FLOODING, FINANCES TOP MAYORAL PRIORITIES
By TODD WESSELL Journal & Topics Editor

Journal & Topics Newspapers Online
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March 27 2009
IL

An overflow crowd packed Des Plaines City Hall Council Chambers and
a nearby room Wednesday night to hear and see the city’s four mayoral
candidates, 12 city council hopefuls and three city clerk contenders
in a forum/debate sponsored by the Journal & Topics Newspapers.

The unusually large field of candidates is competing to replace
aldermen from the 1st, 3d, 5th and 7th wards as well as longtime City
Clerk Donna McAllister and Mayor Tony Arredia all of whom have to step
down due to term limits. Wednesday night’s forum was one of the last
times voters will be able to meet and greet local candidates before the
Apr. 7 election. The Des Plaines Flood Action Group is hosting a public
mayoral forum at Maine West High School on Tuesday, Mar. 31 at 7 p.m.

At Wednesday night’s forum, aldermanic and city clerk hopefuls each
gave three-minute presentations about their candidacies. The mayoral
debate lasted 90 minutes where candidates gave opening and closing
remarks and answered numerous questions.

Running for mayor are Marty Moylan, Dick Sayad, Mark Thompson and
Mike Lake.

For the most part, the exchanges were civil and quick with Sayad and
Moylan occasionally pointing out a few of each other’s flaws. At the
end of the event during closing remarks, Moylan charged Sayad with
being the "chief architect of the billboard fiasco" in which the
city granted a company the rights to erect large signs along local
tollways. Moylan’s statement drew a few groans from several members
in the crowd. Earlier when a question about the billboards was asked
of the four contenders, Sayad said that if he could take back his
vote on the billboard issue he would.

At the beginning of the debate, Sayad said the biggest issue facing the
city is making sure it’s in sound financial shape, while Moylan singled
out flood relief and properly planning the spending of anticipated
money from the casino. Lake also said flooding is a top priority while
Thompson said he will first focus on the city’s "fiscal situation."

On the subject of the planned casino near River and Higgins roads on
the city’s far south side, Lake, Moylan and Sayad all agreed that the
gaming operation will be a plus for the city because of the revenue
it will bring in—almost $10 million annually. Thompson offered
a different perspective: "I have a philosophical difference with
casinos financing government," he said. "We need to make sure we
deal with this intelligently. There are negatives such as increased
traffic and increased calls for ambulance service."

"I’m the best man for the job," said Lake. "The others have political
backgrounds, I don’t."

"I’m a lifelong resident of Des Plaines," said Thompson. "This town
has given me and my family a lot. I’d like to contribute and make
it greater."

"For 10 years I’ve been grooming myself to be mayor," said Sayad
explaining the many years he served as 4th ward alderman. "I’m the
best qualified. I can take over right away and be full-time."

"I’m dedicated to this city," asserted Moylan. "I’ve worked on many
issues over the years such as bringing in Internet filters to the
library, securing materials and labor to erect two Little League
shelters at Central baseball park, and fighting unsightly billboards."

When the candidates were asked who their personal heroes are, their
answers were varied.

"My mother and father," responded Sayad, explaining that his dad was
an immigrant from Armenia and mother from Warsaw, Poland, who taught
him the values of work and being a good citizen.

"My mother," said Moylan explaining that she worked constantly to
provide a better life for her 13 children. "Everyone learned by
pitching in," he said.

Lake said his grandmother is his hero having emigrated from Poland
in 1916. Lake added that other heroes of his are former President
Ronald Reagan and all military veterans.

Thompson said his hero is Abraham Lincoln adding that he and the
nation’s 16th president share the same birthday, Feb. 12.

"I have a house full of books on Lincoln," said Thompson.