Anthony Ortiz: 2023 candidate for Elgin City Council

Bio

Town where you live: Elgin

Age on Election Day: 33

Occupation: Director of operations, Kane County state's attorney's office

Previous offices held: None

Q&A

Q: What is the most serious issue your community will face in the coming years and how should the city council respond to it?

A: I believe in the coming years the City of Elgin will face a shortage of affordable housing. Currently the apartment capacity is at 90% according to the last State of the City Address this past year.

We need to work on developing more housing that working families can afford and work with our state and federal elected leaders to make sure Elgin is getting its fair share of money for these developments.

Q: How would you describe the state of your community's finances?

A: The City of Elgin is financially strong. The saving account has a healthy $45 millions and the city has a AAA bond rating. As of the 2023 budget.

Q: What should be the three top priorities for spending in your community during the next four years?

A: The top items I think the city should spend on is quicker replacement of the lead waterlines in the city and help the homeowners with replacement in their side of the shut-off box.

Install more street lighting in the inner city neighborhoods. Which this can be a joint venture with ComEd with more street lighting in neighborhoods it will help deter crime.

We need to really look at the redevelopment of our downtown. It needs serious help and more money put into it. With Elgin having a waterfront downtown, there is state and federal money that we can tap into to help with the cost of beautifying, developing, and restructuring that area.

I know you said three, but we also need to put more capital project money into our arterial roadways.

Q: Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed? If so, what are they?

A: One item I think was wasteful spending was the block party trailer that city council approved in 2022. I know various people that tried to get that trailer rented and they had to jump through a bunch of hoops and in the end never got a chance to rent it out. If it's this hard to use that trailer for a block party. I believe it was a waste of over $100,000.

Q: What do you see as the most important infrastructure project the community must address? Why and how should it be paid for? Conversely, during these uncertain economic times, what project(s) can be put on the back burner?

A: The most important items is the lead pipe replacement and road repairs, both can be paid from a mixture of capital project funds, reserves, and grant money from the state and federal government that the city never wants to apply for. I will make sure I am always advocating for Elgin to always get its fair share of dollars from the state and federal government by working with our elected leaders in Springfield and Washington D.C.

Maybe one item that I know might not be popular is holding off on the sport complex redevelopment until we know how the U.S. economy will shake out in 2023.

Q: Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy. What is your style in such a setting to reach agreement and manage local government? Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your city council.

A: I am currently the chairman of Elgin's Police & Fire commission. Before, every new hiring process myself and the rest of the commissioners get together and discuss the list of questions and how we want to conduct the interviews. During this we all give our thoughts and ideas of how we would like the process to go. During this we talk it out and come to an agreement everyone respects.

Also, as my current role at the Kane County State's Attorney's office as the Director of Operations I deal with policy quite a bit. Before, I recommend any office changes to the State's Attorney I ask everyone that the policy will affect for their input. It means a lot to me that I get input before making any policy changes. I will do this as a councilmen always ask the residents of Elgin for their input and opinions.

Q: What makes you the best candidate for the job?

A: I am the best candidate for the job, because at my current job I have been involved in policy changes, managed and directed staff, enter the agenda items to the Kane County Board for the State's Attorney's Office, and have drafted request for proposals for the office when we need to send something out to bid. I also am not an unfamiliar face to the current city council and have a great working relationship with the current Chiefs of Police & Fire. With this local government experience & relationships it makes me the best for the job and will allow me to hit the ground running.

Q: What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?

A: Some great ideas no one is speaking about is partnering with nonprofit organizations and making intergovernmental agreements with Elgin and Hanover Township to bring more veteran and senior programs and services to the City of Elgin. For example, I believe we should give back to our seniors and veterans so we should have a free or discounted fitness membership at the Elgin Rec Centers for these groups. Many smaller villages and townships around Elgin offer them. So, I think Elgin should give back to these great groups of people.