Joliet City Council District 4 Survey: Chris Parker

JOLIET, IL — Patch submitted questionnaires to the candidates running for Joliet City Council District 4 in the April 4 election. Two-term Joliet City Councilwoman Bettye Gavin is not seeking re-election. In District 4, four candidates seeking to replace Gavin are on the April 4 municipal election ballot: Chris Parker, Rosa Hernandez, Cesar Cardenas and William J. Ferguson.

The following responses were provided by Parker.

Your name:

Chris Parker

Age (as of Election Day)

39

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Some College, Concordia University

Occupation

Vice President, Director of Commercial Banking & CRA Officer (20 years in banking)

Campaign Website

parkerforjoliet.com

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Once appointed Chairman of the Economic Development Commission for Village of Maywood

The most pressing issues facing our (board, district, etc.) are _______, and this is what I intend to do about them.

The most pressing issue in Joliet is our looming water shortage, which has prompted city officials to build a roughly $1 billion pipeline that will pump water from Lake Michigan. My biggest concern is the impact that the city’s water shortage and the pipeline’s cost will have on the ability of our must vulnerable residents, especially our seniors, to pay for their water. If elected, I will work to make sure the pipeline is built in a financially responsible way and exhaust all potential options to make sure the city ensures that water is still affordable for our most vulnerable residents. For instance, we might explore the creation of a water fund for senior citizens and low-income citizens who experience a substantial and unaffordable hike in water fees.

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

First, I am the only true independent candidate… not tied to any particular person or political interest… I am independent in my thought process and it leans toward what’s best for residents of District 4. Second, I have a unique ability to collaborate with others across the aisle for collective impact. Third, I am the only candidate in this race with an extensive background in finance and commercial banking, which gives me unique insight and expertise on business and economic development. Fourth, I’m a strong fighter who will champion what people want and will make sure that the people’s interests are represented. Fifth, I’m the only candidate endorsed by the incumbent and one former council member who had over 20 years of experience representing the south and east sides of Joliet.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

I appreciate the rich legacy the incumbent has left during her time in office and I’m hoping to build on her accomplishments if I’m elected as her successor. In terms of the current board, We need true collaborators, critical thinkers and innovation representing Joliet.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

My campaign platform, which is available on my campaign website, parkerforjoliet.com, comprises a four-point plan for United Neighbors for collective impact. The key issues are equity in economic development, a safety and security plan that centers around community, a focus on fiscal responsibility that prioritizes transparency and prudent budgeting, and the creation of a Pastors and Faith-Based Group within the District 4.

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

Over twenty years as a bank executive in the commercial finance and community development space. Crain's recognized me as a notable black executive for my work in finance. I have spent years serving the local YMCA board as advisory council chair as well as Capital Campaign Chair. I have also served as ComEd's President's Community Advisory council. I currently serve as the Chair and President of the African American Business Association of Will County. I was appointed by the Mayor of Maywood to it's Economic Development Commission and later elected by my peers to serve as the Chair of the Economic Development Commission. I am part owner of a family cleaning business that covers north and south east/west of Chicagoland.

Why should voters trust you?

I am deeply concerned about Joliet and the entire district. I have lived here all my life and have had many opportunities to move out of state but decided to build my life here in Joliet with my wife, Tecara Parker. I have attended church here in Joliet my entire life. I mention that because my faith is what grounds me and brings me to the thought that I am not perfect but through God's grace and mercy our lives should closely emulate his through our life as much as we can. I have served people all my life and look to continue to do so in this capacity.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the handling of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

The biggest accomplishment would be the redevelopment of the old Silver Cross Hospital and much better zoning solutions for the near west side area. Another one is working collaboratively with my colleagues to make sure the new billion dollar water infrastructure once completed, doesn't Impact our seniors.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the handling of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

City Council members are the fiscal stewards of Joliet and we should take our responsibility to the taxpayer seriously. I believe budgets are not only financial documents but also statements of the city’s collective values. Fiscal policy and spending should be handled transparently and thoroughly. That means the budget process and accompanying documents should be accessible to the average citizen, the city’s budget allocations should be explained so that the average person understands how their tax money is spent and the city should budget based on best practices in government accounting.

Do you support the Illinois assault weapons ban, and would you support a local assault weapons ban in this community?

I do support the Illinois assault weapons ban and I will also support a local assault weapons ban. Other municipalities, including the village of Highland Park, have instituted similar bans. They’re necessary laws but they’re not sufficient, which means they’re only one measure among a variety of other measures state and local governments should implement to stop the epidemic of gun violence. Getting tough on crime requires we get tough on guns. By doing so, we protect not only average citizens but we also protect our valued police officers as well.

Do you support Black Lives Matter, and do you think the current board has done enough to support racial equality? If not, what specifically should be done to do so?

I do support Black Lives Matter as a principle that governs how I conduct myself as a decent person. Black lives matter simply means all lives should matter but that creed has not always been upheld in the United States, which is supposed to be a beacon of liberty and equality in the world. Black Lives Matter simply asks the country to uphold its own creeds.

Unfortunately, the reality in our country has reflected a troubling history of systemic oppression based on race. Joliet’s painful history of racial segregation in housing is just one example of this reality.

For instance, in 1992, the director of the Housing Authority of Joliet at the time concluded that the there was an “apparent pattern of racial segregation” based on his analysis of the city’s subsidized housing, the Chicago Tribune reported at the time. The director found that most Blacks were concentrated in federally subsidized housing developments on the city’s east side while senior citizens, most of them white, were concentrated in federally subsidized housing on the west side.

The City Council has made strides since then to confront and rectify this painful history but it can do much more, such as ensure that racial and economic equity are used as criteria when doing things like allocating critical funds to ensure that they’re being spent equitably and fairly across the city.

Do you support the SAFE-T Act? Why or why not?

I do support the SAFE-T Act, particularly due to its provision that eliminates cash bail as a basis for pretrial detention. I call this getting smart on crime — not just tough on crime. Multiple studies from respected entities like the nonpartisan Civic Federation and Loyola University Chicago have concluded that cash bail reform has no impact on crime rates. Furthermore, the bail reform measure means that criminals, particularly violent criminals, can no longer simply write a check and get out while waiting trial. They now have to be held regardless of how much money they have.

I also support other aspects of the bill, such as the ban on police chokeholds and the clarification of when it's appropriate to execute search warrants.

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?

Crime is as much a matter of perception as it is of reality and public officials must strive to present an accurate portrait of public safety in our city. Last month, Patch reported that in MoneyGeek’s 2023 roundup of Safest Cities in America, Joliet ranked eighth-safest city, “with a crime cost per capita of $247, a violent crime rate of 168 per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 372 per 100,000 residents.”

In his report to the City Council last month, Joliet Police Chief Bill Evans said crime “is up in some areas slightly, and it’s down in some areas slightly,” the Herald-News reported. Violent crimes were down 2% last year compared to 2021. The chief said robberies and motor vehicle thefts were also down by 24% and 13%, respectively. So, there is some positive news to report in this area.

But we also can’t be blind to Joliet’s problems. For instance, Chief Evans said Joliet has experienced an increase in financial crimes, such as criminals stealing checks in the mail. This regular information on crime trends helps residents more accurately distinguish the reality of crime versus their perceptions of crime. It also helps that the city added 40 additional officers last year.

If elected, I’ll regularly connect my 4th District constituents to law enforcement professionals who can provide a fuller picture of the real public safety threats residents face. I’ll also push for the City Council to do more to ensure that policing measures are being reinforced by community-based measures in our collective push to make Joliet even safer for all residents. That includes leveraging a consistent pipeline of communication, connection and caring support between our valued officers and our neighbors.

What is your view of the city's/village's approach to commercial and residential development?

Too often, Joliet residents don’t hear about new developments until after their already well in motion. For instance, Patch reported last year on homeowners who suddenly found “more than a dozen large earth-moving vehicles” in their subdivision near Route 53. The earth movers are constructing the controversial NorthPoint mega development. Amanda Klimek told Patch that she got “no warning. No notices on the door, no nothing.” The city should do more to make sure that residents like Klimek are informed and aware of potential development activity.

In addition, economic development in Joliet needs to be spread more equitably across our city. The 4th District, on Joliet’s east side, lacks many of the amenities found on the city’s far west side. As councilman, I’ll be very vocal about the need for the city to have an equity lens when focusing on development so that particular attention is paid to areas starved for resources. As mentioned before, the city's near west side has many zoning issues that we need to address as well.

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?

As mentioned, I believe there needs to be a serious focus on equitable development in Joliet so that vast stretches of our city like the east side and near west sides are finally able to get critical amenities like a grocery store, eliminating food deserts. I believe an equity audit, assessment and report will allow city officials to have data-informed conversations about the disparity in development between some areas of Joliet.

For instance, economic development requires serious funding in infrastructure. New stores need smooth streets so patrons can access them. How is the city ensuring that there isn’t a critical disparity between infrastructure improvements in one part of Joliet versus another? How is the city ensuring that one part of Joliet doesn’t lack the tools of economic development (i.e., tax increment financing districts, special service areas, etc.) that other areas benefit from? These are the questions that an equity audit will answer and the resulting assessment will help guide the future decisions of policymakers, planners, investors and developers.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

No, I will serve my full term once elected.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Jeremiah 29:11

"I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the Lord; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope."

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am a champion and fighter for people!