Corey D. Dixon: 2025 candidate for Elgin city council

Bio

Office sought: Elgin City Council (Vote for 4)

City: Elgin

Age: 42

Occupation: Government administrator

Previous offices held: Elgin City Council since 2017

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

I believe that our most serious issue that we face is the replacement of residential lead pipes, as well as our homelessness/houselessness issues.

As a city council, we have to continue to respond by pouring available funds into alleviating both issues as quickly as possible. Our response to these two things should always be one of absolute urgency and I plan to continue on advocating for these issues with the passion and considerations that they deserve.

How would you describe the state of your community's finances? What should be the top priorities for spending during the next few years? Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed?

Our finances as a city are excellent. This is demonstrated by our bond rating, savings and stewardship. Our top spending priority over the next few years has to be on replacing residential lead piping. To achieve the goal of replacing said pipes, simultaneously, we have to be mindful of internal spending and watching every dime of taxpayer money.

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?

Lead pipe replacement is definitely the top priority. This has to be taken care of from a plethora of financial avenues such as federal funds, state funds, local funds and grant funds. If anything has to be placed on the back burner, it’d probably be recreational related improvements or developments.

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

I have served on Elgin City Council for almost eight years and my approach has always been based in collaboration. The reality is that you will not always get everything that you want, so I take stances that are based in research, solid logic, good reasoning and lived experiences.

I aim to do the most good, which means that I have to be understanding of other perspectives outside of my own. I have to be inclusive of those who sit at the table and to those who aren’t.

My style and approach starts with first identifying right from wrong and then building a consensus with my peers to achieve our unified goals. By using this approach, I have been able to achieve much success on city council.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I love and understand our city and the people who make it what it is, so I get our complexities and what’s needed to help us become great. I’m continuously ready to do the hard work and make the difficult decisions to move us forward. As such, I don’t expect anything in return.

I only want to serve the residents to the best of my ability and to advocate on the behalf of those who need it most.

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

Leveraging the power of AI to improve citywide services, provide real-time feedback and analytics of those services. Elgin can be poised and positioned to become the smartest city in the state of Illinois.