Diane Gutenkauf: Candidate for Elmhurst Mayor

Campaign Information
www.Diane2013.com
Diane@Diane2013.com

Family: Husband, Michael Hassan; stepsons, Matthew, 22, Zak, 18, and Jordan, 17

Education: Grinnell College, 1980, BA; Northern Arizona University, 1983, MA; University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee, 1987, Museum Studies Certificate

Occupation: Director, Robert R. McCormick Museum at Cantigny Park, part of the Robert R. McCormick Foundation

Committee Appointments as Alderman:

• Development, Planning and Zoning, 2007-2009
• Finance and Council Affairs, 2009-2011
• Public Works and Buildings, 2011- present

Former Positions:

• Director, Region 5, Illinois Association of Museums
• Chief Business Developer, Museum Division EWI Worldwide

Why Are You Seeking Office? 

I ran for public office because I believe that being civically engaged is important and I value accessibility, transparency and accountability. These values have guided me over the six years I’ve served as alderman, and I’m running for mayor now to bring this sensibility to Elmhurst as a whole.

For too long we’ve seen a City Council plagued by back room politics and insider deals. I want to lead Elmhurst into a more transparent era of governance and one that involves the voices of all Elmhurst residents.

What will be your highest priority if elected?

My first goal as mayor will be to create a long-term strategic and economic plan to guide policy and spending decisions. We need to set clear objectives, refine them annually, run an efficient budget and ensure transparency. Good planning forces the city to better involve all Elmhurst residents in the decisions we make as a city—important because policy decisions affect us all. 

What sets you apart from the other candidates?

I believe that my dedication to a City government run by officials who actually listen and respond to their constituents sets me apart from the other candidates. As alderman, I’ve worked tirelessly to keep my ward informed and acted as their voice on council because I believe in talking directly with the people I represent and in maintaining regular contact through email updates and conversational events open to anyone. I believe this openness creates a transparent government and I am the only candidate dedicated to this goal.

What is your vision of the future of Elmhurst and how would you work toward making that vision a reality?

We are fortunate we live in a great, desirable community. Elmhurst has wonderful schools, beautiful parks, strong businesses and distinctive character. We are blessed with museums, music and theater. Our new police chief brings fresh ideas for community-based policing. My vision for Elmhurst builds on this foundation to keep our community attractive, safe and desirable.

We will achieve this vision through regular public forums that include a variety of stakeholders. As alderman, I keep in touch with residents and I will use this model as mayor. I will use ideas raised at these meetings, combined with my experience as alderman and my 25 years in non-profit management to keep Elmhurst great. I believe that by working together with the people who live and work here we can make decisions that keep our city strong.

How do you see the role of mayor in Elmhurst’s city manager style of government?

In our form of government, the city manager functions as the staff liaison between the City Council and the city’s employees, much like the relationship between a board of directors and a CEO, and ensures the smooth daily running of city services. In practical terms, the mayor presides over council meetings, ensuring they run smoothly and follow city codes and state laws. The mayor has defined and limited powers, such as making committee appointments and presenting ordinances for passage.

However I believe the mayor’s role has a much larger community function. The mayor should serve as liaison, fostering conversations between the city manager and the city’s residents and business owners. The mayor is in the best position to ensure residents citywide are kept informed and engaged. It is through this public engagement that elected officials are kept accountable for their decisions, especially as these decisions relate to establishing and spending the city’s budget.

I will use my post as mayor to make sure that all residents know how, when, where and why their tax dollars are being spent.

How would you improve transparency in city government?

Transparency means no more no-bid contracts, back room deals, insider connections, or the good-old-boys club. Transparency is elected officials who openly communicate with the citizens they represent so everyone knows when, where and how tax dollars are spent.

I have a strong track record of communication and accessibility from my six years as alderman and I will keep building on this as mayor. Accessibility is the best way to promote a transparent government because the conversation is two-sided.

Specifically, I will put all city contracts, from proposals to final documents, online so everyone knows what we are doing. Our new move to Board Docs software is a great step toward making all council and committee meeting packets available, but we can do more. I will improve the city’s website so all minutes, ordinances, budgets, salaries and council activities are easier to find and more logical.

In addition, I will push forward the disclosure ordinance that has been squashed in committee for several years. The ordinance will require anyone doing business with the City for over $10,000 to disclose vital information about who owns that business and makes public information about who the city does business with.

As an alderman, what was your most significant contribution to the city of Elmhurst?

Increased two-way communication with 1st Ward constituents has greatly improved the ward and, as a result, Elmhurst overall. This contribution to our community resulted in increased safety in every neighborhood through reduced speed limits, better marked pedestrian crossings, new sidewalks and railroad safety gates, and yield and stop signs. I advocated for downtown businesses, and shoppers, who both benefited from strategically placed 10 minute parking spots.

Ongoing communication means constituents have an advocate who cares about how tax dollars are spent. I believe this communication leads to wiser spending decisions, ranging from reviewing consultant’s contracts for appropriate fees to reviewing annual budget decisions about where to allocate resources. I believe easier access to elected officials fosters both the public’s ability to know what’s happening in town and the elected officials’ increased level of accountability to that public.

Are there things you can accomplish as mayor that you could not accomplish as an alderman? What?

As mayor, I will work more closely and directly with the city manager to develop a long-term strategic and economic plan for the city.  When we hired the city manager, he specifically identified strategic planning as an important tool for directing Elmhurst’s future. I believe it is time for this process to begin and that as mayor I will make it a priority.

As alderman I’ve been able to closely involve 1st Ward residents and other interested Elmhurst residents, but as mayor I’ll be able to extend that discussion to everyone in town. I’ll use my post to bring the City Council to every single person in Elmhurst and make sure everyone has a voice.

What other message do you want to get across to Elmhurst voters?

I am proud of my many accomplishments as Alderman. First Ward residents enjoy tremendous access to their elected officials and though my actions our Ward is safer with new sidewalks, stop signs and improved railroad crossings.

I believe it is time to start a new era in Elmhurst government, one where transparency is the norm. One where set procedures and policies, put in place to protect taxpayer dollars, are actually followed 100 percent of the time.

I believe we should apply standard metrics used by businesses and nonprofits in the way we run City Hall. These include planning and evaluation tools that help us know if we’ve achieved our desired effect while reducing waste, increasing productivity and keeping taxes low. Lower taxes make it easier for everyone to shop in Elmhurst and keeps sales tax revenue close to home. And lower taxes mean we make Elmhurst easier for seniors to afford to stay in their houses.