IVI-IPO 2015 CHICAGO ALDERMANIC QUESTIONNAIRE - SECTION 1

DATE December 22, 2014

WARD 49

NAME Don Gordon

VOTING ADDRESS 1228 W. Lunt Avenue
HOME PHONE 773.5509.4730

BUSINESS PHONE 773.5509.4730

CAMPAIGN ADDRESS 1228 W. Lunt Avenue

CAMPAIGN PHONE 773.5509.4730 FAX None
CAMPAIGN WEBSITE www.gordon2015.org EMAIL donaldgordon49@gmail.com
CAMPAIGN MANAGER Don Gordon
NUMBER OF PETITION SIGNATURES FILED 1,986 NUMBER REQUIRED 473
Please provide the following background information:
A. Elective or appointive public and/or party offices previously held including dates. None
B. Other elective offices for which you have been a candidate. Alderman 49th Ward - 2007
C. What is your primary occupation? Adjunct Lecturer, Political Science (Northwestern University), Author
D. Briefly list your civic activities of the past ten years.
(Chicago 49th Ward, June 2006-August 2007)
Created an independent party initiative to run against a 4-time Democratic incumbent
Mobilized citywide support for my candidacy based on economic development issues
Crafted a platform based on campaign finance reform and transparent, honest government
Participated in 6 community-wide debates and 2 televised debates (Chicago Tonight, PBS)
Delivered policy speeches to numerous neighbor-organized events
Garnered 49.9% of the vote in a hotly contested run-off election (lost by 264 votes out 8,000)
Brought a lawsuit (2nd in Chicagos history) against Chicago Board of Elections for voter fraud
Lawsuit uncovered errors and CBOE audit failures in addition to possible fraudulent practices
Developed extensive citywide supporting/advising relationship network with key individuals:

Representative Harry Osterman (Representative 14th Illinois District)

Alderman Tom Tunney (Chicago 44th Ward)

Alderwoman Mary Ann Smith (Chicago 48th Ward)

Jerry Roper (President Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce)

David Vite (President Illinois Retail Merchants Association)

Mark Gordon (President Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association)

Mike Lavelle (Past Chair, Illinois Board of Elections, President Lavelle Law Group)

Erma Tranter (President Friends of the Parks)

Cameron Davis (President Alliance for the Great Lakes)

Austin Goolsbee (Professor of Economics, University of Chicago)

Wes Skogan (Professor of Political Science, Northwestern University)

ALDERMANIC CANDIDATE

IVI-IPO 2015 CHICAGO ALDERMANIC QUESTIONNAIRE - SECTION 1

COMMUNITY ACTIVIST (Chicago Rogers Park Community, 1984-Present)

2010 Chairperson for Transportation/Safety sub-committee, Sheridan Road planning group

2009 Participated in community-wide planning group for Sheridan Road development
2008 Began comprehensive Rogers Park Lakefront Plan initiative for Burnham Centennial
2007 Founded VOTER (Voters Organized for Truthful Election Results) as outgrowth of campaign
2007 Led community and campus (Loyola) initiative to defend Lakefront Protection Ordinance
2006-2007 Candidate for 49th Ward Alderman
2004-2005 Organized Rogers Park/Evanston coalition to defeat Evanston marina proposal
2003 Founded Rogers Park Conservancy (Developed a community-wide parks/lakefront plan)
1995 Local School Council (Field School) sub-committee leadership position (new school location)
1991 Leadership role in creating a Development Plan for Morse Avenue retail district
1988 Founded Rogers Park Community Council B.O.N. (Block Organization Network)
1986 Founded Lunt Avenue Neighbors block organization
Awards/Honors
1988 Rogers Park Community Council Citizen Advocacy of the Year (Block Organization Network)
2005 Friends of the Parks Program Advocacy of the Year (Rogers Park Conservancy)

E. What subjects have you studied and what experience have you had which will be most helpful to you in the
office you seek? See above
F. What candidates have you supported in past elections? Please be specific in describing your role in each
campaign. Presidential Candidates: Robert Kennedy (68), George McGovern (72), Jimmy Carter (76), John Kerry (04), Obama
(08)

G. Please list all endorsements you have received so far. Just began submitting for endorsements.
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? Im running because I believe I can do better than
what our alderman has done over the past 24 years in office here. Better at improving our schools, reducing
crime, creating business development and running a responsive ward office. But also in changing how we do
politics in this city by taking the money and political parties our of campaigning and out of our government.
We need candidates who will place the interests of their constituency and the interests of this city first, above
any special interests and any political party. I am that kind of candidate and thats why I will be a much better
alderman than our incumbent and also why I will win.
I. What is your campaign budget? How much have you raised to date? Spend less than $2,500. I will not take
any campaign contributions. I will be more than happy to discuss our strategy in an interview.
J. How many people are on your campaign staff? How many volunteers are on your list? About a dozen. Over
100 and growing by the day.

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
x
Do you favor maintaining the current number of City Council committees?
Which committees, if any, would you combine or eliminate? None at this time. However, upon
1.
ESSAY
being elected and before taking office, I would review all committees for combining/elimination.
Also, I believe we need to change how committee chairmanship are assigned.
What reforms are necessary in the City Council's committee rules and structure? No comment at
2.
ESSAY
this time. However, upon being elected and before taking office, I would review the rules and
structure for changes. I have no doubt that they are antiquated and in need of overhaul.
Would you give the Inspector Generals office independent subpoena power or other compulsory
3.
x
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.
x
a complaint from outside the office?
5.
x
Should the Inspector General be able to pursue anonymous complaints?
6.
x
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.
x
concurrently?
Will you employ or have you employed staff, in your office who have either outside employment or
8.
x
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.
x
employees who were fired for cause?
Will you vote for an ordinance forbidding the City to hire or contract the services of anyone
10.
x
previously fired for cause from the City or any other unit of government?
11.
x
Will you support an ordinance to reduce the number of wards?
12.
Have you joined or will you join:
x
The Paul Douglas Caucus
x
The Independent Progressive Caucus
Both
Do you support changing the state statute to return to filling aldermanic vacancies by special
13.
x
election, rather than Mayoral appointment?
Will you vote for an ordinance requiring redistricting of the wards to be based on non-partisan
14.
x
criteria and not to benefit any specific individual or political party?
Will you or have you accepted campaign donations from current or potential suppliers or
15.
x
employees?
Will you or have you accepted campaign donations from people or businesses seeking zoning
16.
x
changes in your ward?
x
Do you support public financing of municipal campaigns?
Please explain your position. I support a complete overhaul of the Chicago Election Board and
17.
giving them the authority to provide all necessary information to the public regarding all
ESSAY
candidates for municipal elections, in addition to far more responsibilities to make the selection of
candidates more democratice.
18.
ESSAY
Who are your top 5 contributors and how much has each contributed to your campaign? None. I
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IVI-IPO 2015 CHICAGO ALDERMANIC QUESTIONNAIRE - SECTION 2

am taking NO campaign contributions and have pledged to spend less than $2,500 on our
campaign.
What changes would you support to the redistricting process? Take it out of the hands of the city
council and put it into the hands of a non-partisan citizen board with full transparency so that
citizens can review the changes and provide feedback.

19.

REVENUE AND BUDGET

20.
x
Will you vote to hire independent analysts to conduct a forensic audit of past City spending?
Will you vote for a budget ordinance which would require:
public questioning of city department heads concerning their departments' specific budget
21.
x
requests?
22.
x
making budget copies available to the public 30 days in advance of hearings?
restoring city-wide community group budget hearings several months prior to the publication of
23.
x
the budget, as were held under the Washington and Sawyer administrations?
What additional revenue sources, if any, would you propose? Dump the TIF program, return over
24.
ESSAY
$700 million in uncommitted surplus and shut down select TIFs that are the most egregious
diversions of city property tax revenue.
25.
x
Do you support casino gambling for Chicago?
26.
x
Will you vote to require a citywide referendum before any gambling is instituted in the City?
27.
x
Will you vote to roll back Mayoral and Aldermanic salaries to pre-2007 levels?
Will you vote for an ordinance limiting future Mayoral and Aldermanic salary increases to the
28.
x
same percentage as the lowest raise for any class of city employees?
x
Do you agree with the criticism that City government is top heavy with management?
29.
Please explain your position. I would support a full review through an outside audit for a
ESSAY
recommendation on where to eliminate middle and upper management. This is long overdue!
What measures will you vote for to reform the city pension plan and ensure its solvency? Any
reform that ensures that the pensions are not diminished and include raising additional revenue
30.
ESSAY
by shutting down TIFs, returning vast sums of TIF surplus and considering selective taxes such
as the LaSalle Street transaction tax that do no impact low to middle income residents.
How would you modify (if at all) the benefit and contribution levels and eligibility requirements for
public employee pensions? I wouldnt modify any benefit/contribution levels for current city
31
ESSAY
employees/retirees. However, for future employees we need to give serious consideration to
ensuring future solvency. See my previous statement as well.
32.
Choose One Should discretionary funds for ward services and infrastructure improvements be allocated
in equal amounts to each ward
based on the size of each ward
x
based on the needs of each ward
YES
NO
Will you institute participatory budgeting to allow ward residents to vote on discretionary spending
33.
x
in your ward? Already in place
PRIVATIZATION
34.

ESSAY

35.

36.

Which city services or assets, if any, do you believe should be privatized and what is your
criteria? NONE!!!!
Will you vote for an ordinance requiring an independent analysis of any lease or outsourcing
arrangement?
Will you vote for an ordinance requiring detailed analysis and evaluation of any lease or
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IVI-IPO 2015 CHICAGO ALDERMANIC QUESTIONNAIRE - SECTION 2

37.

ESSAY

38.

ESSAY

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? I will never vote for privatization
contracts for any city infrastructure or city services.
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 statement above. Any current arrangements need to
be unwound.

PLANNING, ZONING, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

How will you involve ward residents in planning? I believe job 1 of any elected official is to drive
civic engagement. As for our ward I would like to see the establishment of a ward-wide
39.
ESSAY
community council made up of resident representatives from every precinct and completely
outside the control of the alderman. It would serve to provide advice, recommendations, etc. to
the alderman.
What is your long-range plan for development of the ward? Work with both our development
corporation (Rogers Park Business Alliance) and our Chamber of Commerce to create, in concert
with the community, a 1,3,5 and 10 year plan for the ward WITH an implementation strategy. I will
also act as a champion for business attraction by availing myself to both organizations to meet
40.
ESSAY
with potential business owners and to encourage local entrepreneurship. In addition, I will look to
develop an updated zoning plan for the ward, precinct by precinct, in concert with community
residents. The focus of both should be to create more retail to fill all the empty storefronts and
create more jobs and zoning that preserves the character of our community while allowing for
smart development and renovation.
What criteria do you or will you use in determining whether or not to grant a zoning change or
41.
ESSAY
variance? See above. In addition, I would defer to a zoning committee for any recommendations.
That zoning committee would be created by the community council I mentioned above.
How will you involve residents in planning, approval, and oversight of TIF districts? I wouldnt. I
42.
ESSAY
would work to shut down the TIFs we currently have in our ward.
Will you vote to terminate a TIF if the objectives of the TIF plan have been accomplished before
43.
x
the 23 year period is ended?
Will you vote to return unspent and uncommitted TIF funds on an annual basis to the various
44.
x
taxing bodies?
How do you propose to replace property tax revenue for CPS and other taxing bodies that is lost
45.
ESSAY
to TIF development? By shutting down the program and returning all uncommitted surplus
revenue.
Will you support a moratorium on creation of any new TIF districts until new funding sources are
46.
x
identified to replace the revenue diverted to the TIF?
Will you vote for an ordinance requiring that large corporate entities receiving $250,000 or more in
47.
x
public subsidies, and their tenants, must pay their workers a living wage (currently $11/hour)?
$11/hr? Are you kidding? I fully support a $15/hr minimum wage.

48.

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
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IVI-IPO 2015 CHICAGO ALDERMANIC QUESTIONNAIRE - SECTION 2

49.

50.

51.

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?
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? As long as it is
equitably enforced throughout the entire city.

52.

ESSAY

53.

ESSAY

54.

ESSAY

55.

ESSAY

56.

YES
x

57.

58.

59

NO

60
61.

x
Choose One

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? We need a program that establishes a partnership between the city and banks for
EVERY foreclosed property in the city such that current resident individuals/families are given first
option and prioritized by income before banks can offer these properties to developers and
others. This can be done through a moratorium period during which foreclosed properties are
publicly listed.
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? One to one replacement within an agreed
upon, reasonable distance from the property being converted/demolished.
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? A complete review of the Section 8
program needs to be performed AND made public to identify where current Section 8 housing
exists and then put into place a plan to ensure that additional housing is made available in
communities where this housing doesnt currently exist or is not on par with other communities.
We need to make this program equitable so that Section 8 housing is available THROUGHOUT
the 77 communities of our city.
What measures will you support to provide affordable housing for low-income individuals and
families who are not served by any existing programs? See #51 Also, I believe we need to
overhaul the citys zoning laws to allow for the building of coach houses again and revise/loosen
the zoning codes for conversion of basements into garden apartments if they are used to rent at
affordable prices based on community AMI.
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?
As long as every ward shares an equitable position in the number of units.
supportive housing for people overcoming addiction and other problems which contribute to
homelessness?
As long as every ward shares an equitable position in the number of units.
shelters for the homeless?
As long as every ward shares an equitable position in the number of units.
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?
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
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IVI-IPO 2015 CHICAGO ALDERMANIC QUESTIONNAIRE - SECTION 2

EDUCATION
62.
Choose One
x

63.

YES
x

64.

65.

66.

67.

NO

68.

ESSAY

69.

ESSAY

70.

ESSAY

71.

ESSAY

ENVIRONMENT
72.
X
73.
x
74.
x
75.

76.

77.

Which of the following options for choosing the School Board do you support?
Popular Election
Mayoral appointment from nominations made by community representatives
Maintaining the current system of Mayoral appointment
A mix of elected and appointed members

ESSAY

Will you support a city-wide lottery for enrollment 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? However, I would defer to the CTU as to their stand on this issue.
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. Lets be clear that I am adamantly against any privatization scheme
that would turn over any part of our public school system to private corporations. I would advocate
for a moratorium on any further opening of charter schools.
What should the City do to improve the quality of all local schools? See #70
What are your plans to improve the local schools in your ward? We need to engage the entire
community in an effort to improve our schools. It has been demonstrated over and over again that
the utilization of social capital in communities to improve schools has been a common
denominator of success across the country. An alderman can have a direct impact on driving civic
engagement in a ward and thus create an enormous amount of social capital to improve each
school in the ward. I would be directly and aggressively involved in this effort as one of my top
priorities.
How would you modify (if at all) the benefit and contribution levels and eligibility requirements for
public school teacher pension? See #31
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?
As long as there is sufficient time provided to come up with a reasonable alternative.
Will you vote to ban Styrofoam food containers in Chicago restaurants and food delivery
services?
As long as there is sufficient time provided to come up with a reasonable alternative.
Will you vote to adopt the water quality standards recommended by the Pollution Control Board?
What should the City do to encourage and implement alternative forms of energy? We need to
look at the option of the city taking over electrical grid in Chicago and creating a public utility,
which then would be accountable to raising the level of alternative forms of energy as source for
that electricity.
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IVI-IPO 2015 CHICAGO ALDERMANIC QUESTIONNAIRE - SECTION 2

78.

ESSAY

PARKS
79.
x
x
80.
81.

ESSAY
x

TRANSPORTATION
82.
x
83.

84.
85.
86.

Rank 1-5 or
say no to any

1
2
3
4
5
YES
x

x
x

90.
91.
92.
93.

ESSAY
x
ESSAY
x

94.

ESSAY

96.

Do you support election of the Chicago Park District Board?

Do you support increased privatization of park facilities and services?
Why or why not? READ MY LIPS. I do NOT, under any circumstances, support privatization of
any city infrastructure or city services.
Do you support prioritization of land acquisition and capital improvements first to those
neighborhoods which are underserved by existing facilities?
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
Extension of Yellow Line to Old Orchard

NO

CRIMINAL JUSTICE
x
87.
ESSAY
x
88.
ESSAY
89.
x

95.

What other environmental initiatives, if any, do you propose? We need a city wide,
comprehensive program to begin converting sidewalks, alleys a streets to permeable pavements.
In addition, we need to look at ways to provide low cost leasing of wind and solar untis to
residential home owners throughout the city.

x
ESSAY

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?
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?
(****See Attached For Further Clarification****)
What changes, if any, would you suggest for the CAPS program?
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?
Do you support gun control?
(****See Attached For Further Clarification****)
What measures, if any, should the City Council adopt in response to recent court decisions
striking down Chicago's handgun ban? I believe the most effective approach is to stop focusing
on guns (beyond what CPD is already doing to remove them from the streets) and begin to
proactively focus on elimination of gangs in Chicago. That is a topic for extensive discussion.
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?
Please share your views regarding the functioning of the Independent Police Review Authority
and whether it should operate more independently of the Police Department. The operative word
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IVI-IPO 2015 CHICAGO ALDERMANIC QUESTIONNAIRE - SECTION 2

is Independent and there is simply no way it can be completely independent if it operates under
the very department it is supposed to review!
CIVIL RIGHTS
97.

98.

99.

ESSAY

100.

ESSAY

101.

102.

x
x

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.
Unfortunately I dont have enough information to comment at this time.
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. I can only
comment on the fact that I believe there should be complete gender and minority equality in hiring
and in pay scales and contracts.
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?
Why or why not? Everyone should have an option for an ID to be used for a variety of purposes,
not the least of which is voter registration and banking.

ALDERMANIC PRIORITIES
104.
ESSAY
What employment, if any, other than alderman, do you intend to hold? None
105.
ESSAY
How will you divide your time between your aldermanic duties and your other occupation? N/A
106.
ESSAY
Please specify the minimum hours per week you will spend performing your aldermanic duties. 50
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
I will staffed based on what the city provides for each ward office and will also recruit heavily from
the area universities for unpaid interns particularly Loyola and Northwestern. Our office will be
open 9-9 M-Th, 9-6 Fri. and 10-2 Sat. Some selective Sundays throughout the year.
What services need improvement in your ward? How will you achieve this? We need a complete
108.
ESSAY
overhaul of our ward office and how its run. This will be one of my top priorities in the first 100
days. I will use the aldermanic expense fund to achieve this.
What are your top priorities for the Ward? Improve our schools and substantially expand wraparound services and after-school programs. Aggressively go after problem building
109.
ESSAY
owners/management. Develop a business development plan that fills our store fronts and creates
jobs for local residents. Overhaul the running of our ward office to provide better service to the
residents of the ward.
How will you work with community groups and residents on City matters? See #39 and also I
would have regular community-wide town hall meetings and issue annual state of the ward
110.
ESSAY
addresses. In addition, I will provide residents the opportunity to comment on an aldermanic
report card that would be issued every year. Just for starters!