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Mark A. Mulliner: 2021 candidate for Elmhurst mayor

Bio

Age: 63

Website: mulliner4mayor.com

Occupation: Former director of technology for Elmhurst District 205; former owner and president of School Technology Services. Currently retired.

Civic involvement: Current 7th Ward alderman; former Elmhurst Library board of trustees (vice president and facilities committee chair and vice chair); Elmhurst public affairs committee (including vice chair position); Elmhurst public affairs committee (including stint as chair); Elmhurst finance committee; Elmhurst development, planning and zoning committee; Elmhurst city, park, school committee; ex officio of Veterans Memorial Commission and Elmhurst Economic Development Commission

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: I personally was in a number of meetings (in-person and remotely) with the mayor, city staff and some of the businesses in the city to make sure that we communicated the up to date guidelines, while working to open all of our businesses safely. I worked with those groups to help craft the best way to provide outdoor dining, food carryout help, and retail carryout.

All guidelines that were provided by the medical personal from the federal, state and county levels were followed by the city, including closing city hall for a period of time.

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 Elmhurst first and most important part of the response was to ensure the safety of everyone and that is how the city responded. All guidelines that were provided by the medical personal from the federal, state and county levels were followed by the city, including closing city hall for a period of time.

On a weekly and sometimes daily basis the mayor, city staff and others were on calls with other government agencies and Elmhurst Hospital, to make sure that the most current guidelines were being followed and communicated to the public.

Safety is the most important issue for all. Businesses and individuals need to take personal responsibility. Our businesses are all essential to someone, whether it's because of the services they provide or the livelihood that business provides for the owner and their employees.

I am proud of the way the city, the businesses and residents responded to the COVID-19 crisis and want to thank everyone for their work, cooperation and patience during this difficult time.

Please remember whenever you can show your support for Elmhurst: safely eat and shop local.

I look forward to the day we are all vaccinated and life gets back to normal.

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: Safety is the most important thing for all. Businesses and individuals need to take personal responsibility. Our businesses are all essential to someone, whether it's because of the services they provide or the livelihood that business provides for the owner and their employees.

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

A: The city of Elmhurst staff, mayor and city council responded the pandemic in a very rapid fashion. The first thing was to identify that with the pandemic the city may have up to a $9.5 million deficit in its revenue.

Therefore, we put on hold an equal amount of expenses until we could better determine the impact of the pandemic. Some of those expenses were; capital projects were put on hold, a hiring freeze was put into place, and most of the city staff voluntarily put their raises for 2020 on hold.

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: Currently, the management of water flow and storage in Elmhurst is the most important project. The funding of these types of projects should come from a mix of grants, enterprise fees and creative financing.

During uncertain economic times, the city uses capital projects in general as its rubber band. As an example, we can reducing the amount of paving for a year or two and then increase the paving when times are better.

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: One of the biggest problems that we have in Elmhurst as well as the country is that of substance abuse and suicide, without enough resources to help those people who are in need of help. I believe as a city we need to focus resources on substance abuse and suicide prevention, treatment and long-term support.

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

A: Here is one concrete example of what I envision: Let's take the downtown "doughnut hole" (the parking lot behind the retail buildings between Addison and York, and First and Second Streets) and transform it from a paved parking lot into an entertainment venue; a grassy eating and play area surrounded by alfresco dining venues for citizens to enjoy live music or movies with their children during the warm weather, and an ice-skating rink in wintertime.

As mayor, I will work with all school districts (District 205, Salt Creek and District 88), the park district, the library and any other government agency to maximize the use of our tax dollars. We will hold semiannual meetings of all overlapping government agencies in order to share our short and long-term plans and improve communications.

Q: What makes you the best candidate for the job?

A: I am a lifelong resident of Elmhurst; I was born and raised in our Elmhurst community, attended college, and then returned to Elmhurst. I married my wife, Barb, and we raised our two children, Jason and Amanda. I worked in District 205, as one of the first technology directors in the state of Illinois. Then opened my own business while Barb taught at Churchville for her entire career. Our children have followed our example and live in Elmhurst, because there is no better place to raise a family.

I love Elmhurst and the people who live here. Since the early 1980s, I have been attending city council meetings and working to make Elmhurst a better place. I sat on the Elmhurst Library board of trustees for six years, before running for alderman of the 7th ward. I've been working as an alderman to help the city maintain its traditions as well as moving us forward into the 21st century.

I know there are a number of issues that continue to need to be addressed in the years to come. We need to make sure that the city provides those core items of infrastructure, streets, sidewalks, water and sewers as well as to provide opportunities for economic development in the city, thus increasing the tax base in order to keep homeowners taxes low.

I believe that Elmhurst is a city that people are proud to call home, and that we need to be inviting to the newest residents and work to make sure that those who came before should be able to afford to stay in Elmhurst after they retire.

I firmly believe Elmhurst is the greatest city in Illinois.

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