CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE

Candidate:  James E. "Jim" Jones          Position Sought:  Council Person, City of Pekin

1.  Why are you seeking this office?

To continue an active life in the community.

2.  What are your qualifications for this office?

Many years of experience serving the city in civic, social, fraternal, church and government committees.

3.  Have you ever owned or managed a business?  If yes, please explain.

I was a manager of various departments at CILCO during my 42 years of service with the utility.

4.  How do you propose to retain, expand and attract businesses in the Pekin area?

We need to have a professional, experienced Economic Development Director to be the lead person in the area.  The Riverway Business Park expansion is a good example.  We need to seek out new businesses, rather than waiting for them to come to us.

5.  What role should the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce and other business organizations play in strengthening the City's economic base?

Promoting our city at the state and national level; meeting on a regular basis with elected state officials; cooperation with the state economic development department; in other words, do more than sell each other; bring new players to the table.

6.  Do you support the continued construction of Veterans Drive?  Why or why not?

Yes!  I have been a member of the Pekin Chamber of Commerce Transportation Committee for the past 14 years.  This new road will increase the economic impact to all businesses in our community.  This is my #1 priority.

7.  Do you support the proposed change to the Route 9 designation from Court Street to the southern/western leg of Veterans Drive? Why or why not?

Yes.  Good roads, ring roads, are an asset.  The present Route 9, Court Street, has outlived its usefulness in our every changing community.

8.  What is your vision for downtown Pekin, including riverfront development, West Campus, and James Field?  What should be the City's role in these efforts?  How should these projects be paid for?

The riverfront development is an ongoing 20-year project plan, well worth the effort, being paid for as we go as it is in a TIFT district.  The City has done about all that it can for the downtown area.  The streetscape project consisting of lining of existing sanitary and storm sewers, new ornamental street lights, new sidewalks, curbs, gutters and street overlay has been completed.  The facade project for storefront improvements is ongoing.  I do not see the downtown area becoming a shopping area in the near future.  James Field should be left as a green area forever!  The West Campus is a complex issue.  Who has the money to jump start this renovation?

9.  What, if anything, should the City of Pekin do to promote tourism in Pekin?

Tourism promotion is a must.  The resulting sales tax income from this source continues to help keep property taxes stable.  Tourism activities are funded from the motel tax.  We need a tourism director, partnering with the Chamber of Commerce, and continue working with the Greater Peoria Area Tourism Council.  This is a win-win program.

10.  What are your thoughts about City finances?  Are there opportunities to cut expenses?  Specifically, where are those opportunities?  Is there a need for new or additional revenue?  Specifically, where would it come from?  Are there areas where spending needs to be increased?  Specifically, where does spending need to increase?  Specifically, where would the money come from?

Former City Manager Dick Hierstein pared as much from city spending as practical.  The city is in sound financial shape at the present time.  In fact, the property tax rate has been cut in half since 1994.  A new revenue source to fund the sewage treatment plan must be found to update and comply with ever-changing EPA rules.  The code enforcement area needs more people, but where will the money come from?  The property tax only partially funds police, fire and public improvements.  Increased new sales tax is the answer to avoid a general property tax increase, but sales tax has its ups and downs, so it is not a stable source of income.

11.  Do you have any "conflicts of interest" with the City of Pekin, either financially or personally?

No.  I also am not controlled by special interest groups.

12.  What are your thoughts on the City Manager form of government?  Has it been successful for Pekin?  If not, what form of government do you believe would be best for Pekin?

Yes, the City Manager form of government is alive and working quite well in the City of Pekin.

13.  What do you believe is the role of a city council member in the city manager form of government?

The strong manager form of government removes politics from the day-to-day operation of the city.  The role of the council is making policy as presented to it from the manager and his staff.  Electing council members at large allows the voters to vote for all candidates .

14.  Do you believe city council members should serve on the various city boards and commissions?  Why or why not?

No!  The various boards and commissions hold public hearings on a variety of subjects; they must be allowed to function without interference from the mayor or council members.  Even attendance at these meetings sends the wrong message to the volunteer members serving the city.  The council receives minutes of the public input and the findings of the boards.  Also included are recommendations of staff and input from the corporation counsel.  A decision is made and voted on by the council with this information.

15.  If elected, what would be your top three priorities?

1)  To continue to listen to all the people.  

2)  Make decisions based on the best information available.  

3)  Continue the upgrade of staff as openings occur.

16.  At the end of your term in office, how will you know if you've been successful?

That the positive results have outweighed the negative.