Allison Longenbaugh: 2023 candidate for Naperville City Council, 4-year term

Bio

Town: Naperville

Age on Election Day: 54

Occupation: Vice president, operations analyst

Employer: J.P. Morgan (30 years)

Previous offices held: Trustee and secretary, Naperville Public Library

Q&A

Q: What is the most serious issue your community will face in the coming years and how should the city council respond to it?

A: Like many mature communities, Naperville is facing significant required expenditures to maintain and improve its infrastructure and is fast approaching a decision time with the IMEA energy contract.

That, coupled with necessary funding of public safety and quality of life initiatives, will test future councils' ability to meet all these varied obligations in a fiscally responsible manner all the while looking to embrace the future.

Q: How would you describe the state of your community's finances?

A: Naperville is a dynamic and prosperous city and is fortunate to have the financial resources to fund our many needs.

Previous councils have been good financial stewards and our city finances continue to improve. We have less debt and greater reserves today than in 2015 with expanded city services.

If COVID taught us anything it was that we will have unexpected needs and our now 20% cash reserves allow us to respond to any economic bumps or emergencies.

Looking to the future, Council has an opportunity to make progress in some key areas including incentivizing development in South Naperville to ease the residential financial burden for District 204 schools, investing in lower-cost, green, energy-efficient infrastructure projects, and responding to the mental health challenges the community is facing.

Q: What should be the three top priorities for spending in your community during the next four years?

A: My top priorities for spending are investments to enhance the lives of Naperville residents.

1.) Infrastructure & Sustainability: We have significant physical infrastructure needs to address. In doing so we must make sustainability a key consideration, incorporating sustainability parameters there, but also in development proposals and with our IMEA energy contract.

2.) Accessibility and Inclusivity: Improve the ability to traverse Naperville via safe bike lanes, improve walkability and pedestrian safety, and implement traffic calming techniques. Continue to fund and support cultural events for an inclusive Naperville, e.g. Naper Pride and our many cultural celebrations and events.

3.) Public Safety: Address the ongoing mental health crisis calls that our police and fire resources encounter, which may be more effectively addressed by city social workers. In addition to being trained to de-escalate and address needs, we would be deploying our resources in the most cost-effective way.

Q: Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed? If so, what are they?

A: I believe previous councils have been effective stewards of residents' tax dollars. When I have heard concerns from residents it is about tax dollars being spent without a transparent process or, once granted, inadequate oversight to ensure accountability. There are times when public/private partnerships make sense but they must be thoroughly vetted and managed to make sure that we are being good stewards.

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

A: There is no single "most important" infrastructure project. We must address all our infrastructure needs.

There is one that is flying under the radar: the IMEA contract. Naperville effectively owns a coal plant to generate electricity. This contract keeps us reliant on the dirtiest of the carbon-based fuels which are finite and contribute to climate change.

Naperville is the largest party to the agreement and must lead the consortium by demanding IMEA replace tranches with renewable resources as they reach maturity.

Regarding projects on the back burner, I became involved with Council when the city was considering developing 5th Avenue Station. I'm grateful that the city did not pursue it as the underlying assumptions were upended by COVID and have not stabilized with respect to commuter parking needs.

Thoughtful long-term studies and forecasting will be necessary to make sure any eventual proposal meets the current and future needs of residents and commuters.

Q: Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy. What is your style in such a setting to reach agreement and manage local government? Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your city council.

A: I have worked at J.P. Morgan for 30 years in various roles with the common thread of working collaboratively across multicultural teams to analyze and solve problems and then execute solutions. I genuinely like to understand WHY things work, or don't.

Although I am a subject matter expert in operational processes and process improvement, I regularly bring in experts in other disciplines to make sure all stakeholders' perspectives are included. I believe it is of paramount importance to treat colleagues with respect.

While there will always be differences of opinion, my approach has been to be an active listener with an open mind. I don't have the answers to everything, and I'm not afraid to admit when I've made a mistake. I always listen to all sides of the issue before coming to a conclusion.

I believe my experience and these attributes will directly transfer to an effective and positive working relationship with city staff and fellow council members.

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

A: People want to live in Naperville because of its small town feel, but it takes operating like a large business to make it run well. I've worked for a corporate institution for over 30 years.

I have looked for process improvements to increase efficiency, save costs, and redeploy human capital. I have worked across departments with competing interests and needs to deliver for stakeholders. I am fully engaged in Naperville.

Since 2019, I've attended every Council meeting, providing live commentary and summaries on social media.

I am a trustee to the library board; graduated from both the Citizens Police and Fire Academies; and served as the official Council Observer on the League of Women Voters Observer Corp. I am tireless and dedicated to Naperville's success. I understand and welcome the commitment needed and, if elected, will hit the ground running as a council member

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

A: Composting! Reducing food waste is not only good for the environment by reducing carbon emissions but it would be good for Naperville's budget. The more we compost, the less landfill space we need and taxpayers' money is saved. The waste can be used as fertilizer or converted into a biogas energy source.