Tish Powell: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Tish Powell

City: Elgin

Office sought: City Council

Age: 48

Family: 1 son, age 12

Occupation: Marketing manager

Education: University of Notre Dame - Bachelor of Arts - Government; Northern Illinois University - Masters of Public Administration - Urban Management

Civic involvement: Elgin Cultural Arts Commission- City Council Liaison; College Green Homeowners Association- Board Member and Past-President; City of Elgin Sustainable City Master Plan Committee- Work Group Chair; U-46 School District Citizens Advisory Council - Representative; Progressive Baptist Church - Member

Previous elected offices held: Elgin City Council member: 2011- Present

Incumbent? If yes, when were you first elected? April 2011

Website: www.powellforelgin.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/TishPowell.ElginCityCouncil/

Twitter: @PowellforElgin

Issue questions

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

1. Despite the many positive changes and decreased crime rates, Elgin continues to suffer from a negative image. I would like to see a comprehensive marketing campaign re-branding Elgin as the "City of Choice" that highlights our strengths - growing arts & entertainment community, quality housing stock, proximity to transportation centers, safety, schools, diversity, etc ... as an important step in attracting tourism, new businesses and residents to our community.

2. In recent years we have experienced an increase in aggressive panhandling and people experiencing homelessness in our community. Unfortunately this has strained community resources and negatively affected perceptions of safety, particularly in our downtown. We have to continue our efforts to provide compassionate, multilayered, long-term solutions to homelessness through community partners such as CAMPS and FUSE. We also have to work with EPD to effectively address disorderly conduct arising from acts of aggressive panhandling and other unlawful activities so that people feel safe.

3. Elgin needs to heal in the aftermath of the DeCynthia Clements shooting. Regardless of the outcome of the investigations, the City must bring together the various stakeholders throughout the community to rebuild trust, ensure accountability and institute mechanisms that minimize the likelihood of future deaths.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

With over 16 years of management level experience in local government, I have both the professional and political experience to understand all sides of complex city issues. I have a record that demonstrates that I serve the interests of our diverse community. I am seeking a third term to ensure that Elgin remains a great place to live, work, play, do business and raise a family. I have fought for accountable, long-term financial management, which has allowed us to maintain a flat general property tax levy for several years. Most important, I am a critical thinker who is not afraid to ask the tough questions and challenge old ways of doing things. During my tenure, I have successfully spearheaded an ordinance requiring a minimum percentage of Elgin residents be hired on city construction projects. I also initiated an ordinance reducing penalties from arrests to fines for small amounts of marijuana possession, in order to give young people in particular a second chance. As a working mom, I understand first hand the challenges working families face. I want to make sure that Elgin remains a safe, affordable community with a high quality of life, excellent city services and a sustainable future.

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 would describe my leadership style as inclusive and visionary. I believe this is important in working with fellow council members, City staff and members of the community in order to develop solutions that are in the best long-term interests of Elgin. I believe that better results are achieved through collaboration; therefore, I actively seek to include diverse viewpoints from our community. While we may not always agree, it is important that these perspectives be heard and respected.

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?

I feel that Elgin has done a good job providing solid, long-term financial management for our community despite significant decreases in Riverboat revenue and the 2008 recession. The revenue diversification implemented back in 2012, while unpopular to some at the time, has allowed us to reduce our dependence on property taxes and put us on a more sustainable financial path. The City of Elgin has maintained a AAA-bond rating for several years and has kept pace with required pension fund payments despite required public safety pension contributions increasing by over 120 percent since 2012. I believe we have to continue to invest in innovation and technology in order to streamline our personnel and operational costs, which represent the bulk of our budget. We also have to focus on increasing our revenue streams from nonresidents, such as through sales and hotel/motel taxes by recruiting new businesses, the expansion of existing business and increased tourism opportunities.

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

I would like to make Elgin a true destination for arts/culture and entertainment in the suburbs. Part of that includes increasing our offerings of special events, particularly at Festival Park, which was built for that purpose but I feel has not been fully utilized. Elgin needs to offer more events such as Nightmare on Chicago Street that are unique and different from our suburban neighbors and better utilization of our river as a source of recreation. I would also like to see the development of a hotel and conference center in our downtown in order to attract more trade shows, conferences and tourism to our area and more emphasis on attracting "green" businesses.