Jeff Ward: Some requests for the new mayor

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Michael Smart | Staff Photographer Dave Kaptain, a longtime member of Elgin's city council, announced Wednesday that he will be a candidate for Elgin's mayor in the election next spring. 7/7/10

Updated: June 10, 2011 12:23AM

Although that meager 16 percent Elgin voter turnout on April 5 doesn’t exactly make you want to stand up and salute, I can’t help but get that warm and fuzzy feeling that comes from watching a smooth transition of power.

Considering the alternatives, our electoral process works pretty well.

As I said during that WRMN AM 1410 “Left, Right and You” mayoral debate, it was incredibly refreshing to have the privilege of dealing with two gentlemen who stuck to the issues and, instead of bickering, focused their campaigns on the best interests of all of Elgin.

Although the city would’ve been fine with either candidate — and I will miss those “fighting off a pack of 1,456 pit bulls” references — I don’t think a change at the top is necessarily a bad thing. God bless Mayor Schock for his dozen years of service; but after dealing with so many politicians, such as the president, eight years is enough for anyone. An entitlement mentality seems to infect even the best elected folks if they hang around too long.

There’s a lot to like about the new mayor. His emphasis on affordable housing, fiscal responsibility, infrastructure and careful planning for new growth are commendable. But most of all, I love his “if Muhammad won’t come to the mountain” mentality. Just because the voters are hesitant to get involved, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to involve them.

Kaptain promised he will continue his practice of going out into the neighborhoods to “engage, educate and communicate with the residents of Elgin.”

So, since the new mayor is obviously open to communication — and I’m always happy to oblige — here are a few things I hope we’ll have the opportunity to discuss in the next four years.

Mayor, I’ve always believed Elgin’s strength lies in its diversity. But there’s a shrill minority that consistently threatens to undermine that virtue with bigotry and hate. Although AFLA (Association for Legal Americans) has moderated a bit of late, I’m not so sure that leopard will ever change its spots.

Too many Elgin politicians give its disproportionately loud voices an undue amount of weight. Its members certainly have a right to voice their opinions and concerns, but no more or less than any other constituency. If you truly want to build on the strength of Elgin’s neighborhoods, then please pay a little less heed to the overly vocal folks behind the curtain.

Please keep in mind that every single city council candidate they backed lost.

I’ve always believed the real measure of a government body is not only how it treats the least of its citizens but whether it is willing to take a stand even though that might mean losing revenue.

Mayor Schock and I certainly disagreed on whether to lift the smoking ban from the Grand Victoria. Just because some silly young casino employees are willing to risk secondhand smoke for a paycheck, that doesn’t mean we should humor them.

Should you, or anyone on the council, continue to buck that ban, what does that say about a city that believes some future lung cancer deaths are worth a few extra short-term dollars?

And speaking of gambling boats, they’re a really bad idea. You know I love the city of Elgin, but that great affection always is tempered by the insistent thought of that floating casino.

Study after study has proven the social costs of legalized gambling outweigh the benefits by $3 to $1. Then we expect Elgin’s overloaded social service agencies to pick up that slack at a time when their funding is being slashed and the state can’t pay what they do owe them.

This brings us to “administrative” towing fees. The city of Elgin will hit you with a $500 fine on top of a $175 tow if you’re stopped for driving without a license, driving with a suspended or revoked license, a DUI, or for a loud sound system. And it will slap you with that half-a-grand penalty even if there’s another licensed driver in the vehicle. It’s obscene.

Elgin is one of the few cities with the foresight to avoid red-light cameras and that baggage, but this abhorrent practice is so much worse. Are we finally to the point where, except for the blue uniforms, you can’t tell the difference between the criminals and the cops? Who’s going to protect us from the police?

Mayor, you’ve already come out in favor of these “fees,” but I’m hoping you’ll reconsider.

And while we’re talking, even though the new dangerous-dog ordinance seems to be having an effect, would you mind humoring an old columnist by fighting off a pack of pit bulls? Thanks.

Jeff Ward can be contacted at jeffwardsun@sbcglobal.net