Mundelein trustee candidates concerned about finances, business climate
The six candidates running for three seats on Mundelein's village board cited the local economy, downtown redevelopment and the village's image among the biggest issues facing the town.
The candidates spoke about the challenges and other political matters during a group interview with the Daily Herald.
The candidates in the April 4 election are incumbents Ray Semple and Dawn Abernathy, former Trustee Robin Meier, plan commission member Scott Black, and political newcomers Karthik Chandramouli and Jeanne Cygnus.
All three seats carry 4-year terms.
Meier, Chandramouli and Cygnus are running as part of a slate called A Mundelein United. Semple, Abernathy and Black are running independently.
When asked about the biggest issue facing Mundelein, Semple noted the local economy is recovering from the recession and businesses are moving to town. He cited the renovation of the Hawley Lake Plaza shopping center and the opening of a new Jewel-Osco store in what had been a vacant Dominick's Finer Foods on Route 176 as economic successes.
"Mundelein has truly never looked better than it has right now," said Semple, a trustee since 1995. "It's a fun time to be a trustee."
Abernathy said she's concerned about how the state's budget woes will affect the village, specifically whether Mundelein will get the revenue its owed from Springfield.
Property taxes are a big concern for Abernathy, too. She said she'd rather trim village spending than increase people's tax bills.
In December, Abernathy was one of two trustees who opposed setting a property tax levy that could result in a tax increase for residents.
"I'm sure there's areas we can cut in the budget," said Abernathy, a trustee since 2013 who unsuccessfully ran for the state House in November.
Black, a plan commission member for 21 years, called the redevelopment of the downtown area a priority. He's excited about the commercial and residential growth in Mundelein and what it could mean for downtown businesses.
"I've never seen the village in a better position to take advantage of this growth," he said. "We have a tremendous opportunity to really reshape the downtown district like never before."
Cygnus, a small-business owner, believes the village needs to be more helpful to entrepreneurs who want to open businesses in town. She said would-be business owners have encountered "confusion" when dealing with village departments.
"I'd like to make that a much smoother, simpler process," Cygnus said.
Meier, a trustee from 2008 to 2015, said Mundelein's economic growth has been moving too slowly. Having some innovative thinkers at village hall could help, she said.
"It needs to flow a lot faster. It needs to have a very steady current," Meier said. "And you have to have some innovative people really pushing and going out there to do that,"
Chandramouli, a business consultant, said he's most concerned about Mundelein's public image.
"We are our Google results?" he said. "When people Google Mundelein, what do they see? Do they hear (about) controversy and bickering and negativity, or do they see a positive vision? Do they have government that's accountable?"