Candidates in Des Plaines’ three contested ward races agree on how to tackle many of the big issues facing the city, whether its stopping gaming expansion that could diminish tax revenue generated by Rivers Casino or offering incentives to businesses as a way to reinvigorate economic development in the city’s downtown area.
Differences between the candidates stem from how they would approach the role of alderman and how best to design and pursue a vision for the city’s future. Voters will cast their ballots for aldermen in the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 7th and 8th wards on April 7.
4th Ward Race: Dick Sayad, Mark Setzer
Longtime Fourth Ward Alderman Dick Sayad said he’s made progress in his ward by working with the residents and listening to their concerns over the years.
Sayad, a 71-year-old retired business owner and Rosemont police officer, hopes to hold on to his seat when residents go to the polls on April 7. He touted the city’s new water deal with the Northwest Water Commission — which is eventually expected to save Des Plaines thousands of dollars per day — as an example of progress.
Sayad is a 30-year Des Plaines resident and alderman from 1997-2007 and again since 2011. He’s concerned about gaming expansion and its effects on both Rivers Casino and the city’s bottom line, but believes there’s room for negotiation with the state. Continuing to move forward, he said, is his main priority for both the fourth ward and the city.
“When you want a doctor, you go to a doctor who knows how to do things,” Sayad said. “He’s a professional and he has experience. I think I bring that to the City Council.”
Challenger Mark Setzer, a 46-year-old East Dundee firefighter paramedic, has lived in Des Plaines for 20 years. While he might disagree with his council colleagues, Setzer said he’d be willing to listen to both sides of the argument if elected.
Though openly supported by Mayor Matt Bogusz, Setzer said he would “still be an independent thinker” on the council. Like Sayad, Setzer said he believes the current Rivers Casino revenue share deal with the state may need to be renegotiated if gaming expansion is allowed. But he’s also concerned about flooding — and would like to see more done about it — as well a lack of commercial investment in the city’s downtown area. Setzer also believes the city needs a five-year plan outlining the goals and needs of Des Plaines, he said.
“We need to sit down every year and reevaluate those goals and make sure we are still on track,” he said.
6th Ward Race: Malcolm Chester, Mario Palacios, Herman Zelk
Incumbent Sixth Ward Alderman Mark Walsten is unable to run due to term limits, and the race for his successor has become the most crowded in this year’s city elections.
Malcolm Chester, a 66-year-old attorney, now serves as a member of Des Plaines’ Economic Development Commission. An 11-year resident of Des Plaines, Chester said the city and its lobbyists should “strongly resist” any gaming expansion in the state as “that will impact our casino revenues.”
Chester also is concerned about the cuts proposed by Gov. Bruce Rauner to Illinois municipalities’ share of state tax revenues, as well as flooding and pollution from O’Hare International Airport, he said. However, Chester said he’d be reluctant to raise taxes.
“We’ve got to really look at our budget carefully and make sure everything we are spending money on is essential,” Chester said.
Mario Palacios, 48, previously ran for 6th ward alderman against Walsten. An employee in the transportation industry and a Des Plaines resident for 16 years, Palacios said he doesn’t fear state imposed cuts to the city’s budget.
“We survive by creating more economic opportunity at the local level,” he said. City officials should offer more incentives to businesses to encourage them to relocate to Des Plaines, he said, in addition to holding city employees more accountable. But to do this work requires a vision of Des Plaines as a modern city, he said, and a willingness to make changes to achieve that vision.
Palacios, who is Latino, said diversity is sorely lacking both on the council and in city hall, and voters have an opportunity to make history by electing him.
More Top Picks What Is Dysgraphia And How Is It Different From Dyslexia
Herman Zelk, 68, is a lifelong resident of Des Plaines’ 6th ward. An IT professional and former president of the Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce, Zelk said he sees room for a lot of economic improvement.
“You can’t buy a nice dress or a suit in Des Plaines,” Zelk said, adding that he supports offering business incentives to ultimately achieve a good balance of retail, entertainment and industry in the city.
Zelk said he’s concerned about flooding problems and the possibility of lost tax revenue from Rivers Casino. The former should be addressed by accelerated infrastructure improvements and, as for the latter, officials should work on renegotiating the city’s agreement with the state if gaming expansion is allowed, he said.
Zelk is supported by Mayor Bogusz, but said he would vote his mind if elected to the council.
7th Ward Race: Don Smith vs. Bob Porada
Don Smith, 57, was appointed to fill Joanna Sojka’s seat on the council after she passed away suddenly last August. Smith, an attorney and Des Plaines resident for 23 years, said infrastructure needs and lagging economic development in the city’s downtown area are big issues that need to be addressed. Smith also supports a renegotiation of the city’s casino deal as a way to mitigate any potential loss in revenue on that front, and he’d rather “tighten our belts” before raising taxes on residents and businesses, he said.
Bob Porada, 56, is an attorney and 22-year Des Plaines resident. He decided to run after learning Smith would be on the ballot, he said, as the dynamic on the current council bothers him. He would like to see council members work together more, he said.
Porada said he is concerned about needed economic development downtown and the potential for lost tax revenue if state gaming regulations are changed. In addition, Porada more funding should be set aside for infrastructure improvements, specifically in his own ward. As an council member, Porada said he wouldn’t shy away from disagreements and that he’d welcome differing viewpoints.
In addition to the candidates mentioned above, incumbent aldermen John Robinson, 2nd, and Michael Charewicz, 8th, are running unopposed for re-election on April 7.