James Haselhorst: 2021 candidate for Naperville City Council

Challenger Jim Haselhorst, one of 11 candidates running for four 4-year terms on Naperville City Council, responds to the Daily Herald candidate questionnaire for the April 6, 2021, local elections.

In-person early voting with paper ballots is now available at the DuPage County Fairgrounds Building 5, 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton. In-person early voting with touch-screen voting begins March 22 at locations throughout the county. Learn more at www.dupageco.org/earlyvoting/.

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Bio

City: Naperville

Age: 61

Occupation: Practice manager at J.A. Haselhorst DDS Ltd.

Civic involvement: Naperville Jaycees and other volunteer organizations; City Council Engagement and other community activism

Q&A

Q: How do you view your role in confronting the pandemic: provide leadership even if unpopular, give a voice to constituents - even ones with whom you disagree, or defer to state and federal authorities?

A: City officials clearly have an important role to play in providing Leadership during this pandemic, even if it is only by providing a role model or leading by example. The face mask issue is a controversial issue that depends on whether you believe in the science behind their use or not. No matter which side you take you are going to be unpopular with someone. There simply is no middle ground on this issue.

It is also important to remember to serve as a voice of the residents in city meetings. They cannot always speak for themselves, it is the duty of city leaders to be their voice on these occasions even if it means voicing a concern you do not agree with.

Q: Did your town continue to adequately serve its constituents during the disruptions caused by the pandemic? If so, please cite an example of how it successfully adjusted to providing services. If not, please cite a specific example of what could have been done better.

A: The city of Naperville did an outstanding job of serving its constituents during this crisis. They quickly adopted changes in operations that made it possible for citizens and businesses to continue their lives with minimal disruption. The city also made it easy for residents to continue to participate in public meetings. And it adopted several programs to provide assistance to residents and businesses impacted by this pandemic.

Q: In light of our experiences with COVID-19, what safeguards/guidelines should you put in place to address any future public health crises?

A: One thing has become clear during this crisis. The old way of relying on federal and state assistance is not dependable. This pandemic has become very politicized and as a result, how to deal with this crisis has become polarized to the point of near paralysis in providing assistance to local governments. The city clearly can no longer rely on timely assistance, if any, from higher government organizations and needs to develop programs and funds to meet the needs of the community on a timely basis and not be stalled by political drama. The city needs its own response team with established standards on how to deal with slowing or stopping the spread of communicable diseases that have a minimal impact on residents and businesses.

Q: What cuts can local government make to reduce the burden of the pandemic on taxpayers?

A: Any cut is going to result in reduced services to residents. Naperville's city government has done a good job keeping a watchful eye on spending. The only expenses that could be "cut" would really be more to delaying the expense until a later date when the economy has recovered.

Things like delaying street resurfacing or light upgrades until later since we are seeing less commuter traffic making this less urgent. Reducing Pace bus service, again because of reduced commuter traffic needs.

Q: What do you see as the most important infrastructure project you must address? Why and how should it be paid for? Conversely, during these uncertain economic times, what infrastructure project can be put on the back burner?

A: Prior to this pandemic the major infrastructure project would have been to improve traffic flow, but the changes in commuter traffic due to this pandemic may have solved most of this issue. At the same time it has exposed the lack of infrastructure to support the community's needs, both residential and business, during this pandemic.

Clearly our city needs trained people and the logistical infrastructure to provide the services and goods needed to deal with this type of health crisis. Funding would depend on what it is determined the community will need to deal with this kind of situation in the future. It could come from state and federal sources, borrowing, city fees, or taxes.

Q: Do you agree or disagree with the stance the council has taken on permitting recreational marijuana sales in the community? What would you change about that stance, if you could?

A: Opt In is one of the community activism issues I mentioned as being involved in over the years. As a leader of Opt In, clearly I support the council's decision to allow adult use dispensaries in our community. And this has been the only "bright spot" in our community's economic situation during this pandemic providing much greater then anticipated financial support for local government. I would currently change nothing in regard to these dispensaries. We need time to gather more information on the impact of this change before making any decisions on how to modify policy if at all.

Q: What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet? I still believe that the 5th Avenue Project would be good for the community and we need to find away to move this forward.

A: At one point I mentioned to city council the possibility of moving the downtown library into this project co-located with the DuPage Children's Museum.

I see these two family and child oriented amenities as being mutually beneficial. By locating them together I believe it will create synergies that will benefit both organizations through greater usage, community exposure, the possibilities of joint projects and other mutually supportive benefits.

Locating them both in this area with greater train and bus access will provide greater access to both by residents of Naperville and DuPage County.

This would provide the added benefit of opening up the current premium downtown property that the library is located on for redevelopment. This could benefit the community by being redeveloped as a mix use including a parking structure and perhaps apartments.

Remember the vacant area to the west of this library used to be a popular apartment building before it was purchased by the library and torn down. Such apartments would provide an opportunity for the city to address its affordable housing shortage issue as well.