Election 2013: John Malloy for Seventh Ward Alderman

The following information was provided by John Malloy. Patch provides a platform for candidates to share their messages, and does not give endorsements. To share your message with readers for free, add it to the Local Voices section on Des Plaines Patch.

Name:  John F. Malloy

Position sought:  Seventh Ward Alderman

Campaign contact information. Please include any or all of the following: website, email address, phone number, Facebook page, Twitter account, mailing address, etc.

Website: Malloy4Alderman.com

Phone: (847) 635-7838

Age: 55

Family Include as much info as you like (names, ages, number of children, etc.): Married to my wife, Roberta, for 30 years. Two daughters: Carolyn, 29, and Molly,15.

Education Include degree(s) and school(s): 

Quigley North High School, 1975 Graduate

College Oakton Community, AAS Degree

Hotel/Hospitality Management

Occupation: Full-time caregiver for my disabled daughter, part-time event supervisor at Soldier Field, Sportservice/United Club

Political Party: Independent

Official name of your campaign committee (if you have one):

N/A

Previous Elected or Appointed Offices: none

Is there any additional experience you believe qualifies you for the position? 

Over 30 years’ experience in management in the private sector.

What would your priorities be if elected to this office?

To reduce regulation on both businesses and homeowners.

To limit government control.

To encourage others to also run for office.

What are the most important issues facing Des Plaines and what would you do as alderman to address them?

A poor environment for commercial and retail development.

The city must stimulate growth.  I will communicate to new businesses and entrepreneurs that the City of Des Plaines will work with them so that they have the opportunity to succeed.

A residential housing market that has hurt everyone.

The city must encourage the quick disposition of any foreclosed property.

What is one of the most important issues facing residents in your ward, and what would you do, if elected, to address it?

Try to increase parking in the area of Drake, Village Court and Northwest Highway. The area in front of the town homes on Northwest Highway is a perfect place to add parking.  The additional spaces should alleviate the congestion on Drake and Village Court.

To eliminate the red light camera at the intersection of Golf and Rand Road. It is unfair that the only red light camera in Des Plaines is in the Seventh Ward. 

How do you believe gaming tax revenue collected by Des Plaines should be spent? What should it be spent on?

I believe the revenue from the casino should be saved. I feel it is necessary to increase the savings of the city as the future looks grim due to the policies in Springfield and Washington DC.

There have been a number of proposals to expand gaming in Illinois. If elected, what would you do to protect Des Plaines’ interests with respect to gaming?

No matter what Des Plaines does, gaming will be increased in Illinois.

I believe competition is good in the gaming industry.  Rivers Casino must do the best that they can to make the gaming experience, here in Des Plaines, as fun and enjoyable for the players as possible so that they continue coming back to boost revenue.

The city has $58.3 million in debt in the capital improvements fund, the tax increment financing funds and the water and sewer fund. Approximately $4.4 million in the capital improvements fund will become callable in 2013. If elected, would you support refinancing this debt or paying it off immediately, and why?

Since the cost of money is small in comparison to what it has been historically, there is no hurry to retire this debt. Moreover, the city must do what it can to reduce the cost associated with any capital improvement.

Downtown Des Plaines has a low occupancy rate in the retail spaces in the Metropolitan Square development. If you are elected alderman, what would you do to address this?

Metropolitan Square is privately held. The low occupancy rate lies on the ownership of this development. However, Des Plaines must promote the city as a whole to any potential commercial, retail or residential development throughout the city.

The Des Plaines Police Department is involved with a number of lawsuits, including, most recently, accusations that a former commander falsified records. If elected alderman, what would you do to address the litigation? What would you do to gain the public’s trust in the Des Plaines Police Department?

The former administration of the Des Plaines Police Department has caused these problems that we are faced with. I wonder if “loser pays” was the law of the land in Illinois, how many of these suits would have actually been filed? The current police chief is the key to regaining public trust. He must make sure that any officer involved in these problems is given a fair hearing and if there is a finding of guilt, they must be disciplined appropriately.

Why would you do a better job representing Des Plaines than your opponent?

My availability is definitely an advantage as I am always right here in Des Plaines.

Having resided in Des Plaines for 13 years, I have followed the past council meetings for many years and have a great deal of knowledge of the history of Des Plaines.

As alderman, I would lend a true conservative voice to the “City of Destiny.”

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