are recruiting companies that will pay a living wage.

Homeownership is important to me as well. Core Services to our residents, Fire, Police and Public Works.

<h3 class="briefHead">Please name one current leader who most inspires you.</h3>

My grandmother, daughter, nieces, and nephews are my inspiration.

<h3 class="briefHead">What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?</h3>

I learned that nothing is impossible with hard work and dedication.

<h3 class="briefHead">If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?</h3>

If life gave me one-do-over, I would have gotten my college degree much sooner in life.

<h3 class="briefHead">What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?</h3>

There were a few teachers that saw potential in me, Mrs. Causey, Mrs. Renwick and Ms. Rash.

<h3 class="briefHead">If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?</h3>

I gave my daughter a bible as a child and wrote in it "This is the greatest I can give you God's word."