SEIU

Chicago City Council Elections

February 2011
Candidate Questionnaire

Candidate: ____________________________________________________________
Valerie F. Leonard

Signature: ____________________________________________________________

24th
Ward # ______________________________________________________________

Citizens to Elect Valerie F. Leonard

Name of Campaign Committee: ___________________________________________
4111 West 21st Place
Campaign Address: _____________________________________________________

Chicago, IL 60623
_____________________________________________________

773-521-3137 773-522-1832
Phone: _________________________Fax:__________________________________

Email: ________________________________________________________________
Valeriefleonard@msn.com

http://vote4valerie.voterspace.com Blog: http://vote4valerie.blogspot.com

Website: ______________________________________________________________

Valerie F. Leonard
Campaign Contact Person: ________________________________________________

Please use the lines to elaborate on your answer or provide information on past actions you’ve taken on these
issues. If you require additional space, please use a separate sheet.

In order to receive consideration for endorsement by SEIU, this completed form must be returned via fax, email or
mail no later than Friday, December 17th, 2010 to:

SEIU Illinois Council

Att: Genie Kastrup, Political Director
111 E. Wacker Drive, Suite 2500
Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-233-8785 Fax: 312-233-8837
kastrupg@seiuilcouncil.org
 CITY BUDGET AND GOVERNMENT
One of the chief issues facing the City of Chicago over the next few years is finding a long term solution for the
continual budget shortfalls and moving away from the short term budget fixes of the last few years. A number of
approaches either implemented or suggested raise serious problems while other approaches are still being
discussed.

1.) In general, SEIU believes that increased openness and public input into city government would benefit the city
and its residents in numerous areas.

Would you support a proposal to require the Chicago City Council to issue an annual report at a public hearing
concerning the previous year’s budget performance?

X
Yes__________________ No___________________ Depends___________________
This would provide transparency, as well as a mechanism for the public to better
_______________________________________________________________________
gauge how the City is managing its finances from year to year.
_______________________________________________________________________

2.) SEIU opposes any privatization measures or asset sales (such as the parking meters) that undermine
accountability in public programs or that achieve cost savings by reducing wages and benefits of the workforce that
provides the services.

If elected, would you oppose legislation or budget measures that would encourage or mandate the contracting out
or privatization of public services?
X
Yes__________________ No___________________ Depends___________________

The City has been privatizing assets and services for over 15 years in the name of cutting costs and increasing
efficiencies. In spite of this, the City’s budget is still about 20% higher than one would expect if we were to adjust the
1991 budget for inflation and hold everything else constant. Moreover, there have been reports of contractors paying
workers less money and providing fewer benefits to perform the same jobs they performed as City employees.
However, the City is billed for a multiple of the worker’s salary ( 3-4 times the salary) to cover ―overhead and
administration‖.

Would you support a city ordinance which would require that the City Council have oversight authority when
services performed by employees of the City of Chicago are contracted out to private employees?

Yes__________________
X No___________________ Depends___________________

This would help to ensure greater quality control, enhance checks and balances between the executive and legislative branches
of City government, and allow the City Council to exercise greater governance.
Given the problems with the City’s long-term lease of its Parking Meters, Would you support a city ordinance that
would provide the public and the City Council with the time and resources to review any attempt to sell or lease
other City Assets before any vote on the contract is taken?
X
Yes__________________ No___________________ Depends___________________

The City Council reportedly approved the $1.16 billion Parking Meter deal within less than a week’s time, and no
real due diligence. The proceeds from the sale were supposed to last 75 years, and were essentially exhausted
within 18 months. It was very disturbing to read accounts that some Council members did not read the terms of the
lease before voting. Only 4 members voted against the measure because they did not have sufficient time to
adequately review the proposal.

The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) is a municipal corporation created by the Illinois General
Assembly. MPEA owns and manages the McCormick Place complex and seeks to promote and operate conventions,
fairs and expositions in the Chicago area, in an effort to strengthen the local economy. Currently, the Governor of
Illinois and the Mayor of Chicago appoint its Board of Directors.

Would you support or oppose a city takeover of the MPEA?

Yes__________________ No___________________ Depends___________________

I would oppose a city takeover of the MPEA, as the original intent was to create a partnership between the City and
State. I think having the governance structure include representation from both the City and the State is healthy,
given that the MPEA’s revenue streams are generated by both the City and the State, and Navy Pier and
McCormick Place are attractions for the City and the State tourism markets.

I support the proposal to spin off Navy Pier to a separate entity with its own board of directors and day to day
operations. This would allow Navy Pier to focus on developing its own strategic plan, governance structure,
business model and renovations, while allowing MPEA to focus on its core business of conventions and trade
shows.

Would you oppose the sale or lease of MPEA to a private company (as with the parking meters or Skyway)?
X
Yes__________________ No___________________ Depends___________________

Even though the MPEA is experiencing financial difficulty, it is an asset that will eventually recover, assuming
proper restructuring of debt, union work rules and its overall cost structure. No private entity will take over the
MPEA without a reasonable expectation that it will receive a profit in the future. The ability of the private entity to
receive a return on its investment, will more than likely, require a substantial public subsidy. If the taxpayers are
essentially being put on the hook to ―bail out‖ MPEA, then they should reap the benefits of the investment.
The City Water System takes water from Lake Michigan and supplies it to City businesses and residents and sells it
to a number of suburban municipalities. There has been public discussion of selling or leasing the water system (as
with the parking meters and the Skyway.) Would you oppose the sale or lease of the water system?

Yes__________________
X No___________________ Depends___________________

I do not support the privatization of revenue generating assets such as the City Water Systems, parking meters and
airports and toll ways. Private operators have essentially been given government-funded monopolies with the
freedom to raise fees as they see fit. The City in turn, is left with fewer and fewer alternative revenue sources, and
must consistently raise taxes and other fees to make up for revenue shortfalls. To the best of my knowledge, our
water system is also covered by Homeland Security regulations. I would hate to see a situation where a privately
owned asset is kept secure with public dollars.

Would you support changes to the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) program to require a process to have more TIF
funds to be declared surplus and returned to the public?
X
Yes__________________ No___________________ Depends___________________

The TIF program should be reviewed to minimize the chances of having situations where 60% of the (ie, $1.2
billion in 2010 ) TIF funds are uncommitted while the City’s general fund could potentially experience a $650
million deficit, excluding unfunded pension liabilities. This forces the obvious choice—do we raid the TIF fund
and forego future development opportunities, or do we leave the TIF funds untouched and raise taxes. The
chances of this scenario playing itself out year after year could be significantly reduced by1) doing a better job of
planning future developments ;2) terminating TIFs when they have fulfilled their mission; 3) creating TIFs in
blighted areas as defined by the State Code, and not expanding the definition to include Downtown and other
areas that could be revitalized using other economic development tools;4) establishing stronger policies that
address surplus TIF funds, including returning surpluses to their taxing bodies, less a 10% contingency to seed
future development.

3.) Allowing casino gaming in the city of Chicago would not only allow the city to generate more tax revenue but it
would also create union jobs.

Do you support or oppose casino gaming in the City of Chicago?

Yes__________________ No___________________ Depends___________________

I don’t think that we should use gaming as a means to boost tax revenues, regardless of the fact that it would help
create union jobs and boost our convention, tourism and hospitality industries.

Research has shown that gaming does not necessarily cause economic growth. In some cases, gaming can cause
economic decline. Within a year of legalizing video gambling, South Dakota’s economy experienced significant
declines for selected activities such as clothing stores, recreation services, business services, auto dealers and
service stations.

The situation was even worse in Atlantic City. Homelessness in Atlantic City increased after the introduction of
casinos, while revenues for clothing stores and eating and drinking establishments declined. When researchers
examined the relationship between the growth of gambling and crime, they found that the growth of crime in the
Atlantic City region reduced property values by $24,000,000 for each of Atlantic City’s nearby communities.

The Illinois Business Review found that river boat gambling venues had no impact on reducing unemployment or
increasing employment in the local communities.
Professor John Kindt, a professor at University of Illinois, found that for every dollar legalized gambling interests
indicate is contributed in taxes, it really costs the taxpayer $3.00 to address the increased socio-economic costs to
society.

4.) Given the severity of the City budget crisis would you support legislation or budget measures that would
prioritize City spending to essential needs such as housing, safety and education and away from some
beautification efforts?

Yes__________________
X No___________________ Depends___________________

I am a gardener, and I love flowers and the what the City has done with its beautification efforts over the past 15 or
so years. I also believe that the City should utilize resources to provide essential services like public safety and
sanitation, while taking care of ―the least of these‖, our children, seniors and the poor. If given a choice between
beautification and serving disadvantaged persons, the City should choose to serve the people over plants.

5.) Would you or have you voted for an Aldermanic pay raise. If yes, why?
X
Yes__________________ No___________________ Depends___________________

Aldermanic raises should be in line with the cost of living increases accorded other City employees. In recent years,
Aldermanic increases have exceeded the rate of inflation—not to mention rank and file City employees.

6.) In the current economic crisis, the City of Chicago has an interest in protecting existing jobs and promoting the
creation of new high quality jobs for city residents.

Will you promote the creation of quality jobs with living wages and benefits by employers who receive city
subsidies or tax breaks and work to discourage those employers from outsourcing and subcontracting to third party
employers when the result will be a reduction in the job wage and benefit standards?
X
Yes__________________ X
No___________________ Depends___________________

I am all for having employers who receive City subsidies and tax breaks pay their workers living wages and benefits. I
am also against outsources and subcontracting to third party employers when the result is a reduction in the job wage
and benefit standards. However, I would support those proposals that create win-win situations for all parties involved.
We should avoid situations (similar to Chicago’s 1996 living wage proposal ) where 1) the City’s costs of administering
and enforcing any such ordinance are cost prohibitive; 2) the proposed wage increases for workers would be entirely
offset by increases in income taxes 3) the benefits the company receives from the tax breaks are completely erased by
increased taxes and other costs associated with complying with the ordinance.

7.) Do you believe that the City has done enough to assist local businesses in preserving existing family wage jobs
and bringing new family wage jobs to the City?

Yes__________________ No___________________
X Depends___________________

I read an article that indicated that, last summer, about 2,500 people who work at the retail shops and
food outlets at O’Hare and Midway airports petitioned the Department of Aviation Commissioner to
make living wages job stability and labor peace a condition companies must meet if they are to do
business at the airports. She refused to meet with them, in spite of the fact that the workers had been
mobilizing for two months prior. If this is any indication of the City’s views on living wage jobs, it is
clear that there is room for improvement.

8.) Do you support legislation or an ordinance that would restore City Council oversight and review of all City
Contracts over $500,000?
X
Yes__________________ No___________________ Depends___________________

This would increase accountability and transparency, and strengthen the City Council’s role in governance.

9.) The City of Chicago has significant business with banks that hold City funds and work with businesses and
residents in the City. There has been a series of questions raised about some of these banks and their treatment of
City businesses and their commitment to affordable housing.

Do you support legislative efforts to require disclosure of all banks, investment brokers advisors that the City does
business with and the amount of deposits and/or contracts?
X
Yes__________________ No___________________ Depends___________________

CRA has been eroded such that banks can get passing scores with very little reinvestment into the communities from
which they draw deposits. This disclosure requirement will give the City and community groups the additional
ammunition and leverage to encourage greater community reinvestment and a higher commitment to affordable
housing.

10.) Do you support legislative efforts to require all banks, investment brokers and advisors to disclose all
investigations, lawsuits filed by government agencies and settlements prior to approval of any contract or business
relationship?
X
Yes__________________ No___________________ Depends___________________

This disclosure requirement will allow the City to increase their level of due diligence and make more informed business
decisions.

11.) SEIU believes the Progressive Caucus has been instrumental force in City Council. The caucus has played a
key role in the debate around legislation calling for greater accountability and transparency in City Government
especially as it relates to the city budget and TIF reform.

If you are elected or re-elected would you join the Progressive Caucus?

X
Yes__________________ No___________________ Depends___________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________
 PROTECTING EMPLOYEE RIGHTS AND COMPENSATION AND THE RIGHT TO ORGANIZE

1.) In 1998, the City of Chicago enacted a Living Wage Ordinance. It requires agencies that contract with the city to
provide services to pay their employees a wage of $10 per hour with annual cost-of-living adjustments. The
ordinance currently covers ten job classifications.

Would you expand the living wage to include employees of contractors at the Chicago Park District, Chicago
Transit Authority, Chicago Public schools, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority and the airports?

Yes__________________
X No___________________ Depends___________________

As I indicated in a previous example, the Department of Aviation alone has over 2,500 employees of contractors, most
of whom are making less than the City’s Living Wage rate.

2.) Chicago has always been a City of Immigrants. From building the canals to working in the stockyards to
providing valuable labor in the service industry, immigrant workers have built and maintained Chicago as an
International City. SEIU believes that all workers deserve fair wages and just treatment by employers.

Are you generally in favor of worker rights which should include helping immigrant workers achieve fair wages,
fair representation against irresponsible employers, and respectable working conditions?
X
Yes__________________ No___________________ Depends___________________

Everyone should be paid fairly.

3.) Prevailing wage agreements provide that contractors performing services for a public entity will compensate
their employees at the dominant, or prevailing, wage and benefit rates existent in the municipality.

Would you support an ordinance requiring service providers, like janitorial companies, that contract with the City
of Chicago to pay prevailing wages to the service workers they employ?

Yes__________________
X No___________________ Depends___________________
X

I support the concept of prevailing wages. I am also cognizant of the fact that minority groups, particularly African
Americans, are under-represented by certain trade unions for a variety of reasons. (I realize that janitors are not
classified as trade unionists) I would support prevailing wage ordinances that cover a number of job classifications and
do not effectively diminish the opportunities for minority groups to become employed in living wage jobs.

4) The City of Chicago invests in projects such as airports, sports stadiums, convention centers and even hotels
using a variety of economic incentives.

Are you in favor or requiring developers and operators of such establishments to obtain labor peace agreements to
protect the City’s proprietary interests in these cases? Would you support an ordinance to this effect?

Yes__________________ No___________________ Depends___________________

X
I don’t know if this is enforceable on the local level if the federal government doesn’t make it mandatory for their
own agencies.
5.) The defined benefit pension plans of state and local governments throughout the country are being attacked by
those who claim they are too expensive and unnecessary. Many of these critics also argue that defined contribution
plans are superior to the traditional defined benefit plans and should replace them.

SEIU strongly supports fully funding the public pension systems in Illinois and opposes replacing them with
defined benefit plans or reducing benefits to participating employees.

Would you oppose any attempt to diminish pension benefits of retired, current or future employees of the City of
Chicago?

Yes__________________ No___________________ Depends___________________

X

I would keep the current defined benefit system in place for current employees, as it is against the Illinois Constitution
to reduce the mutually-agreed upon benefit structure that current employees enjoy. I would support higher
contributions from employees, so long as their contributions over time are not greater than the benefits they receive. I
would consider a range of different options for newer employees, including higher contributions, lower benefits and
defined contribution plans (as apposed to defined contribution plans). I would avoid raising the retirement age, if
possible. In fact, I would advocate for more thorough analyses of early retirement packages or buyouts to be sure that
the long term benefits outweigh the short term “savings”.

In summary, I would give careful consideration to adopting the recommendations outlined in the Commission to
Strengthen Chicago's Pension Funds’ Final Report:

1. The Defined Benefit ("DB") structure should remain the primary vehicle to help employees save for their
retirement

2. New employees should continue to become members of the current Plans. Closing the old Plans either entirely
or to new members is not financially viable.

3. The Plans should have an actuarially-based funding policy. It would be less expensive to fund the deficit as
quickly as possible, but it may take 50 years to reach a satisfactory, sustainable funding ratio of at least 80%.

4. Plan changes for new employees, though undesirable, will probably be necessary. Provisions for unreduced early
retirement should get special attention. The Report presents illustrative options to be considered; in addition to
provisions regarding unreduced early retirement, such options include changing the way Final Average Pay is
calculated, changing the COLA adjustment, and others.

5. Contributions will have to be increased, and revenues identified. Any new funding policy and increased
contributions should be implemented through statute in such a way as to guarantee that all contributions will be
made in a complete and timely fashion, and the necessary revenues will be forthcoming.

6. Employee contributions should not exceed the value of benefits on a career basis.

7. Review any provisions in current law for refunds or for alternative benefit calculations, to ensure that the
anticipated financial results of a reform program are actually obtained.

8. In general, no Plan changes should be made unless financially neutral or advantageous to the Fund, now or in
the future.
 9. A variety of other reforms should be considered, including reforming potential abuses, establishing sound
reciprocity with other Illinois public pensions, new structures to manage investments, and improved
administration of disability claims and benefits.

10. Any reform legislation must comprehensively and simultaneously address all aspects of the pension funding
problem.

Would you oppose any attempt to replace the defined benefit pension plans for city employees with defined
contribution plans?

Yes__________________ No___________________ Depends___________________

X

See my response to 5) above.

6.) In 2003, the Illinois General Assembly passed legislation that established that a labor organization can be
designated to be the exclusive representative by a public employer if the organization can show that more than 50%
of its covered employees have signed cards indicating they wish to be represented by the union.

Will you support and encourage such card check neutrality for the employees of childcare centers under contract to
the city of Chicago who wish to form a union and bargain collectively?

X
Yes__________________ No___________________ Depends___________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

7.) The right to form a union and engage in collective bargaining is enshrined in U.S. and international human
rights laws, but for many U.S. workers it is a right that exists only on paper. More and more, workers who join
together to form unions face intense employer opposition. Often times, we will call on our friends and allies to
stand with us in our organizing and bargaining fights.

If elected, will you publicly support workers who are forming unions by reaffirming the importance of unions to our
communities and by taking actions such as contacting employers and urging them to not interfere with employee
free choice, protecting bargaining rights, issuing public statements, honoring picket lines, attending rallies,
sponsoring public forums, and otherwise supporting union organizing?

Yes__________________
X No___________________ Depends___________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________
8.) Sweatshop labor should not be a viable business model for businesses which contract to provide goods and
services to the city of Chicago.

Would you support the adoption of an anti sweatshop procurement policy so that the City of Chicago can more
carefully evaluate the labor practices and working conditions, including the wages and benefits of workers, when
the city procures apparel and textile products or rental of uniforms and laundry services for city of Chicago
employees?

Yes__________________
X No___________________ Depends___________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

9.) Without paid sick leave, employees come to work sick and may worsen their condition as well as expose
customers and other employees to infectious diseases. Without paid sick leave, employees face difficulty caring for
sick children or other family members. Without paid sick leave, employees may send their sick children to school
or a child care center, thereby exposing other children to infectious diseases.

In 2007, the city of San Francisco enacted a paid sick day ordinance. As a result of this ordinance, paid sick leave
begins to accrue 90 calendar days after the employee’s first day of work. For every 30 hours worked, an employee
accrues one hour of paid sick leave. Paid sick leave accrues only in hour-unit increments, not in fractions of an
hour. For employees of employers for which fewer than 10 persons (including full-time, part-time, and temporary
employees) work for compensation during a given week, there is a cap of 40 hours of accrued paid sick leave. For
employees of other employers, there is a cap of 72 hours of accrued paid sick leave. An employee’s accrued paid
sick leave does not expire; it carries over from year to year.

Would you support the concept of a similar paid sick leave ordinance for all workers in the City of Chicago?
X
Yes__________________ No___________________ Depends___________________

I would need to see specific details of any such proposal, especially given the precarious financial condition in which the
City finds itself. Such a proposal could pose significant contingent financial liability for the City. As it is, the City only
has 40 cents for every dollar of pension liability. If every employee retired today, the system would go bankrupt. The
City could find itself in a similar situation if a critical mass of employees accrue significant sick leave hours (i.e, over a
year’s worth of time) that the City is obligated to pay for, regardless of whether the employees were sick.

10.) There has been growing national attention around the problem of ―wage theft‖ being committed by employers
against low-wage workers. Especially in these difficult economic times, the City of Chicago has an interest in
ensuring that contractors providing city services are properly compensating workers, following necessary laws, and
respecting workers rights.

Would you support using and expanding the city’s regulatory authority to ensure city contractors providing city
services are acting responsibly and lawfully around the issues of worker rights and compensation?

Yes__________________
X No___________________ Depends___________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________
Would you also support denying contracts to employers who violate minimum wage or overtime regulations, the
Chicago living wage ordinance, or the National Labor Relations Act?

X
Yes__________________ No___________________ Depends___________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

11.) In the current economic crisis, the City of Chicago has an interest in protecting existing jobs and promoting
the creation of new high quality jobs for city residents.

Will you promote the creation of quality jobs with living wages and benefits by employers who receive city
subsidies or tax breaks and work to discourage those employers from outsourcing and subcontracting to third party
employers when the result will be a reduction in the job wage and benefit standards?
X
Yes__________________ No___________________ Depends___________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

12.) SEIU believes it is important that the City only contract with contractors that provide its employees with fair
wages and benefits, and provides at least the prevailing rate in the industry. To obtain a contract, without such
responsible contractor policies, contractors will provide bids for contracts that will not be possible to perform
without drastically cutting the benefits for the individuals who work hard to keep the city running.

What is your position on a city requirement that contracts for services only be entered into with responsible
contractors who pay prevailing wages?

I agree that City contractors should pay their workers the prevailing wage rate in their respective industries.
Unfortunately, this requirement could restrict the ability of some DBE’s to effectively compete for contracts. Such
a requirement should be coupled with comprehensive capacity building efforts to enhance DBEs’ ability to compete
for City contracts.

13.) Very often, smaller contracts that are underfunded or undercapitalized will submit bids to the City to provide
services. City contracts tend to involve more work and are more substantial than many contracts otherwise
performed by the companies. As a result, if the City or other governmental entity is even slightly late in making
payments, the contractors cannot make payroll or submit contributions to ensure the continuation of employees'
health care. The Union feels that the City should be confident that any contractors performing work for the City is
financially strong enough to cover expenses, and that the City refuse to continue to use contractors that have
demonstrated problems in providing for its employees.

Upon receiving evidence of a contractor’s failure to appropriately pay its employees, or properly fund benefits for
its employees, what is your position on the City cancelling the contract and agreeing not to use such contractor in
the future?

I believe the City should do sufficient due diligence on the front end of the procurement process to minimize the
chances of this situation happening. Unfortunately, unforeseen circumstances do occur, and businesses may find
themselves in a weaker position than they were when they were awarded the contract. If necessary, the City should
cancel the contract with the contractor. If the contractor is able to demonstrate capacity to complete similar jobs in
the future, the contractor should be allowed to do business with the City, provided that fraud was not the reason the
contractor couldn’t fulfill the requirements of the contract.

SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL FUNDING

1.) The Chicago Public Schools face many challenges in its effort to improve our schools. The SEIU unions believe
that increasing funding to our schools is a top priority and that CPS should make changes in ways that cause the
least disruption to children and their families and that are fair to the school employees.

Would you support a resolution for a Moratorium on School Closings which requires the Chicago Public School
system to provide a thorough report on how children from the closed schools are doing before any more schools
are closed?
X
Yes__________________ No___________________ Depends___________________

The University of Chicago’s Consortium on Chicago School Research recently released a study, When
Schools Close: Effects on Displaced Students in Chicago Public Schools. The results indicated that
most students experienced very little benefit from closing traditional public schools and reopening them
as charter schools (as prescribed by the Renaissance 2010 policy). The report found that most students
who transferred from closing schools were re-enrolled in other poor performing schools. (A number of
administrators from schools that received displaced students complained that their schools’ performance
numbers were being diluted, as they were forced to accept underachieving students from the closed
schools.) The study also found that, the disruptions impacted the children’s performance on standardized
reading tests, causing them to lose about six week of learning.

Do you support a policy for charter schools that would require the management of the schools to be neutral in the
event the employees attempt to form or join a union?

X
Yes__________________ No___________________ Depends___________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Would you actively support state legislation that would raise new revenue for education by simultaneously raising
the state income tax and lowering the property tax?

X
Yes__________________ No___________________ Depends___________________

I like this concept. However, I would need to see specific proposals to make sure the tax increases and subsequent
distribution of revenues are equitable.

Would you actively support proposals that would return more TIF funds to the Chicago Public Schools for use as
operating funds?
X
Yes__________________ No___________________ Depends___________________

The TIF funds should be used for the purposes intended. This includes planning, architectural fees, construction,
childcare, financing, infrastructure, etc. In most cases, these are costs that would normally be capitalized over the
long term. Using TIF dollars for city services and program operations would be akin to using capital funds to
cover day to day operations, and should be avoided to the extent possible.
However, we are in tough economic times, and we should evaluate the costs and benefits (and consequences) of
allowing uncommitted TIF funds to remain unused, versus using some of the surplus as a temporary bridge to
cover costs of providing city services and social programs.

The TIF program should be reviewed to minimize the chances of having situations where 60% of the ($1.2 billion
) TIF funds are uncommitted while the City’s general fund could potentially experience a $650 million deficit,
excluding unfunded pension liabilities. This forces the obvious choice—do we raid the TIF fund and forego future
development opportunities, or do we leave the TIF funds untouched and raise taxes? The chances of this scenario
playing itself out year after year could be significantly reduced by1) doing a better job of planning future
developments ;2) terminating TIFs when they have fulfilled their mission; 3) creating TIFs in blighted areas as
defined by the State Code, and not expanding the definition to include Downtown and other areas that could be
revitalized using other economic development tools;4) establishing stronger policies that address surplus TIF
funds, including returning surpluses to their taxing bodies, less a 10% contingency to seed future development.

MAKING THE CITY AFFORDABLE AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE

1.) Improving access to City contracts for traditionally disadvantaged groups is a critically important way of creating
local jobs and providing city residents with family supporting jobs.

Would you support developing a plan for changing the city contracting process so that African American and
Hispanic-owned firms have a better opportunity to compete for city contracts?

Yes__________________
X No___________________ Depends___________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

2.) One of the major challenges facing the City of Chicago is to address public safety in an effective and cost
effective way. This has raised calls for more police and fire personnel as well as reallocating personnel within the
police and fire departments and between communities to provide extra policing where it is needed.

Would you support a proposal to mandate hiring more police and fire personnel?
X
Yes__________________ No___________________ Depends___________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Would you support a proposal to reallocate police and fire personnel to areas with greater problems?
X
Yes__________________ No___________________ Depends___________________

Careful attention should be made to make sure that deploying extra police and fire personnel in high needs areas does
not result in reduction of resources in other communities.
3.) Our city has one of the highest foreclosure rates in the country and at the same time we are facing record budget
deficits. Across the country, cities facing similar problems are acting to support homeowners and communities and
raise needed city revenue through foreclosure avoidance programs and vacant property ordinances.

Will you stand with homeowners to fight against foreclosures with aggressive foreclosure outreach, by pressuring
banks to reinvest their assets in communities, and through support of a strong vacant property ordinance?

Yes__________________
X No___________________ Depends___________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

4.) The US Department of Health and Human Services recently announced new proposed rules designed to increase
oversight and accountability of Head Start grantees, such as the City of Chicago. Would you support child care
workers and parents in calling for policies that allow families to access Head Start in underserved communities,
maintain the program standards of Head Start as administered by the City of Chicago, and allow workers in
programs that contract with the City of Chicago or its delegate agencies a free and fair choice in forming a union?
X
Yes__________________ No___________________ Depends___________________

______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

HEALTH CARE & ENVIRONMENT

1.) The need for affordable, quality health care is widespread among city residents as it is among families across the
country. SEIU believes that city government should support policies that address this problem and make health care
providers more accountable to patients and their families.

Would you support a City ordinance that requires all employers who receive tax breaks from the City to disclose
the health benefits that they provide to their employees?

X
Yes__________________ No___________________ Depends___________________

I think disclosure is good. It will allow the City to get a sense for trends in healthcare coverage, and help make policy
recommendations and advocate for small businesses and help them identify healthcare coverage options. It may be
difficult to mandate a minimum level of coverage given the rising health care costs. Some companies cannot afford
health care plans, and unless the City is willing to put money into a contract to cover the contractors’ employee health
care costs, it would be difficult to force the company to provide healthcare insurance.

Would you support an ordinance requiring that hospitals and other health care facilities provide a minimum
amount of charity care in order to receive city tax breaks?

Yes__________________
X No___________________ Depends___________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________
Would you support a proposal to permit the Chicago Health Facilities Review Board to prohibit hospitals from
discontinuing services such as closing or downgrading emergency rooms?

X
Yes__________________ No___________________ Depends___________________

I don’t know if the government can force health care facilities to continue providing services that they cannot afford to
operate (unless they’re willing to cover the cost, or that the community no longer has need for (ie, obstetrics in a
community with an aging population). I think a better role would be for the CHFRB is to assist the community with
comprehensive health care planning and helping to identify and secure healthcare resources.

Would you support using and expanding the city’s regulatory authority to improve conditions for residents and
caregivers in Chicago’s long-term care facilities?

Yes__________________
X No___________________ Depends___________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

2.) Many city services need to be expanded and improved for the benefit of the employees as well as the recipients
and service users.

Would you support additional training funds to improve the skills of Chicago’s homecare and child care workers?

Yes__________________
X No___________________ Depends___________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Will you support increased funding for both Title IIIB and MOPD homemaker services for seniors and people with
disabilities?

X
Yes__________________ No___________________ Depends___________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________
3.) Soot and particulate matter from Chicago's Crawford and Fisk coal plants are damaging health, and contributing
to health care costs. More than 300,000 Chicagoans with a per capita income of $15,000 or less live within 3 miles
of the two plants and are being burdened with the pollution and related health care costs caused by the plants. A
Harvard Public Health Study linked pollution from the site to more than 40 premature deaths, 2800 asthma attacks
and 500 emergency room visits.

The Chicago Clean Power Ordinance currently being debated in City Council would require the two coal plants to
reduce their particulate matter pollution by 90% and carbon dioxide pollution by 50% within a 3-4 year timeframe.

Will you support the Chicago Clean Power Ordinance?

Yes__________________
X No___________________ Depends___________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

TRANSPORTATION
Public transportation –the Chicago Transit Authority- is essential for many working people in Chicago to get to
work and access local services and entertainment. It has not been a budget priority in the past several years despite
facing significant budget crises and implementing major service cuts.

Would you support state, county and city proposals to increase funding and service levels for the Chicago Transit
Authority?

Yes__________________
X No___________________ Depends___________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Would you support a proposal to extend the CTA’s Red Line from 95th Street to 130th Street?

Yes__________________
X No___________________ Depends___________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________
PART TWO:

The following questions relate to your campaign. These questions will used to help us assess the viability of your
campaign. Please answer questions completely as possible and provide all requested documents. These answers
will be used for internal purposes only.

1. How much money has your campaigned raised to date? How much has your campaign spent to date?
We have raised approximately $10,000 in cash and in-kind donations, and have spent
approximately $9,800. We have sent out solicitation letters and people are responding positively.

2. Has your campaign accepted campaign contributions from Wal-Mart and/or the Chamber of Commerce? Will
your campaign consider or solicit contributions from Wal-Mart and/or the Chamber of Commerce?
My campaign has not accepted contributions from Wal-Mart. I did respond to a questionnaire from
the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, which may provide financial support if they endorse me.

3. Please provide a list of endorsing organizations, community leaders, elected officials and others.

I have submitted, or am in the process of completing questionnaires for endorsements, including the
Chicago Sun-Times, the Chicago Tribune, ASCME, Personal PAC, Planned Parenthood, Chicago
Teachers Union, IVI-IPO, Citizen Action and Channel 5

4. How do you intend to communicate your campaign message to voters? Will you use direct mail, radio or print
advertising? Please provide a detailed communications plan.
December January February
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4
Outreach
Coffee, Tea, and Me Gatherings x x x x x x x x x x x
Town Hall Meetings 7-Dec 28-Dec 11-Jan 25-Jan 8-Jan
Door to Door/Public Place Greetings x x x x x x x x x x x x
Absentee Ballots x x x x x x x
Early Voting x x x x
GOTV x
Election Day x
Workers x x x x x x x x x x
Victory Party x x x

Direct Mail and Flyers

Town Hall Meetings x x x x x
Early Voting x x x
GOTV x
Bio and Platform x

Collateral Materials
Buttons x x
Signs x x x
Door Knockers x x

E-Mail
Town Hall Meetings x x x x x x x x x x
Updates x x x x x x x x x x x
Fundraising x x x

Fundraising
Mass Mailing x
Event 1
Event 2 x

Media
Digital Town Hall x
Digital Radio Show x
Newspaper Articles 1/week x x x x x x x x x x x
Press Releases x x x
5. Please provide a list of your campaign consultants and major advisors.
Fred Mitchell-Chairman; Daniel Gunn-Treasurer; Brenetta Howell Barrett-Advisor
_______________________________________________________________________
Luster Jackson-Advisor
_______________________________________________________________________

6. Please provide us with a detailed candidate bio and any campaign literature.

See Attached