Tonight's forum sponsored by the Edison Park Community Council was attended by about 200 community members.
Aldermanic candidates in attendance: Maurita Gavin, Richard Gonzalez, Barbara Ateca, Brock Merck, Thomas Patrick Murphey, John Quinn, Mary O'Connor.
Aldermanic candidates not in attendance: Dan Lapinski, George Banna, James Schamne and Jim Mullins
Format: Each candidate was given 2 minutes for an opening statement and 3 minutes at the end for a closing statement. In between, there were five (5) questions asked about schools, parks, services & resources, public safety and the Zoning & Land Use Advisory Committee; each candidate was given two minutes to respond.
It was good to hear a few of the candidates improve the depth of their answers. I also noticed that each candidate seemed to have researched and refined their ideas about critical ward issues. A few of the candidates spent time, at this forum, explaining the alderman's ward management budget (1.32 million) and where it may be used to improve infrastructure and services in the ward.
Anyone who attended the Edison Park Community Council Aldermanic Forum is welcome to post their thoughts.....
I do not understand why Banna, Lapinski, and Mullen do not participate in these events. Do they even want to be viable candidates?
ReplyDeleteI was at the Norwood Park forum but not at this one. Did Schamne speak up this time and give his thoughts? Did Gavin push even more how she will continue Doherty's policies (not that that is a bad thing!!)? Did O'Connor give more in-depth answers this time around?
Thank you
yeah it was good to see other people challenge the old guard Republican candidate and the Chicago political machine candidate in the ward. A couple of the independents did very well and are probably scaring the heck out of Gavin and O'Connor.
ReplyDeleteI wanted someone to ask Gavin what she will do differently than Doherty if she won. Might be a good question for the next round.
Last forum O'Connor was all about business and building restaurants. This forum she said she was all about jobs. I sat there thinking, does she mean jobs in restaurants? That doesn't sound like much of a jobs plan. She had no real plan about jobs.
I was there and thought they all were all pretty good for the most part.
ReplyDeleteSplit 50/50 - reminded by of a Junior High Student Council race in regards to the answers from John Quinn, Barbara Ateca, and Mary O'Connor. "Yes, students we will get you that Pop Machine in the Cafeteria". Hey guys, just give up - you are not qualified for this position.
ReplyDeleteIn my humble opinion there are 2 candidates that are a cut above the rest and that is Thomas Patrick Murphy and Richard Gonzalez. Qualifications alone make those 2 stand out.
Maurita Gavin has the experience but its status quo as usual with her which makes her out in my book.
I thought Murphy was a cut above the rest. Gavin did ok but has had more than a decade to prepare for the moment
ReplyDeleteI thought O'Connor had good ideas, and the track record to carry them out. If elected Gavin will not change a thing... and I think that’s bad. Murphy talks a good game but very few of his ideas are realistic, I think Gonzalez is phony and Merck is off his rocker.
ReplyDeleteThe city's budget needs massive financial restructuring. All 50 wards need to elect aldermen who understand finance and can make wise long term budgetary decisions. Until the budget is restructured there will be little money for education, police, parks,infastructure. No more quick fix, sell off city assets, a/k/a parking meter fiascos. And, we need someone who won't be afraid to disagree with the new mayor, special interest groups, a political party.
ReplyDeleteIt was a very informative forum. For me I want a fresh perspective from someone who is not a career politician. Thomas Patrick Murphey is the only candidate that I saw who had the background we need for our ward. His background in Urban Planning for the city has allowed him to work with aldermen, zoning, community residents, businesses and various city departments. This gives him vital knowledge to succeed as our alderman.
ReplyDeleteMurphey has a vested interest in our community, and I believe that he will fight for all of the residents. He also was the only one that I heard say he would have being alderman his only job. Of course two of the candidates are career political machine employees so I guess for them it would be more of the same.