Thomas Connelly For Batavia Mayor: Candidate Survey

BATAVIA, IL — Thomas "Tom" Connelly is running in April's consolidated election to become the next mayor of Batavia.

An attorney, Connelly is challenging Jeffery Schielke, who is finishing his 43rd year as mayor of Batavia, having been elected to 11 consecutive terms since 1981.

The mayoral role as well as one alderperson seat in Wards 1, 2, 5 and 6 and two seats in Wards 3, 4 and 7 will be up for election on April 1, 2025. All positions are four-year terms except one seat in Ward 3, 4 and 7, which are unexpired two-year terms.

RELATED: Batavia 2025 Consolidated Election: Who Filed For Mayor, Alderperson

Patch sent surveys to Batavia candidates ahead of the election. Responses will be published as they're received. Take a look at Connelly's answers below:

Your name: Thomas M. Connelly

Office sought: Mayor

Campaign website: tom4batavia.com

Town of residence: Batavia

Party affiliation (if partisan race): Independent / Non-Partisan

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you're running for. No.

Occupation: Attorney for 6 years.

Previous or current elected or appointed office: Previous Alderman on Batavia City Council (Ward 4). Currently serves on Batavia Historic Preservation Commission.

The most pressing issues facing Batavia are _______, and this is what I intend to do about them. The top three issues that have been the focus of my campaign are: (1) economic growth and development, (2) fiscal responsibility, and (3) strengthening our sense of community. For development and economic growth, I would seek to actively attract responsible development and businesses that match our community’s identity. I would accomplish this through more aggressively marketing and seeking out partnerships with developers and businesses that will make significant investments in our community to develop a sustainable and diverse range of retail, restaurants, and mixed-use development that will complement the businesses we already have. Concerning fiscal responsibility, I would prioritize spending on essential services and programs discussed more fully below in another response. Finally, I would work closely with community organizations and residents to promote civic engagement and community-driven projects that strengthen our sense of community.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post? I am confident that I have the energy, commitment, leadership skills, and experience to see that the city’s long-term goals are implemented and accomplished, and I believe I bring fresh perspectives and adaptability that will help tackle the ever-changing challenges of the future.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)? Batavia is a great community, and I have nothing but respect for the hardworking members of city council, the mayor, and city staff. However, despite Batavia’s population growth and the increased development projects in surrounding areas, Batavia has been stagnant when it comes to economic growth and development, especially in our downtown area.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform. Another issue that defines my vision for Batavia includes building a more collaborative relationship with other surrounding municipalities and community organizations. We are blessed to have strong community organizations in Batavia that understand the issues that our community faces. Likewise, the other local governments in our surrounding area also experience challenges similar to those we face in Batavia. I intend to strengthen the relationship between our city government with that of other local governments and the many community organizations we have in Batavia. Doing so will hopefully lead to a more effective local government in Batavia.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job? I am proud of my previous work on the Batavia City Council where I served as Alderman of the 4th Ward. I also gained experience serving on the board of directors for both the Batavia Chamber of Commerce and TriComm Central Dispatch 911 Services. Today, I still serve on the Batavia Historic Preservation Commission. My experience in city government and my community involvement combined with my work experience as an attorney make me well-suited to handle the job of mayor. I am confident that my problem-solving and communication skills learned in my other roles will allow me to successfully tackle important issues as mayor.

Why should voters trust you? Voters should trust me because I have shown a commitment to being involved in our community for the right reasons. I plan to be a mayor that listens to our residents and leads with honesty, compassion, and a desire to help our city grow in all aspects. I want to honor Batavia’s rich history while fostering the kind of thoughtful growth and progress that will benefit everyone in our community.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success? Working to achieve growth and progress in our downtown area would certainly make my term in office a success. That includes welcoming new business and development projects to replace the empty storefronts and lots that are currently in our main downtown district. Also, ensuring that Batavia remains a welcoming place that provides all residents and businesses with an affordable, enjoyable, and safe community to thrive in.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the handling of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking? Local government must be a good steward for taxpayer dollars. We must prioritize government spending on budgeted items that make direct impacts on the improvement of the lives of our residents and business owners. It is important to invest in our infrastructure to ensure that we have safe and sustainable utilities, roads, etc. We must also ensure that our fire and police departments have the necessary resources and training to be successful. The city government should constantly be aiming to provide high-level services to residents while maintaining the most cost-effective budget to provide those services.

What are your thoughts on the crime rate in your community, and what more can be done to combat crime — especially violent crime — in town? We are blessed to live in a safe community like Batavia. That is due in large part to the great work of our fire and police departments. Although not directly related to combatting crime, one area of public safety that deserves more attention and resources is mental health. Mental health is a critical aspect of the safety of any community and has not historically received proper resources. Investing in resources to support individuals experiencing mental health issues should be a top priority.

What is your view of the village's approach to commercial and residential development? The city’s approach to commercial and residential development should be supporting the efforts of local businesses and residents who are investing their own resources to improving their homes, businesses, or land in Batavia. We must support these efforts to have sustainable economic growth in our city. I intend to implement policies that make it easier for residents, businesses, and developers to work in Batavia and deal with the city government.

When it comes to development, what are some key areas for improvement or additions you feel are most wanted by residents? What will need to be done to make this happen? I often hear that there is at least a perception that Batavia can be difficult to work with when it comes to development. This is a key area where we can improve as a city. Similar to the above response, to achieve that, I will work to make sure that we build collaborative relationships with business owners, developers, and residents alike to ensure that people have good experiences when dealing with a development department and that we are providing residents and businesses with all the pertinent information at the start of a project so there are no unexpected surprises or delays in the projects as a result of the city’s actions.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family? No.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions? My wife and I fell in love with everything Batavia has to offer and that is why we chose to plant our family’s roots here. I am committed to working hard to achieve growth and progress in Batavia that will benefit everyone in our community. Most importantly, I am interested in working directly with Batavia residents so that we can benefit from community input and involvement and achieve community-driven projects.