Kevin Kirby, Elmhurst Ward 2 Candidate

ELMHURST, IL – Kevin Kirby is one of two candidates for the Ward 2 seat on the Elmhurst City Council.

Here are his responses to the Patch questionnaire:

Name:

Kevin Kirby

Town of residence:

Elmhurst

Age:

42

Campaign contact email:

kevinforelmhurst@gmail.com

Family:

Wife (Katie), Son (7), Daughter (3)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education:

BS from Purdue University

Occupation:

Sales Executive

Previous or current elected or appointed office:

None

The single most pressing issue facing the city is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Rising costs. These rising costs combined with necessary infrastructure upgrades have put us on a path of gradual increases in taxes and fees on residents.

While we can’t control costs entirely, we can strategically broaden our tax base to reduce the burden on residents.

I intend to use my 20+ years of business experience to support the city in negotiating fair prices from vendors.

I also will actively work to support our businesses, to recruit new businesses to Elmhurst, and to help the city turn under-utilized assets into revenue generating opportunities.

All of this in service of keeping taxes flat for residents and helping the city to save for future expenses.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidate seeking this post?

Each candidate brings the sum of their personal experiences to the role. I feel called to serve based on the unique skill set I have fitting a critical need for Elmhurst at this moment.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

A successful 20+ year business career that has afforded me the opportunity to be featured in Forbes, Reuters, and Bloomberg based on my ability to generate revenue and create solutions for some of the nation’s leading companies.

I’m a graduate of the Elmhurst Citizen’s Police Academy, have been an active participant in the Downtown Planning workshops, and have attended city council meetings both virtually and in-person over the past year to ensure I have an understanding of the issues and can support the existing work of the council on day one.

I am also the father to a 3-year-old and a 7-year-old, so I have patience, can work with others even when one of us might not be having our best day, and know how to compromise.

Are the city government's taxes too high, too low or just about right? Explain.

It is important to note that only 7% of property taxes paid come back to the city. At that distribution level, I think residents get a good return on their investment.

In the future, I’d like to keep property taxes flat for residents while reducing the reliance on Elmhurst residents as we grow business in Elmhurst as a means to cover rising costs.

How do you feel about the downtown apartment and condo development in recent years?

The downtown apartment and condo development has helped to broaden the tax base for Elmhurst residents, which is a good thing. That said, I think we should be mindful of the rate of future development and ensure that it is additive to community as a whole.

What is your view of the city's maintenance of its infrastructure?

The city has done a good job of maintaining its infrastructure. Being proactive in planning and budgeting for future needs must remain an area of focus.

Has the city done a good job in handling stormwater issues?

Yes. The city has done a great job in making improvements necessary to solve a decades old challenge.

What is your assessment of the police department's performance?

Our police department does an incredible job. They are one of the top departments in the state as evidenced by our low crime rate and their ILEAP Tier 1 rating. I’ve had the chance to ride along with officers and the calmness and decency they displayed during each interaction was remarkable.

Does the city need a new police station? Why or why not?

Absolutely. The current station puts officers at risk with its poor design and crumbling infrastructure. Imagine trying to transfer an agitated suspect up a spiral staircase with temperatures soaring above 80 degrees.

We ask for the best from the department and need to provide them with the resources to achieve this.

When the top, young officers graduate from the academy, do we want them looking at Elmhurst as a last resort option because it seems like we don’t value our department?

Do you support a property tax increase, in part, to pay for the new station?

The current proposal before city council is reasonable. The finance committee has creatively proposed an increase in the hotel tax (due to their disproportionate use of police services) and the sale of a city owned office building at 180 Park to reduce the cost to residents down to close to $50 per year over a 20-year period. I believe if we focus on the new revenue generation opportunities I’ve highlighted above, we can reduce or even eliminate this cost to residents by year 4 or 5.

What is your view of the city's decision last year to raise water and sewer rates by 28 percent?

As a resident, it is hard not to be frustrated by an increase like this. The silver lining here is that this increase was largely driven by needed infrastructure improvement and was not an indication of recurring rate hikes. When it comes to issues of water safety, nothing should be left to chance and I applaud the city for making the necessary improvements.

I am also encouraged by current proposals on the table that would allow a resident’s actual consumption level to play a role on their bill which could lead to a decrease for many.

Should the mayor and aldermen take political contributions from city contractors or those with zoning or other matters before the council? Why or why not?

NO. Pay for play should not be tolerated in any form.

Should the city allow video gambling or recreational marijuana sales in town?

Not at the moment.

Video gambling would provide very little in terms of additional tax revenue and also wouldn’t spur economic growth for surrounding businesses.

The local cannabis industry has become commoditized at the moment with many points of distribution in the surrounding area. With this being the case, we could expect to see limited tax revenue growth paired with increased enforcement costs by opening this market up in Elmhurst today.

As the market progresses over the next few years, we are likely to see consolidation amongst retailers, as has occurred in the states to first legalize marijuana. If a market leader emerges and wants to locate in Elmhurst and can provide a more compelling economic return, there may be cause to revisit this in the future.

At the moment, we are far better served in recruiting businesses to Elmhurst that can not only sustain success, but also serve as magnets to draw consumers into their neighboring business community as well.

Should the city do anything to make housing more affordable in town? Why or why not?

We are fortunate to live in a desirable city. The upside is that home values continue to rise for residents. The downside to this is that there is very limited inventory across all price ranges when people look to move homes or enter the community.

The city is limited in what it can do as there isn’t available land for new development. Options I have heard discussed such as adjusting building permitting to restrict the types of homes being constructed or seeking to block developers from purchasing certain homes would hurt home values across the board and would be, in my view, an overreach by the city.

Ensuring that we keep Elmhurst a desirable destination is where the city can play a role and affords residents options when they chose to sell their homes.

My focus is on ensuring that it remains a choice.

Today, many seniors feel as though they are being pushed out by no fault of their own by rising taxes and fees that exceed their planned budgeting.

I will work to ensure that all seniors can afford to stay in their homes as long they would like and that if they chose to sell, they are rewarded for selling a home in the amazing community that they helped to build.

One other affordable housing option that been brought up is the concept of “Granny Flats”. I find the idea of tucking our seniors into small dwellings in a side or back yard lacking in dignity.

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?

I would be honored to serve my neighbors in Ward 2 and commit to always keeping open, two-way communication.