Evanston Mayoral Election 2017: Q/A With Steve Hagerty

EVANSTON, IL - With five candidates seeking to replace the retiring Elizabeth Tisdahl as mayor of the city of Evanston, a primary election will be held on Feb. 28. If one candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote, the April 4 general election will be deemed unnecessary. If a majority is not reached, the top two vote getters will pair in a runoff.

Seeking the highest governmental office in Evanston in 2017 are five candidates: Brian Miller, Steve Hagerty, Gary Gaspard, Jeffrey Smith and Mark Tendam. With men making up all of the contenders, the city is guaranteed to elect its first male mayor since Jay Lytle in 1981.

The roots of the mayoral race in Evanston this year include a number of challenges in which multiple candidates have filed objections to the candidacy of others. A full rundown of the "drama" in the race and its timeline is detailed in this North by Northwestern piece that was released in January. The end result was that all five candidates seeking the mayoralty were allowed to run.

Evanston Patch asked all of the candidates the same set of 12 questions in early February, with responses coming through email. Here are the responses from candidate Steve Hagerty, founder of consulting firm Hagerty Consulting.

• What is the most pressing issue facing the city in 2017?

Fiscal stability is our most pressing issue. Our state is broke. Our state income taxes will increase. The Governor is threatening to reduce the amount of state aid sent to local governments and schools. And we have a $200M+ police and fire pension liability. A strong tax base is essential to providing good city services and keeping Evanston affordable. We need to build on our diverse tax base so that we can avoid raising taxes while still making investments in our community. Two-thirds of property tax revenues go directly to District 202 and 65. Many come to Evanston because of good schools. What is good for the economy is good for schools and vice versa.

• As mayor, what is something you’d like to change immediately?

I would not loan money to private businesses, as we have in the past. I serve on the Board of First Bank & Trust and even banks, who are professional lenders, don’t always get this right. I would be firm and publicly vocal about the need for Northwestern to keep any new property acquisitions, such as 1840 Oak, on the property tax rolls in perpetuity. A good neighbor does not take additional properties off the tax rolls. I would ensure that there is community input and participation as we re-evaluate the civilian review board for our police department.

• What would like to see done with the Harley Clarke Mansion?

As the chair of the Citizens’ Advisory Committee for the Mansion, my views are widely known. I believe it can only be restored with private funding or a strongly financed non-profit or Foundation. We currently have many pressing and critical infrastructure and human service needs. It will cost millions to restore Harley Clarke, and I do not feel it would be wise or equitable to invest taxpayer money into the Mansion. That said, I would like to see the mansion saved as it is part of our history. Under no circumstance, should the beach or dunes ever be sold. These are local treasures and should always remain in the public's domain. You can read more of my thoughts here and here.

• What are your thoughts on the Dodge Avenue bike lane and how the city has catered to bicyclists in recent years?

I support creating a bikable and walkable City. I think it’s an important part of sustainability.

That said, what happened on Dodge Avenue with the bike lane has been a source of consternation and worry for neighbors, bike riders, drivers, and emergency vehicles. As a city, we need to have more transparent conversations about decisions like this; we need to make plans that consider not only the needs of bike riders but everyone who is affected by the plan.

Going forward, I will make sure we have transparent, community conversation about all plans, including bike plans, so that all stakeholders can be informed, involved, and heard. I will also say that in general, we need to have greater enforcement of riding paths to ensure that they are used correctly and safely by everyone.

• How would you address the crime problem facing some neighborhoods in Evanston?

We all need to “own” this problem; this isn’t just for those in neighborhoods where violence occurs. We should focus on four areas:

1. Sustaining and strengthening our holistic “cradle to career” approach which focuses on the human life course, starting with pre-natal care through post-secondary success.

2. Continuing to support law enforcement to execute smart policing to get guns off the street. We need to make it clear that guns and violence are not welcome in Evanston. We need to work with our new State’s Attorney, Kim Foxx, to prosecute gun crimes.

3. Investing in community outreach efforts to pre-empt violence. When feasible, we should consider restorative justice and offer youth a choice between the criminal justice system and alternative paths to get them on the right track before it’s too late.

4. Continuing to develop skilled trade jobs apprenticeships and look for opportunities to further invest in workforce development like actively encouraging new developments in Evanston to use qualified Evanston businesses and residents.

• There’s been a perceived disconnect between the Evanston Police Department and the city’s African-American community. How much of a problem is this and what solution would you offer?

I’ve been publicly vocal about the recent incidents involving the police. You can learn more about my opinion here.

• We’ve seen a few businesses open and close in a short time frame downtown. What is the key to not only attracting businesses to Evanston but keeping them here as well?

We should be investing in all our neighborhood business districts. Zoning, walkability, parking/driving, beautification, and art are all part of that equation. A business council would be one way to create a stronger network in Evanston, but it could also promote Evanston to mid-size businesses, sharing all we have to offer: a dynamic downtown, public transportation, the lake, NU, great schools, an educated workforce, etc.

With its diverse set of resources, Evanston is a great place to start and grow your business. We can create an ecosystem for entrepreneurs and small businesses, which can help motivate and strengthen small businesses. I speak from experience when I say the stronger the relationships in the community, the harder it will be for businesses to leave.

• Evanston is known as a progressive leader and a city ahead of the curve in many areas. Are you proud of this trait?

I am proud of Evanston’s position as a progressive leader. One of the first things that attracted me to Evanston was its status as a microcosm of the world at large. We are, however, still a work in progress. We might champion social justice and progressive ideals, but we aren’t always consistent in upholding them, even in our own community. The Mayor can set a tone of inclusivity and equity. I feel strongly that we need to remain a welcoming City to everyone. This is even more important today after the recent election and the increase in hate crimes. I will take a stand against bigotry and hatred towards anyone in our community so that we can continue to be a national leader.

• How would you describe the city’s partnership with Northwestern University? Has this partnership been effective and would you like to see it continue?

I feel blessed to live in a City with one of the finest universities in the world. I think President Schapiro and Mayor Tisdahl have done a wonderful job of building a respectful relationship between the University and City. I would like to continue this positive relationship. Specifically, I would like us to look for more opportunities to engage students in our civic, educational, business, and non-profit affairs. I would like to see if there’s an opportunity to tap into the expertise of centers like the Family Institute, the Transportation Center, and the Library. I would like to see us build upon the initial “Good Neighbor” Fund established by NU. Lastly, I will be firm and publicly vocal that a good neighbor does not take additional property off the tax rolls, for instance 1850 Oak, and further burden the tax payers of Evanston, who are already carrying a high property tax load. I think my corporate and government experience working on complex, billion dollar grants to state and local governments positions me well to negotiate from a position of mutual respect.

• Are there enough social programs in Evanston and are the ones here effective?

I believe the non-profit community in Evanston is strong. However, I believe it could be stronger if we broke down some of the silos that exist here in town. Business, city government, non-profit, schools, etc. don’t operate nearly as efficiently or effectively as I believe possible.

I’m a firm believer in collective impact, and I believe we would be more successful in our individual ventures if we looked for more opportunities to collaborate. That was one of the main motives when I and others started the Evanston MashUp, now in its eighth year. We knew that if we worked to get smart, motivated people in this community working together, they would inevitably connect, collaborate, and create.

• As mayor, how would you address the community’s call for free beach access during the summer months?

I believe residents in financial need may request and receive beach tokens for the summer. This is offered through Alderman, the Library, and the Parks Department. I would continue that practice. In terms of offering free beach access, we would have to evaluate that proposition relative to the other needs we have in this community.

• Also, add your political background, experience and any other unique qualifications that make you the best candidate for mayor of Evanston.

I graduated from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. I am the founder of Hagerty Consulting, a public sector consulting company. Over my professional career, which began at Price Waterhouse, I have helped many municipal governments prepare for and recover from disasters, including 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina.

My family invests in this community and actively supports many local organizations including Y.O.U., Evanston Community Foundation, Youth Job Center, YWCA, YMCA, the Moran Center, Connections for the Homeless, D65 Foundation, and the Evanston Chamber of Commerce. My children are or have been active in AYSO, EBSA, YWCA Flying Fish, Evanston Jr. Wildkits Hockey and YMCA’s Camp Echo. I am also an elected Fellow to the National Academy of Public Administration, an organization established by Congress to assist government leaders in building more effective and transparent organizations.

Photo courtesy of Steve Hagerty for Evanston Mayor