Candidate Position Statement: Todd Mourning

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[February 16, 2015]  LINCOLN - When I announced my candidacy I promised to pursue three things as your Ward 3 alderman:

  1. PLAN smartly and strategically;

  2. EMPOWER community organizations, volunteers, and others to develop our community; and

  3. GROW by reducing the cost of living and doing business here and removing obstacles to growth.

We PLAN with a purpose. We PLAN because we want to bring the future into the present so we can do something about it now. Our best tomorrows don’t come from sitting back and simply accepting what happens; we have to create our own future.

As smart and as dedicated as my fellow Council members are (and I deeply respect each one), the eight of us cannot achieve our future by ourselves. Organizations that EMPOWER others to achieve an agreed goal become more adaptive, more resilient, and ultimately more successful because they have more minds (and hands) working on each solution.

My family loves the small town benefits of living in Lincoln. We all know, though, that if something isn’t growing, it’s likely dying. If Lincoln is to GROW, we need to remove obstacles to that growth. One of the biggest obstacles in the way for families and small businesses is property taxes.

 

A recent survey found that 88% of Central Illinois communities have lower collective property tax rates than the taxpayers in Lincoln. Being at the top of this survey is not good for anybody! As your alderman I want the City to bring other taxing bodies to the table to freeze and ultimately bring down property taxes.

The City of Lincoln froze its rate for the 2014 property taxes that you’ll pay this year. If we can encourage other taxing bodies to do the same next year, it’ll keep more of your money in your pockets and make our community more competitive. Let me be your voice to push this conversation forward.

As I’ve visited with constituents while going door-to-door I’ve found two things:

  1. There is strong support for this positive agenda to advance our community, and

  2. The people of Ward 3 are not shy about sharing the issues on their minds.

I have also found that we all share the same heart – we all want Lincoln to be the best community it can be. We want our public servants to work together, to all pull in the same direction, to not get bogged down in petty arguments that distract us from making Lincoln a better place for our children and grandchildren.

Leadership is a responsibility I take seriously. I firmly believe the best leaders chase the right things: the future we all want and need, the vision to see that future, and the solutions to craft that future. The best leaders also ask the right questions, listen, and then act in service to others.

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For a flavor of how I approach leadership on the Council and how I hold myself accountable to my constituents, I invite you to visit my website: www.facebook.com/vote4todd.  Check there for summaries after each Council meeting.

I’m learning a great deal as I serve on the Council. Here are just a few observations.

The current Council members work hard to address the needs of all City residents. We have a strong working dynamic that fosters good, open dialogue that, in turn, leads to new and innovative solutions. We do not always agree, but we’re always free to speak our mind. I’ve only served with these aldermen for a few months and it’s hard to believe that anyone can argue they are in any way stifled in advancing the needs of their constituents.

Lincoln is in a strong financial position. An independent auditor stated in December that the City’s books were in great shape. I’m learning all I can about finances and am indebted to the information provided by our City Treasurer, Chuck Conzo. I noted that the City ended its most recent fiscal year with a small surplus and asked him if this was unusual for a municipality. He said that it was.

The City has a five-year infrastructure improvement plan that it adopted in February 2013. That plan prioritizes infrastructure projects including streets and sidewalks. Infrastructure costs are exceedingly high and must be planned for accordingly. Having and following this five-year plan (as the City has done for two years) shows both fiscal responsibility and accountability.
 


The future of Lincoln is bright, for us and for our children, if we follow Abraham Lincoln’s words, “I shall prepare myself, for one day my chance will come.” Indeed our city must improve itself and prepare itself for the rest of the 21st century.
Let me be your voice as we develop our future! I need your vote on February 24th at the Logan County Courthouse.

Todd Mourning

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