Dick Sayad: 2023 candidate for Des Plaines City Council, Ward 4

Bio

Town: Des Plaines

Age on Election Day: 79

Occupation: Retired

Employer: Retired

Previous offices held: 4th Ward alderman (16 years)

Q&A

Q: What is the most serious issue your community will face in the coming years and how should the city council or village board respond to it?

A: The city needs to stabilize the police and fire pension funds. I would look at measures to control spending while maintaining quality city services to our residents and to prevent Des Plaines as a city from being "caught short" financially as it was in the last economic downturn.

Q: How would you describe the state of your community's finances?

A: Based on my observations on the currently passed budget, I would rate Des Plaines as finances as stable.

Q: What should be the three top priorities for spending in your community during the next four years?

A: The number one priority would be public safety, The number two priority would be improved city services. My third priority would be to "remarket" the city of Des Plaines to businesses and developers. The city of Des Plaines, I feel, is perceived to be very unfriendly to business through years of heavy handed and onerous licensing and permitting issues. A comprehensive collaborative department by department review and chamber of commerce partnership is need to "reset" the business climate in Des Plaines.

Q; What do you think is the right way to revitalize Metropolitan Square? Should it be funded

privately or publicly or not at all?

A: The revitalization of Metropolitan Square must come from a collaboration between city management and the chamber of commerce. Using The Theater as a fundamental building block, we must use it to help draw more business, especially restaurants. We have developed a new consumer base with new citizens moving into housing developments in the downtown area. We must now work to develop more shopping and particularly dining/entertainment to make Metropolitan Square a premier entertainment destination in the Northern suburbs. Funding for this marketization could come from existing TIF funds and the state dispersed LGTF fund. I would also reach out to our state and federal officials to see if any extra funding could be found. If the city manager feels this outside his prevue we could entertain hiring a professional marketer.

Q: Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed? If so, what are they?

A: Having been out of city government for the last four years I cannot say "where" specifically we should "cut" right now. What I would suggest is a department by department budget review to look for any savings to be found by program evaluation and effectiveness. There may be more economical and cost effective ways to get things done that cannot only save money, but also free up money for new more cost effective ways of doing things.

Q: Is city hall doing enough to retain businesses in town and lure new ones? If not, what should be done?

A: I think the city can and must do more to help existing businesses and attract new ones. Whatever we have been doing has not been very successful. As mentioned earlier I propose a campaign run by professionals to "re brand" the city of Des Plaines as an invested/collaborative partner with businesses looking to open here as opposed the onerous regulatory nightmare dealing with Des Plaines is now perceived to be.

Q: What do you see as the most important infrastructure project the community must address? Why and how should it be paid for? Conversely, during these uncertain economic times, what project(s) can be put on the back burner?

A: After the revitalization of Metropolitan Square I would say that the continued development of the Higgins Corridor as one of the most important projects to Des Plaines future. There already exists TIF funding to support this. I would also reach out to our state and federal counterparts to help secure this area of business development to grow the future of Des Plaines.

Q: Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy. What is your style in such a setting to reach agreement and manage local government? Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your village board or city council.

A: In my past 16 years as alderman, I have worked many groups of various sizes with many different needs, interests and objectives. I have come to learn over the years that I am at my best as a leader when I check my ego at the door and listen to all parties with an open mind. I have worked to become a better listener and that makes me a better representative for the 4th Ward. While not always in agreement my constituents know that I am always accessible and that their opinion matters. Even when they may be in a minority.

Q: What makes you the best candidate for the job?

A: I believe I am the best candidate for alderman of the 4th Ward for two very basic reasons: Experience and accessibility. My experience in city government is broad and deep. I have extensive knowledge of the Metropolitan Square project as well as the Higgins Corridor. I was instrumental in helping bring The Rivers Casino Project to Des Plaines and all the tax revenue benefits. I was also instrumental in bringing Mariano's Food Store to Des Plaines along with the park district land swap to improve Black Hawk Park. I truly love being your alderman and serving you. I am accessible 24/7 for constituent services with an open-door policy to meet with any resident concerning their issues. I commit to continue to holding three to four resident wards meeting per year to keep you the residents aware of what is happening in the 4th Ward and the city. And lastly, I take great prided in having personally handed out over 4,100 "welcome packets" to new Des Plaines residents in the 4th Ward.

Q: What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?

A: My one new good idea is to "re brand" and 're market" Des Plaines and become known as business and development friendly. We need to change the perception of being almost impossible to do business with to welcoming all types of business both retail and commercial.