IVI-IPO 2015 CHICAGO ALDERMANIC QUESTIONNAIRE - SECTION 1

DATE: December 19, 2014

WARD: Fourth Ward

NAME William D. Will Burns

VOTING ADDRESS: 920 East 48th Street Chicago, IL 60615
HOME PHONE 312.315.3750

BUSINESS PHONE 773.536.8103

CAMPAIGN ADDRESS PO BOX

CAMPAIGN PHONE 714.322.3100
CAMPAIGN WEBSITE

FAX

www.friendsofwillburns.com

EMAIL Andrew.e.thode@gmail.com

CAMPAIGN MANAGER Andrew Thode

NUMBER OF PETITION SIGNATURES FILED 4600 NUMBER REQUIRED 473
Please provide the following background information:
A. Elective or appointive public and/or party offices previously held including dates.
Alderman 2011 to Present
State Representative 2009 to Present
B. Other elective offices for which you have been a candidate.
See above.
C. What is your primary occupation?
Alderman.
D. Briefly list your civic activities of the past ten years.
Illinois State Representative 2009-2011
Deputy Political Director, Quinn for Illinois 2010
Vice President, Conlon Public Strategies 2007-2009
Content and Issues Department, Obama for America 2008
Deputy Chief of Staff to the Senate President 2005-2007
Senior Advisor to the Senate President 2003-2005
Vice President, Chicago Urban League 2001-2003
E. What subjects have you studied and what experience have you had which will be most helpful to you in the
office you seek?
I have studied political science, urban politics, and African-American politics. My experience as a legislative
aide and state representative have been very useful in the City Council.

IVI-IPO 2015 CHICAGO ALDERMANIC QUESTIONNAIRE - SECTION 1

F. What candidates have you supported in past elections? Please be specific in describing your role in each
campaign.
Please see answer D. I have also supported Democrats for re-election to the Illinois House and Senate through
campaign contributions.
G. Please list all endorsements you have received so far.
Cook County President-Elect Toni Preckwinkle, Senator Kwame Raoul, Representative Barbara Flynn Currie,
State Representative Christian Mitchell, and Alderman Pat Dowell.
H. As concisely as possible, state why you feel you should be endorsed over the other candidate(s). What goals
for the office you seek are most important to you personally?
In my first term as alderman I have worked to improve the quality of life in the Fourth Ward through economic
development, job creation, public safety, and public education. Thousands of new jobs and dozens of new
stores, and hundreds of units of new housing are on their way to the ward. Projects that had been postponed
like the arts and recreation center in Madden Park are back online. At the city level I was honored to fight for a
$13 per hour city minimum wage that will lift 410,000 Chicagoans out of poverty. I helped to re-write the
Chicago Ethics Ordinance and added more money from the TIF program to build affordable housing in the
Five Year Housing Plan.
I. What is your campaign budget? How much have you raised to date?
The campaign budget is roughly $200,000. The campaign has $225,000 on hand.
J. How many people are on your campaign staff? How many volunteers are on your list?
The campaign includes two full time paid staff, several consultants, and interns. Our campaign has a volunteer
database of several hundred people.

IVI-IPO 2015 CHICAGO ALDERMANIC QUESTIONNAIRE - SECTION 2

Most questions on this questionnaire can be answered by checking either YES or NO. Others are essay questions and all
have the option of answering in greater detail. Just hit enter at the end of the question and begin typing your answer in the
additional space.
CITY COUNCIL REFORM AND ETHICS
YES
NO
Yes
Do you favor maintaining the current number of City Council committees?
1.
Which committees, if any, would you combine or eliminate?
ESSAY
I dont support reducing the committees.
What reforms are necessary in the City Council's committee rules and structure?
2.
ESSAY
I am open to reforms that make it easier to bring ordinances to the floor from the Rules
Committee.
Would you give the Inspector Generals office independent subpoena power or other compulsory
3.
Yes
process that can be directed against city officials, agencies and employees without necessitation
the approval of the Mayor or Corporation Counsel?
Should the Inspector General be able to initiate his or her own investigations of Aldermen without
4.
No
a complaint from outside the office?
5.
Yes
Should the Inspector General be able to pursue anonymous complaints?
6.
No Do you support patronage in hiring and promoting public employees?
Will you employ or have you employed staff, in your office who hold other public sector jobs
7.
No
concurrently?
Will you employ or have you employed staff, in your office who have either outside employment or
8.
No
contracts with entities which do business with the City?
Will you vote for an ordinance mandating that the City contest unemployment claims by former
9.
Yes
employees who were fired for cause?
Will you vote for an ordinance forbidding the City to hire or contract the services of anyone
10.
Yes
previously fired for cause from the City or any other unit of government?
11.
No Will you support an ordinance to reduce the number of wards?
12.
Have you joined or will you join:
The Paul Douglas Caucus
The Independent Progressive Caucus
Yes
Both Although the progressives stopped inviting me to meetings.
Do you support changing the state statute to return to filling aldermanic vacancies by special
13.
Yes
election, rather than Mayoral appointment?
Will you vote for an ordinance requiring redistricting of the wards to be based on non-partisan
criteria and not to benefit any specific individual or political party?
14.
15.

No

16.

I would like to see a specific proposal before expressing support.

Will you or have you accepted campaign donations from current or potential suppliers or
employees?
Will you or have you accepted campaign donations from people or businesses seeking zoning
changes in your ward?
I comply with all applicable federal, state, and municipal laws governing campaign contributions.

Yes
17.

ESSAY

Do you support public financing of municipal campaigns?

Please explain your position.
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IVI-IPO 2015 CHICAGO ALDERMANIC QUESTIONNAIRE - SECTION 2

Public financing levels the playing field between candidates and emphasizes the importance of
small donors.
Who are your top 5 contributors and how much has each contributed to your campaign?
18.

ESSAY

19.

My top five contributors can be found at the Illinois State Board of Elections website.
What changes would you support to the redistricting process?
My top concern would be to protect minority voting rights pursuant to Section 2 and Section 5 of
the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

REVENUE AND BUDGET

Will you vote to hire independent analysts to conduct a forensic audit of past City spending?
20.

21.

I would like to see a specific proposal before expressing support.

Will you vote for a budget ordinance which would require:
public questioning of city department heads concerning their departments' specific budget
requests?
I would like to see a specific proposal before expressing support.
making budget copies available to the public 30 days in advance of hearings?

22.
23.
24.

Yes
Yes
ESSAY

It may be more cost efficient to make sure the budget is online 30 days in advance of hearings.
restoring city-wide community group budget hearings several months prior to the publication of
the budget, as were held under the Washington and Sawyer administrations?
What additional revenue sources, if any, would you propose?
We need additional revenue sharing from the State of Illinois and the federal government.
Do you support casino gambling for Chicago?
I am open to potentially supporting a land based casino in Chicago under certain
conditions: the land based casino must be sited to attract business from conventioneers
and tourists; all of the gaming positions must be located within the casino; and special
attention must be paid to ensure minority and women owned business enterprises
participate in the management of the casino; revenue from the Chicago casino would be
used to reduce the citys unfunded pension liabilities.

25.

Will you vote to require a citywide referendum before any gambling is instituted in the City?
26.

The State of Illinois will determine whether the City of Chicago can have casino. Video poker does
not generate much revenue for cities, so it is unlikely to come up for a vote any time soon.
Will you vote to roll back Mayoral and Aldermanic salaries to pre-2007 levels?

27.
28.
29.

Yes

I have not taken a cost-of-living-allowance in the three years I have served in the Council.
Will you vote for an ordinance limiting future Mayoral and Aldermanic salary increases to the
same percentage as the lowest raise for any class of city employees?
Do you agree with the criticism that City government is top heavy with management?
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IVI-IPO 2015 CHICAGO ALDERMANIC QUESTIONNAIRE - SECTION 2

ESSAY
30.

ESSAY

31

ESSAY

32.

Choose One
X
YES

I believe that the City needs greater revenue sharing from the state and federal government to
hire more line staff.
Please explain your position.
What measures will you vote for to reform the city pension plan and ensure its solvency?
I am happy to support additional revenues that would be part of any comprehensive plan to fix the
citys pension systems.
How would you modify (if at all) the benefit and contribution levels and eligibility requirements for
public employee pensions?
Any reduction in benefits or increase in contributions should be part of a negotiation between
annuitants and the City.
Should discretionary funds for ward services and infrastructure improvements be allocated
in equal amounts to each ward
based on the size of each ward
based on the needs of each ward

NO
Will you institute participatory budgeting to allow ward residents to vote on discretionary spending
in your ward?

33.
Menu requests come from constituents, including block clubs and community organizations. My
staff and I allocate resources across each community in the ward.
PRIVATIZATION
Which city services or assets, if any, do you believe should be privatized and what is your
criteria?
34.

35.
36.

ESSAY

YES
YES

37.

ESSAY

38.

ESSAY

My sole criteria is whether privatizing the asset is, net of any job loss, a benefit to the City and its
residents. In many cases privatization deals only work by reducing labor costs and shifting labor
costs to profit for investors. Those are not deals that I would support.
Will you vote for an ordinance requiring an independent analysis of any lease or outsourcing
arrangement?
Thats the purpose of the independent budget office.
Will you vote for an ordinance requiring detailed analysis and evaluation of any lease or
outsourcing arrangement at least 30 days prior to the City Council vote?
Before voting on privatization contracts, what will you do to ensure that they deliver the maximum
return and best service for city residents in the long term? See my answer above.
What procedures will you implement to ensure that privatization arrangements are not being used
to move patronage workers outside of the scope of the Rutan decision requirements or any other
anti-patronage rules or protocols? See my answer above.

PLANNING, ZONING, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

How will you involve ward residents in planning?
39.
ESSAY
Through planning charrettes and visioning workshops.
40.
ESSAY
What is your long-range plan for development of the ward?
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IVI-IPO 2015 CHICAGO ALDERMANIC QUESTIONNAIRE - SECTION 2

My long range plan is to create a ward with a mix of housing options including rental, for sale,
and subsidized and to attract the amenities that build community.
What criteria do you or will you use in determining whether or not to grant a zoning change or
variance?
41.

ESSAY

In many cases our commercial corridors are governed by planning studies which direct land use
decisions including zoning.
How will you involve residents in planning, approval, and oversight of TIF districts?

42.

ESSAY

43.

44.

Yes

45.

ESSAY

The Fourth Ward has TIF advisory councils, and public meetings are held before the allocation of
TIF resources.
Will you vote to terminate a TIF if the objectives of the TIF plan have been accomplished before
the 23 year period is ended?
In many instances TIF bond deals require the TIF to complete its full 23 year period.
Will you vote to return unspent and uncommitted TIF funds on an annual basis to the various
taxing bodies?
I have supported declaring TIF surpluses in the past.
How do you propose to replace property tax revenue for CPS and other taxing bodies that is lost
to TIF development?
The real solution to CPSs financial crisis is to boost state funding for public schools.
Will you support a moratorium on creation of any new TIF districts until new funding sources are
identified to replace the revenue diverted to the TIF?

46.

47.

Yes

48.

Yes

The truth is that TIF is frequently the only money available for economic development. TIFs
should only be created in areas where without TIF funding economic development will not occur.
Will you vote for an ordinance requiring that large corporate entities receiving $250,000 or more in
public subsidies, and their tenants, must pay their workers a living wage (currently $11/hour)?
Will you vote to invest substantially more in job-training and the creation of transitional job
programs in disadvantaged communities, including the formerly incarcerated, homeless, youth,
and non-English speakers?

HOUSING
49.

Yes

50.

Yes

Will you vote to amend the Vacant Properties Ordinance to require mortgage servicers to register
their properties?
Do you support enacting an ordinance to preserve Single-Room Occupancy housing?
I co-sponsored the SRO preservation ordinance.
Will you vote for an inclusionary zoning ordinance requiring developers to set aside 30% of
residential new construction or renovation for the creation of affordable housing?

51.
I would like to see a specific ordinance before expressing support.
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IVI-IPO 2015 CHICAGO ALDERMANIC QUESTIONNAIRE - SECTION 2

52.

53.

ESSAY

What measures will you support to guarantee that some of the foreclosed properties saved
through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program are made affordable to families at 40% and 60%
of AMI?

ESSAY

The Five Year Housing Plan is the platform to review NSP initiatives.
What procedures and safeguards would you put in place on conversion/demolition of SROs and
other low income housing to ensure that affordable housing will continue to be available for low
income tenants who would otherwise be displaced?
I supported the SRO preservation ordinance.
What measures will you support to ensure that there is an adequate supply of affordable family
sized units available to families in the Section 8 program?

54.

ESSAY

55.

ESSAY

56.

YES
YES

57.

NO

I support enrolling more landlords in the Section 8 program who own properties in opportunity
communities. That means increasing the size of the voucher to make those rents accessible to
low income families.
What measures will you support to provide affordable housing for low-income individuals and
families who are not served by any existing programs?
We refer families to affordable housing providers and shelters when they need services.
Do you support any of the following to be built in your ward?
low income rental housing that is affordable to those at 15% to 30% of AMI?
supportive housing for people overcoming addiction and other problems which contribute to
homelessness?
It would depend on where the supportive housing would be located and how many of them.
shelters for the homeless?

58.
59

YES

It would depend on where the shelter location is and for how many residents.
Do you favor a moratorium on the conversion or demolition of SROs pending the development of
protections and remedies to protect the displaced tenants from becoming homeless?
Do you support allowing the demolition of existing public housing units without new or
rehabilitated replacement housing on a one-for-one basis?

60

This question refers to the Lathrop Homes Development. My understanding is that the alderman
of that ward is negotiating with CHA and the Department of Planning and Development to
preserve the development.
61.
Choose One Which standard should the City use to define affordable housing?
AMI of the Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area
AMI of Cook County
AMI of Chicago
AMI of the Community Area
Id like more information about determining the AMI for Chicago.
EDUCATION
62.
Choose One Which of the following options for choosing the School Board do you support?
Popular Election
Mayoral appointment from nominations made by community representatives
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IVI-IPO 2015 CHICAGO ALDERMANIC QUESTIONNAIRE - SECTION 2

Maintaining the current system of Mayoral appointment
A mix of elected and appointed members

X
YES

NO
Will you support a city-wide lottery for enrollment in magnet schools?

63.
64.

65.

66.

67.

68.

69.

ESSAY

ESSAY

We need to ensure access for community residents and racial minorities in magnet schools.
Will you support LSCs in maintaining full powers, and support them through adequate funding
levels that provide training and support for LSCs to do their jobs?
Will you support a moratorium on school closings until a detailed analysis of the impacts of
shuffling children is completed, and a real plan to address the quality of education and safety for
every child is in place?
Will you support development and implementation of a more comprehensive and accurate
approach to evaluate student and teacher performance than reliance on the SAT and ACT tests?
Would you favor repealing (or modifying) the 70% requirement for voting to authorize teacher
strikes?
What is your assessment of Renaissance 2010 and its implementation in your ward as well as the
City as a whole? Please include in your assessment the role of charter schools as well as the
power to reconstitute schools.
Renaissance 2010 did not operate in the Fourth Ward. I have no information to evaluate Ren
2010. I believe that every effort should be undertaken by CPS before reconstituting schools.
What should the City do to improve the quality of all local schools?
Find the best school leaders and give them resources to execute their plan.
What are your plans to improve the local schools in your ward?

70.

ESSAY
I ask my school principals for what they need to make their schools great and help to get it.
How would you modify (if at all) the benefit and contribution levels and eligibility requirements for
public school teacher pension?

71.

ESSAY
Those levels should be determined through negotiation between annuitants and the Chicago
Public Schools.

ENVIRONMENT
72.
YES
73.
No
74.
YES
75.

YES

76.
77.

ESSAY

78.

ESSAY

Will you vote for the Clean Power Ordinance?

Will you vote to privatize Chicago's water delivery system?
Will you vote to ban Styrofoam food containers in Chicago public schools?
Will you vote to ban Styrofoam food containers in Chicago restaurants and food delivery
services?
Will you vote to adopt the water quality standards recommended by the Pollution Control Board?
I need more information about the PCB standards.
What should the City do to encourage and implement alternative forms of energy?
The City should encourage energy suppliers to purchase more renewable energy sources.
What other environmental initiatives, if any, do you propose?
We need a global compact to reduce carbon emissions. We need President Obama to take
executive action to reduce emissions from power plants.
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IVI-IPO 2015 CHICAGO ALDERMANIC QUESTIONNAIRE - SECTION 2

PARKS
79.
X
80.

81.

ESSAY

Rank 1-5 or
say no to any

84.
85.
86.

YES
YES

NO
YES

89.
90.

ESSAY

91.
92.
93.
94.

95.

Do you support renegotiation of Chicago's parking meter privatization deal?

Do you support privatization of Midway Airport?
Do you support the O'Hare expansion plan?
Is 911 response time adequate?
If not, how can it be improved?

ESSAY
NO
ESSAY
YES

88.

Will you vote to increase the City subsidy to the CTA?

Please indicate which CTA expansion plans, if any, you support and rank them in order of priority
(1 highest)
Red Line south to 130th Street
Orange Line to Ford City Mall
Downtown Circulator
Downtown-O'Hare Express
Other please specify

NO

CRIMINAL JUSTICE
YES
87.

I am skeptical about privatization of public services generally.

Do you support prioritization of land acquisition and capital improvements first to those
neighborhoods which are underserved by existing facilities?

Yes

TRANSPORTATION
82.
YES
83.

Do you support election of the Chicago Park District Board?

Do you support increased privatization of park facilities and services?
Why or why not?

YES
ESSAY
YES
ESSAY

YES

911 response to violent crimes is good.

Are there inequities in 911 service in your ward?
If so, what can be done to redress them?
Do you support re-allocating police services from low-crime to high-crime neighborhoods?
What changes, if any, would you suggest for the CAPS program?
The CAPS officers in my ward do a great job.
Will you vote for more funding for alternative crime prevention programs such as Cease Fire?
What measures will you support to stop the schools to prison pipeline?
We need to create more restorative justice programs in CPS.
Do you support gun control?
What measures, if any, should the City Council adopt in response to recent court decisions
striking down Chicago's handgun ban?
We need state and federal legislative solutions.
Will you vote to order the City to stop paying legal fees and attempt to recover past legal costs of
city employees implicated in the Police Board findings of misconduct related to the Burge case?
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IVI-IPO 2015 CHICAGO ALDERMANIC QUESTIONNAIRE - SECTION 2

96.

ESSAY

Please share your views regarding the functioning of the Independent Police Review Authority
and whether it should operate more independently of the Police Department.
I am open to strengthening IPRAs independence from the CPD.

CIVIL RIGHTS
97.

YES

98.

YES

99.

ESSAY

100.

ESSAY

101.

YES

102.

YES

103.

ESSAY

Do you support affirmative action based on race, gender and sexual orientation in establishing
criteria for hiring and promoting public employees?
Do you support affirmative action as a criteria in letting city contracts?
Please comment on current participation of individuals with disabilities in city hiring and contracts.
I am happy to work with advocates of the disabled on achieving equity in city hiring and contracts.
Please comment on current women and minority participation in city hiring and contracts. Be sure
your comments include firefighter and police officer recruitment and promotion.
We must continue to monitor the rate of minority participation in city hiring and contracts. The last
three years have shown a marked improvement, but there is still more work to do.
Do you favor restructuring the wage scale of city employees to institute gender-equal pay for jobs
of comparable worth?
Will you vote to require all City vendors and contractors to provide spousal benefits for same-sex
partners of their employees?
Will you vote for the Municipal ID ordinance?
I need more information on the municipal ID ordinance.

ALDERMANIC PRIORITIES
What employment, if any, other than alderman, do you intend to hold?
104.
ESSAY
I have provided contractual services from time to time.
How will you divide your time between your aldermanic duties and your other occupation?
105.
ESSAY
My top priority is serving the people as alderman.
Please specify the minimum hours per week you will spend performing your aldermanic duties.
106.
ESSAY
I work seven days a week as alderman of the Fourth Ward.
Please describe your service office staffing plan, including the number of staff, full and part time,
how you will pay for them, and the number of hours per week that your service office will be open.
107.
ESSAY
My office is open Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm. All my staff are paid through the City of
Chicago. We have five full-time staff and interns.
What services need improvement in your ward? How will you achieve this?
108.
ESSAY
My staff and I interface with applicable City departments to facilitate service requests.
What are your top priorities for the Ward?
109.
ESSAY
Economic development, job creation, public schools, and public safety.
How will you work with community groups and residents on City matters?
110.
ESSAY
I have an open door policy, ward meetings, and reqularly scheduled late night office hours.

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