Prospect Hts. mayoral candidates on opposite ends of home rule debate

When it comes to the question of home rule, the two Prospect Heights mayoral candidates are on opposite ends of the ageless debate.

Voters twice rejected the city's request for home rule powers in 2004 and 2008 to raise property taxes.

Candidate Nick Helmer, a political newcomer who served on the Chicago Executive Airport Commission, says it's an inevitability and he supports another referendum on home rule in 2011.

"Home rule is an issue that has to come sooner or later," said Helmer, 66, a business owner and real estate developer. "I like the idea of limited home rule that Downer's Grove has. Anything over $1 million has to go back to referendum."

Alderman Dolly Vole, 41, who's running against Helmer on April 7 for the two-year unexpired term of Mayor Rodney Pace, said she always has been against the concept of home rule because it takes power away from the people.

"Residents are the ones to be voting and dictating," she said. "They will decide what level of services they want and what they will tolerate. At this point, it's the peoples' vote."

Vole said home rule would make it difficult for residents to intervene in development projects they don't support.

"It gives the municipality unlimited taxing authority, unlimited control over zoning changes and regulations," Vole said.

Illinois communities automatically become home rule after surpassing the 25,000 population threshold.

Prospect Heights had a little more than 17,000 residents in the 2000 census. Yet, 2007 population estimates show a decrease to roughly 16,000 residents. Home rule could only be achieved by voter approval through a referendum.

In November, Prospect Heights voters overwhelmingly rejected the latest home rule request. Voters previously denied proposals to increase the sales tax and a police pension tax, but in 2004 approved a sales tax increase.

Both candidates support a yes vote in the April 7 referendum to raise property taxes to fund the city's police department.

Vole said city leaders should do more to educate residents about the financial situation.

The city doesn't have enough money to repair its streets and is cutting expenses to plug a nearly $500,000 deficit.

Helmer said the proposed police protection tax, as well as a newly approved restaurant tax and other fee increases won't solve the city's financial problems altogether.

"Eventually home rule will be here," Helmer said. "It has to be, if we're going to survive."