Tourist attractions addressed at Gurnee mayoral forum

The future of Gurnee Mills and the possibility that Six Flags Great America's parent company might file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection were among the issues addressed during a mayoral forum Monday.

Gurnee Mayor Kristina Kovarik and her two challengers, Anthony "Tony" Maniscalco and village Trustee Greg Garner, addressed the issues at the two-hour event hosted by the Gurnee Women's Business Association.

Voters will select Gurnee's mayor April 7.

After each candidate made a five-minute presentation with the opponents kept outside the Gurnee village hall chambers, some of the 50 spectators posed questions. One of the queries had to do with the candidates' positions on Gurnee Mills.

Garner, 51, who was appointed by Kovarik as a trustee in September 2005, said poor management by village officials has led to Gurnee Mills' deterioration. He said Gurnee is in danger of losing retail development to neighboring towns and, as mayor, he'd make it a priority to not let that happen.

"We obviously took our eye off the ball," Garner said.

Kovarik, 51, was not down on Gurnee Mills, saying financially sound Simon Property Group Inc. has big plans to make the mall more upscale. She said Indianapolis-based Simon is holding off because it doesn't want to amass heavy debt during the recession.

"They're getting away from that dollar store mentality," said Kovarik, who's been mayor since 2005.

But Maniscalco, 51, who made an unsuccessful trustee run in 2005, said Gurnee has a discount-store image that must be changed. He said he doubts Simon will improve Gurnee Mills and that he'd work to lure high-end stores to the village if elected mayor.

Great America became political fodder after its parent company, Six Flags Inc., raised bankruptcy as a possibility in its annual report filed last week. Great America is projected to generate nearly $2 million in amusement tax revenue for Gurnee over the new budget year starting May 1.

In response to a question about Six Flags' poor financial condition, Kovarik told the crowd Gurnee could weather the loss of the park's amusement tax receipts if it closes. She said Gurnee could tap into $17 million sitting in reserve, if necessary.

"We are not anticipating Great America will close," Kovarik said.

Maniscalco said he believes Great America's future is grim and it's too costly for families to visit anymore. He said village officials should consider what else could be built on prime real estate just east of the Tri-State Tollway and Grand Avenue.

"I am very concerned about what happens at the park," said Maniscalco. "And the village should be concerned."

Distinguishing himself from Kovarik, Garner said the village would be better off by leaving its reserve fund alone and instead reducing the work force if Great America closed. He added Gurnee should do more to financially prepare for Great America's possible demise.

"I think if the park goes down, we'll be in trouble," Garner said.