Bonnie Lee Kunkel: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Bonnie Lee Kunkel

City: Aurora

Office sought: Alderman, Ward 5 (Covers city west of Randall Rd.)

Age: 60

Family: Aurora is my 'family'

Occupation: Lawyer, arbitrator

Education: West Aurora High School, University of Chicago, University of Illinois Law School

Civic involvement (past and present):

• Fox Valley Sustainability Network

• Aurora Greenfest

• Fox River clean ups

• Do-Over. Me board

• Chambers of Commerce: Aurora Business United, Aurora Hispanic Chamber, Fox Valley Chamber

• Kane County Bar Association, including Family Law committees remediation, guardian ad litem representation of children, juvenile law, & educational programs

• Chaired committee which created Kane's arbitration system

• Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) pro bono attorney and guardian ad litem to

advocate for abused and neglected children

• Taught: Kids in a Divorcing Society, Legal issues for Breaking Free's TAP Program for Pregnant Teens

• Women Organizing Women

• Kane County NOW and coordinator of Adopt a Kid NOW program to subsidize childcare at the YWCA

• Kane County Women's Healthcare Coalition Member

• Aurora Childcare Roundtable Member

• Science and Technology Center (SciTech) board

• Aurora Cultural Study Circles participant, formerly YWCA, now City sponsored

• Stormy Weather Benefit for hurricane victims

• Hesed House volunteer and co-founder of Hope legal clinic

Previously held elected offices: Kane County Board Member, Kane County Forest Preserve Commissioner

Incumbent? No

Website: No

Facebook: Yes

Issue questions

What are the most important issues facing your community and how do you intend to address them?

Aurora was incorporated in 1857 and developed as a manufacturing hub. Most of the well-paid manufacturing jobs are now gone, leaving behind empty buildings and under-employed Aurorans. A relative decline in average income has made Aurora less attractive to national retail chains, creating empty storefronts, fewer restaurants, and yet fewer jobs. These things lead to a less robust tax base and place a heavier burden on the remaining taxpayers. Aurorans and Aurora need better jobs and economic development to rise to prior levels. As Thomas Friedman points out in Thank You for Being Late: An Optimist's Guide to Thriving in the Age of Accelerations, Aurorans need to engage in lifelong learning, i.e., repeatedly retool, to have quality employment. Also, Aurora's development and permit procedures need to be swift, sensible, and patently uninfluenced by campaign contributions and cronyism, in order to encourage economic development and even homeowner improvements. Further, unnecessary regulations encourage stagnation and waste city resources on enforcement. Aurora has a long history of racial, cultural and religious diversity which is increasing. LBGTQ persons now live here more openly. And, our recent immigrants bring ideas from all over the globe. This diversity can bring us creativity, such as we see in our downtown and growing arts community, but can challenge us too. The' hate' speech which infests the airwaves and internet signals the disrespect and distrust too many have for anyone who is unfamiliar. (Many of Aurora's prize humanitarian endeavors - Hesed House, Mutual Ground, and multiple food pantries - remind us that not everyone is thriving.) Aurorans need to come together, to define our goals, to identify our problems, and to craft our own solutions. Community dialogue groups, like the old Study Circles, can help us to understand, trust, and work with unfamiliar Aurora faces to plan a better future. The revitalization of West Aurora Plaza area is critical. Aurora government needs more transparency, e.g., through better meeting notices, broadcast city council meetings, and less onerous FOIA use. I also support the better campaign finance rules and ethics regulations.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I am the best candidate because of my personality (see next question), my familiarity with Aurora, my education, my public service experience, and my commitment to our community. First - As a local family lawyer, I've known the intimate details of thousands of peoples' lives struggles. I know how burdensome 'feel good' regulations can be to families and businesses. I can imagine how proposed ordinances will impact constituents, and I know how to fix them or when to scrap them entirely. Second - I served this area as Kane County Board member and Kane County Forest Preserve Commissioner for eight years. I know how government works, how meetings are run, and how time-consuming yet rewarding that public service can be. Count me in. Third - As an elected official, I was famous for asking questions and pinching pennies. These are the essential duties of your alderman. Fourth- I was born in Aurora and I stayed here, not just to live but to establish my legal business too. I have counseled thousands of our people and walked miles of our streets. I have committed my life to Aurora. I will do everything I can to help her thrive. My fellow Aurorans- you are my extended family.

Describe your leadership style and explain how you think that will be effective in producing actions and decisions with your village board or city council.

I am thorough and independent. I analyze each issue to determine the best course of action. I never 'phone it in' or 'rubber stamp'. I often challenge underlying presumptions, which allows for creative problem solving. An example: When I was first elected to the Kane County Board, there was momentum to build a new jail in 'Design A'. When 'Design A' came up for final vote I asked the key questions: How many inmates will 'Design A' hold, and how many inmates do we have now? This revealed that 'Design A' was too small for even our current needs, let alone sufficient for future growth. It would have been a $50 million-dollar mistake. As a result, 'Design A' was scuttled and replaced by a larger jail designed for expansion. Another example: Storing the county voting machines was going to take a huge amount of floor space. I suggested using racks to stack them vertically, thus freeing up much of the Randall Rd. building for other purposes. I am a strong communicator. As a lawyer and a trained mediator, I've learned how to disagree respectfully. Also, I love to work collaboratively!

How would you describe the condition of your community's budget, and what are the most important specific actions the town should take to assure providing the level of services people want?

While Aurora appears to have a 'balanced budget', it has underfunded city workers' retirement healthcare benefits by $300 million dollars. That's dishonest and a disaster waiting to happen. Still, Aurora is currently able to provide necessary services. The Aurora Public Library (APL) is key to education, socialization, and enjoyment for many Aurorans, especially those of limited means. The current APL Board seems out of touch with users' desires, e.g., efforts to move the West Branch Library, cutting hours, and now choosing a new executive director without community input. When the APL's surreptitious efforts to move the West Branch Library surfaced, I helped circulated petitions for a referendum thereon while Alderman Franco did … nothing. When the APL's tax levy came before Aurora's finance committee, I attended and watched Alderman Franco ask no questions and say … nothing. Fortunately, the APL finally announced that the West Branch Library will not move, but the drama continues! The APL has its own tax levy, yet its members are mayoral appointments, chosen by the last mayor and the current mayor. State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit wisely introduced a bill to allow a referendum to change the library board into an elected body. The City of Aurora lobbyist has registered to speak in opposition on Wednesday, February 13th. I call upon Alderman Franco and all Aurora alderman to issue immediate statements in favor of the Kifowit bill and to act to silence the lobbyist.

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

As a member of the Fox Valley Sustainability Network I proposed the expansion of tourism to bolster

our local economy: Our Fox Valley is positioned for an ecotourism boom. Given our proximity to the millions living in the Chicago area, many just a train ride away, and the natural beauty of our Fox River, trails and open

spaces, even modest improvements in our trails with coordinated publicity can draw substantially more

visitors and fuel environmentally-friendly economic growth. Our Fox Valley has a string of pearls, historic and vibrant communities, which are tied together by the Fox River and by the Fox River Trail which edges this river and runs through our downtowns. This hiking and biking trail attracts 100,000 visitors annually, and these visitors spend $14 -$30 each per visit. With increased signage and connections to amenities, e.g., food, lodging, transportation, recreation and

entertainment spots, and with regional publicity, will come increased visitors and higher expenditures per

visit. Plus, more user-friendly trails will draw our local residents too, enhancing our lives and our health. Together with like-minded leaders, I presented our plan at the 2017 Greentown Fox Valley Mayors Breakfast and the Conference. (www.foxvalleysustainabilitynetwork.com/new-events/greentown-fox-valley) It won #1 Best Idea. When you add Aurora's other entertainment draws, e.g., the Paramount Theater, the growing artist community, and enough music history and talent to fill the new blues 'Venue' and other downtown clubs, we could be on the cusp of something big. And, since tourism thrives on unique 'boutique' experiences, Aurora's underabundance of national chains and overabundance of older architecture and small businesses work to Aurora's advantage.