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Mayoral primary election forumThe four mayoral candidates running in the Democratic primary Feb. 25 will go head to head in a forum this Saturday at Cooke Magnet School in Waukegan. The Rev. Charles Fairchild, pastor of Greater Faith Baptist Church, Dr. Richard Keller, head of the HealthReach free medical clinic, city Clerk Wayne Motley and Mayor Richard Hyde are running to fill the remaining two years of the late Dan Drew's mayoral term. The mix of political insiders and political outsiders have different agendas for Waukegan. Rental inspections and overcrowding Concerning housing, both Fairchild and Keller said they reject Waukegan's ordinance for annual inspections of rental properties and if elected would try to appeal it. "I think it's an unjust law," Keller said. "I think that there has to be a better way at looking for code violations short of strong-arm tactics." Hyde, who has been an alderman for 18 years and voted for the new rental inspection ordinance, said, "[Renters] have got to realize it's going to help them and not hurt them by living up to codes. This is not for harassment. Every town has slum landlords and they take advantage of people." Motley, a police officer for 26 years before being elected city clerk, questions the tactics of the inspections but said overcrowding is an issue in Waukegan. "Obviously we have a problem with overcrowding. I think we have to address that issue as a life-safety issue. It's not about race," Motley said. "I don't want to be the guy responsible for the deaths of some residents in a basement fire." Motley also denied allegations that he was opposed to the Waukegan Police Department's acceptance of the Mexican Consulate's matricula consular as identification. "My position on the matricula ID is that it is issued by the Mexican Consulate and it is accepted by the Waukegan Police Department as ID," Motley said. "Coming from a police background, I recognize the importance of a valid ID." A pamphlet that was circulated earlier this year in Waukegan alleged that Motley was opposed to the matricula consular, and if elected would replace Police Chief Miguel Juarez. "Absolutely not. Miguel Juarez and I go back 25 years," Motley said. Lakefront development Hyde said he would like to see the "rebirth" of Genesee Street. "Our goal is to develop the lakefront into a livable area with shops and condos. Hopefully we'll get a minor league ballpark down there." Motley said, "We need to revitalize the downtown. It will never be a place for retail again." He suggested it become a center for entertainment, with the renovated Genesee Theatre, social service agencies, attorneys offices and restaurants. Fairchild, who has been a reverend for 24 years in Waukegan and was recently released from the hospital, said Waukegan should offer tax-free incentives to attract more business to the downtown. He also would like to see more affordable housing downtown. "You can't have enough affordable housing. You can put affordable housing up there on Genesee and it would look good and you combat some of the trouble with overcrowding," Fairchild said. Keller said he would like to see more of the lakefront go toward parkland and a rejuvenation of the arts. "I would like to see a downtown chain drugstore and a children's museum and an art cooperative for local artists," Keller said. Gambling Motley and Fairchild said they would put the possibility of a casino in Waukegan to a referendum if Waukegan received a casino license. Hyde said a casino would be good for the city. "A casino would bring in 1,500 to 2,000 jobs, good jobs." He said a percentage of the income would go toward the Waukegan Public Schools, the Park District, the Port District and Waukegan Township. Keller is opposed to a casino in Waukegan. "I think the social costs and infrastructure costs are going to outweigh the income the city might receive," Keller said. Meet the mayoral candidates Saturday, Feb. 15, from 10 a.m. to noon at Cooke Magnet School, 522 Belvidere, Waukegan. La Luz - February 12-18, 2003 |
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