CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE

Candidate:  William A. R. Maddox          Position Sought:  Council Person, City of Pekin

1.  Why are you seeking this office?

I wish to continue to work on my original plan from when I ran for office in 2003.  The plan at that time, one which has been successful, is to plan for the future.  I do not intend to go back to the plans of previous Councils and execute those, I intend to keep moving forward.

2.  What are your qualifications for this office?

Besides holding numerous elected offices in various private organizations (as outlined four years ago), I have successfully served the citizens of Pekin over the past four years in my elected position on the City Council.

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

Yes.  My wife and I own two small businesses.  Certainly they do not rise to the level of Pekin Insurance, Pekin Hospital, or Avantine, but we must consider every financial move and all the many and varied influences that affect our endeavors.

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

Retain:  With the hiring of an Economic Development Coordinator, established efforts to contact existing businesses on a regular basis (business retention visits) were revitalized.  Periodic contact with existing businesses is vital to ascertain their needs so that the City Council may develop a balanced response to those needs.

Expand:  This is best done by networking with businesses with established positive track records and those with a demonstrated potential to positively impact the citizens and responding in a balanced measure to meet those needs.

Attract:  The City, in cooperation with our Schools (both public and private), the varied service clubs, business organizations, and the Chamber of Commerce must be proactive in promoting Pekin as "THE" place to do business.

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

See previous answer.

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

Yes!  As has been proven time and again, if you build a road, people will use it and in doing so, businesses will be attracted.

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.  Semi tractor/trailers are vital to commerce in Pekin.  What their drivers do not do is contribute significantly (with the exception of deliveries) to the retail commerce of the existing Rt. 9 corridor.  What they have done (inherent in their operation) is to contribute to traffic congestion and damage to the roadways.  By moving through traffic off the existing corridor, we reduce congestion and road damage, enhancing opportunities for retail expansion.

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?

Riverfront Development:  For now and the foreseeable future, the riverfront is being properly utilized.

West Campus:  I desire to see the West Campus developed.  What must be remembered is that an endeavor of this nature must be project driven.  By that I mean, a project that will not only contribute to the quality of life in Pekin, but contribute financially so as to offset any possible City involvement.

James Field:  I believe James Field should remain green space.

City's role in these efforts:  One possible role in the development of West Campus is to extend the current TIF district to include the campus.  My support for this is limited for several reasons.  1. I do not wish to see a negative impact on schools and parks as schools and parks are part of the positive draw for prospective business.  2. I have yet to see the campus development as being project driven that can contribute to the offset of public funds.

How should these projects be paid for:  Absent a TIF, the city should assist the developers to obtain necessary grants for development.  If the development can become project driven and not negatively impact schools and parks, then a TIF should be seriously considered.

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

Current efforts to promote educational and research tourism (the Dirksen Center and the Genealogical Society) as well as sports related tourism should continue to be actively promoted by the City, in cooperation with the various groups, organizations and businesses that can attract that tourism

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?

We currently have a balanced budget for 2007-2008.  There are things we need and want to do but for which we do not have the necessary financial resources.  Using the bubble concept has allowed the City to state those needs then work to meet those needs.

Are there opportunities to cut expenses:  Yes, but with loss of services. It must be remembered that the biggest expense for the City is personnel.  The two City departments that consume the most for personnel costs are the Police and Fire Departments.  If the citizens will be content with less service, then that is what must be done.

Specifically, where are those opportunities:  Other than personnel, there are other areas where opportunities exist.  It may be cliche to say that we must work smarter, but that is where we can accomplish more.  However, to do so, we must have the tools to do more and that costs money.  In the long term, there are savings by modernizing and using advanced technology but in the short term, it costs more.  I guess that is the difference in going back to the past, continuing what we are doing today, or planning for the future.

Is there a need for new or additional revenue:  I believe that this question is perhaps the most important question is this entire questionnaire.  To properly answer it, one must first consider the responsibility of government.  I believe that, " The legitimate object of government, is to do for a community of people, whatever they need to have done, but can not do, at all, or can not, so well do, for themselves - in their separate, and individual capacities.  In all that the people can individually do as well for themselves, government ought not to interfere."  These words, as you can tell are not mine but those of Lincoln.  I concur with his judgement.  As society has become more complex and the citizens cannot do for themselves as they could in the past, there will be a continued need for increased services and thus, increased revenues.

Specifically, where would it come from:  Reliance on the property tax, on the part of the City, is significantly lower that 10 years ago.  We cannot depend wholly on this revenue stream.  The logical method then, is to charge for service.  If a person uses a service, they pay for it.  There are exceptions to this, specifically police and fire protection, but even then, overuse or abuse of this service needs to be curtailed or charged for.

Are there areas where spending needs to be increased:  Public safety, waste water treatment, and storm water.

Specifically, where would the money come from:  For public safety, I see little recourse other than the property tax.  For areas of public service that are called for services as opposed to emergency services, fees could be established.  For waste and storm water, user fees are appropriate..

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

Yes.  I am a retiree of the City of Pekin, drawing a police pension.

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?

Has it been successful:  Yes, but improvement can be made.

If not, what form of government do you believe would be best for Pekin:  My preference is the aldermanic form of government while retaining the position of the City Manager.

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

The role of a member of the Council is set by statute.  Council members legislate for the City and have limited approval power for certain Mayoral nominations and appointments.

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

Yes.  I believe that it has been helpful to certain commissions and boards.  These appointments allow the commissions and boards to obtain a sense of the Council to assist them in their deliberations.

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

As I have made clear on numerous occasions, I have only one priority, and that is to plan for the future.

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

I already know I have been successful.  With appropriate planning, we have reduced costs in specific areas, primarily waste water and solid waste collection.  We separated the positions of Treasurer and Finance Director and have realized a significant increase in interest income.  In addition, we have established long range (read that FUTURE) goals and plans that will take this City well into the future.