Burns, Pawlik face off at League forum for Geneva mayor race

Geneva incumbent Mayor Kevin Burns and challenger Karsten Pawlik squared off Sunday during a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Central Kane County at the Geneva Public Library.

Pawlik, who works for a demolition company, is challenging Burns, who is seeking his seventh term in the April 1 consolidated election.

In opening statements, Burns said he supported the city’s 2030 Strategic Plan, which was approved by the city council in September.

“The core principles of that plan include strong governance, an informed and engaged citizenry, purposeful development and economic vitality, a safe, active and welcoming community, environmental stewardship and quality infrastructure and city services,” Burns said.

“I endorse that plan fully,” he added. “I look forward to working with the council, the community and the professional staff to articulate, to advance and to achieve those principles.”

Pawlik said he is a construction professional with over 30 years of experience managing large, complex projects. He is president of the Illinois Mechanical & Specialty Contractors Association, which lobbies in Springfield for subcontractor rights.

“I have always been involved in government relations, and I know how government works,” Pawlik said. “I have (the) qualifications to be a great mayor of Geneva.”

To a question about their vision for economic development in the city, Pawlik said he would address stalled developments.

“I don’t like driving in from the east side of town and seeing a vacant lot, empty storefronts. Geneva is better than that," Pawlik said.

“We want to have vibrant gateways to the city,” he added.

Burns said the vision for Geneva is rooted in its strategic plan – and that he has been working on strategic plans for the city since 1997.

“I have helped advance those plans to success,” Burns said.

Regarding the issues Pawlik raised, Burns countered that the downtown occupancy rate is 96%; Geneva Commons is 92%; South Randall Road is 97%; and light industrial and industrial is 96%.

Burns said the city has "a vital, vibrant and essential economic base.”

“Our community asked us many years ago, ‘Please broaden our tax base,’" Burns said. "We’ve done exactly that. When we focus, we succeed. When I lead, we succeed.”

There is discussion about the possible removal of the Geneva Dam, which is owned by the state of Illinois. Burns said he did not think federal funds would be available, let alone state money for it.

Pawlik said the city needs to be fiscally responsible, manage its money – and lobby for more money.

“There’s money out there to get,” Pawlik said. “But you need to know how to get it ... We want to make sure that we have inroads to our representatives, our senators, to the federal government to get more money for Geneva.”

Video of the mayoral and alderperson candidates is available on the League of Women Voters Facebook page.