Jamie Munks
The State Journal-Register
Continuing to foster development and infrastructure needs are the issues dominating discussion in a heated three-way race for Springfield Ward 7 alderman. Attorney Sarah Delano Pavlik, a Capital Township trustee, and Maldaner’s Restaurant owner Michael Higgins are trying to unseat incumbent Ald. Joe McMenamin in the April 7 election.
Higgins and McMenamin, who is a lawyer, have met in the city political arena before. Higgins was runner-up to McMenamin in the three-way Ward 7 alderman race in 2011. Pavlik said she decided to run this go-round, her first time seeking a city elected office, because she hasn’t been satisfied with McMenamin.
City elections are officially nonpartisan, though in reality they are not — Sangamon County Democrats endorsed Higgins, and Pavlik has local Republicans’ backing.
Other aldermen have taken issue with McMenamin’s style, something he sees, in part, as reflective of the fact that he isn’t taking campaign contributions from unions and political parties, he said. “That’s a huge difference between myself and the other aldermen. It causes some defensiveness and some great discomfort,” McMenamin said. “And the other issue is I vote ‘no’ on the pensions and the budgets.”
McMenamin said he’s not going to be a “yes person,” charging that there’s too much of that at the Statehouse and on the city council. “I think my relationship with the voters is more important, overall, than the relationship with the aldermen,” he said.
Too much ‘no’?
McMenamin is especially outspoken on the city’s police and fire pension issues and the unfunded liabilities that currently top $230 million. He has voted against all four city budgets that were passed during his time as an alderman, citing what he calls a “structural deficit” created by pension debt.
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In response to the criticism from his opponents, McMenamin said they “don’t want the sitting alderman to be viewed as successful.”
McMenamin said he thinks Higgins has “twisted information and context” and said he’s staying positive. “I hope my character, reputation and record prevails with the voters,” McMenamin said.
Cuts vs. growth
McMenamin lists experience, “actual accomplishments,” independence from partisan endorsements and money, and availability to constituents as the things that set him apart.
“To their credit, they’re very involved, owning a restaurant and being a managing partner in a law firm. That requires full-time duty and attention,” McMenamin said, adding that he’s scaled back his law practice. “I’ve made the alderman position my full-time duty and priority.”
McMenamin cites his biggest accomplishments over the past four years as playing a key role in progress along MacArthur Boulevard with the establishment of a tax increment financing district and the Hy-Vee coming in, as well as improvements at the MacArthur Park Apartments.
If re-elected, McMenamin said he’d continue to emphasize neighborhood improvements and also focus more attention on citywide issues, including financial stability at City Water, Light and Power and resolving the “structural deficit” created by the city’s pension debt.
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MacArthur Boulevard
The Lakota Group, a Chicago consulting firm, did a redevelopment study of MacArthur, which included a focus on the Esquire property. One suggestion was a mixed-use development that would include commercial and retail, with alternative residential options.
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MacArthur Boulevard Association president Jen Dillman said after a recent forum the organization held that it seemed all three candidates have “a very strong commitment” to MacArthur Boulevard. The association isn’t backing one candidate over the others, Dillman said. “Regardless of who comes out, I feel that we would be able to work with them,” Dillman said.
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Joe McMenamin
Age: 62
Occupation: Self-employed private practice attorney
Education: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, economics and history; law degree from Southern Illinois University; Army schools including Command and General Staff College and the National Defense University.
Experience: Four years as Ward 7 alderman; 20 years in private law practice; 30 years in the Illinois Army National Guard, including seven years enlisted and three overseas assignments; 11 years as manager of the income tax legal division for the Illinois Department of Revenue.
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Joe McMenamin for Ward 7 