Mary Seno: Candidate Profile

Back to Geneva City Council Ward 3

Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioQA Bio City: GenevaWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Geneva City Council Ward 3 Age: 55Family: My husband passed away October 1999Two sons Steve 28 and Spencer 23Occupation: Clinical Admission Nurse Delnor 31yearsEducation: Registered NurseCivic involvement: Volunteer for Geneva Chamber Volunteer Alzheimer's Support CaregiverVolunteered while my children attended elementary,middle and high schoolElected offices held: AldermanQuestions Answers Do you support what the Downtown/Station Area Master Plan's suggests for redevelopment of several opportunity sites, including the Cetron factory site and the Mill Race Inn site, including calls for higher-density housing than currently allowed? Discuss in light of recent decisions against an apartment building at the Cetron site and townhouses/duplexes at the former Geneva Greenhouse site.I support higher density housing and the Downtown/Station Area Master Plan, but the current process does not benefit the taxpayers and residents of Geneva. All residents of Geneva, not just the immediate neighborhood, should be informed of any projects being considered by the city council and be given an opportunity early on in the process to have their voices heard.Should a city employee (the administrator or her designee) negotiate city union contracts, given that they, like other employees, will receive the same benefits as union members?I was surprised to learn that this was the case in the city of Geneva, and I have supported using a third party who has legal expertise with union negotiations who has no relationship, working or social, with the workers or city council.Mayoral candidate Tom Simonian has said he won't take the salary of mayor/liquor commissioner, or would donate it to charity. Is that a good idea? Why or why not?I don't see the downside of the mayor's salary being donated to charitable causes within our community.Should the city do something to increase the amount of affordable housing in Geneva, as the Chicago Metropolitan Agency on Planning study calls for? If so, what?Every city needs to offer affordable housing. Retaining our seniors and attracting young homebuyers is necessary for the growth of all communities. The city of Geneva should continue to work to achieve these goals.What is one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?Developing the southeast industrial park needs to become a priority in the city. Increasing our industrial base will generate income for the city of Geneva, helping to keep the burden off the Geneva taxpayer.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Too often the residents are an afterthought in decisions facing the city. This trend has to stop. Taxpayers, through their aldermen, have to have their voices heard, and I believe going forward we can start seeing change in this area. A perfect example is a 2% Places for Eating Tax, which the residents are strongly against, yet the mayor and staff are aggressively supporting. More emphasis has to be put on resident input.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Joe Maddon, Cubs manager. Joe didn't through a ball, catch a ball, or hit a ball. He successfully lead a group to a common goal.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Always smile and always look for the good in everyone.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?No do-overs. Despite losing my husband and raising two sons on my own, I was fortunate to have the support of my community and neighbors.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Science. Studying to be a nurse was made easier with my love of science.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?The same advice I grew up with, always smile and always look for the good in everyone. Life is happier when we stay positive.