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NAME: Richard Dunne
POSITION FOR WHICH YOU ARE A CANDIDATE:
Elgin City Council
1. Why are you seeking this position?
While I have served on Elgin City Council for eight years, I feel that I have more to contribute as Elgin continues to recover from hard financial times. I have been working diligently as your Councilmember to hold the City of Elgin accountable for their spending. I work to champion Elgin public services and watch that they are fiscally responsible and managed well. I also require a balanced budget, every year. I will continue to be an advocate on the Council to make sure I am standing for all Elginites. I work for truth, honesty and transparency in your city.
2. What experience and background do you have which qualifies you for this position?
My experience, community service and education: I have served on the City Council for eight years. I was an Elgin firefighter for 25 years and the city’s Fire Marshal. I retired from the United States Air Force Reserves as a Chief Master Sergeant. I currently work for the FEMA as a grant administrator. I have helped start a neighborhood association and understand the benefits these organizations bring to the city. I have served as the volunteer head of a non for profit organization. I have served on numerous community committees to help improve our schools and community facilities for veterans. I have a MBA, am a graduate of NIU Center for Governmental Studies, Civic Leadership Academy and have completed the FEMA’s Emerging Leaders Program.
3. What will be your greatest challenge if elected?
I believe that the greatest challenge for me and the city of Elgin will be the state of Illinois. The uncertainty in Springfield weighs heavily on our city, our citizens, our economy and our budget. While we do not know when our representatives in Springfield will pass a budget, it appears that any budget plan moving forward has cuts to the Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF), or a property tax freeze. This makes forecasting the revenue side of Elgin’s budget impossible. The best we can do is to position the city to be prepared to react to the changes in Springfield so that they have the least adverse affect on our growth, and therefore our citizens, as possible. This is what I see as my greatest challenge if elected.
Release for publication? YES
I will attend the forum? YES
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