William 'Bill' Donnell: 2021 candidate for Aurora city council, 4th Ward
Voters have a choice for Aurora alderman in Wards 4, 7 and 10 and for the at-large seat in the April 6 election. In the 4th Ward, incumbent William Donnell is facing John Bell. In the 7th Ward, incumbent Scheketa Hart-Burns is being challenged by Saul Fultz. In the 10th Ward, Shweta Baid and Arjun Nair are running to fill a seat being vacated. And Raymond Hull, Brooke Shanley and Ron Woerman are running for the open at-large seat. All are 4-year seats.
Bio
City: Aurora
Age: 64 on March 14
Occupation: Retired Park District Landscape Architect, Fox Valley Park District
Civic involvement: Kiwanis Coats for Kids, New England Church
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: In confronting the pandemic I feel my role as an Alderman is to be an information conduit for the residents of the 4th Ward. The State of Illinois and Heath Department have the primary role in providing guidance on COVID-19 to the public. Aurora and I have assisted the State in getting information to the public. I am pleased that Aurora was able to assist the health department in providing a COVID-19 testing site on Farnsworth Avenue.
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: Aurora continues to provide essential services through the ongoing pandemic. Most departments including Building and Permits, Property Standards, Street and our first responders have worked in Platoons to limit potential exposure to the entire department. Some in-house inspections were limited due to the 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: We have learned many tough lessons about living in a pandemic. If faced with a future health crises local, state and federal governments should all work together to provide complete, timely and accurate information to the public.
Q: What cuts can local government make to reduce the burden of the pandemic on taxpayers?
A: Aurora deferred many large capital projects knowing that there would be a revenue shortfall during the pandemic. In addition Aurora put a freeze on new hires during the pandemic with the exception of replacing first responders. Many administrative position vacancies have not been filled, creating additional savings for the city.
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: For many years Aurora has done a very good job in keeping up with our community's infrastructure including; sidewalks, roads, bridges, water mains and storm sewers. The city has been successful in leveraging substantial State and Federal funds to build many of these projects. In light of the pandemic many of these capital projects including road resurfacing have been reduced or deferred.
Q: Do you plan to address businesses that don't adhere to the governor's order to close or restrict business?
A: Aurora has recently created a three phased program to help local restaurants and small businesses hurt by the restrictions caused by the pandemic. Two of these programs are structured mathematically using sales tax receipts, to identify and provide grants to those business that were impacted the most by the pandemic. The third program is a one year liquor license holiday to help all restaurants and bars who were impacted by the pandemic.
Q: Do you agree or disagree with the stance your board/council has taken on permitting recreational marijuana sales in the community? What would you change about that stance, if you could?
A: The State of Illinois approved recreational cannabis in large part to generate tax revenue. I agreed with Aurora's decision to allow the sales of cannabis. It would not make good financial sense to pass on the opportunity to find new non-property tax revenue for the city in the legal sales of cannabis.
Q: What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?
A: I am confidant that Downtown Aurora will continue to build as an arts and entertainment destination after we are able to reopen the Paramount Theater and RiverEdge park. I would like to see Aurora create a Comprehensive Landscape Plan to enhance and beautify our historic downtown.