Frankfort Mayoral Election 2017: Incumbent Jim Holland Faces Challenger Todd Morgan

FRANKFORT, IL - Frankfort Mayor Jim Holland will be challenged by former Trustee Todd Morgan in the April 4 Franklin mayoral election.

Both men have served in their current political positions for more than a decade and agree that the property tax situation is the current issue that is most pressing to residents of Frankfort.

“They are concerned about property taxes,” said Holland, who has been mayor of the village since 2005. “The Village of Frankfort has and will continue to reduce its levy enough to lower the tax rate each year.”

Morgan, who has been a village trustee for the past 14 years, identified rising taxes as the most urgent need that should be addressed.

“I would say the most pressing issues currently facing Frankfort is our home taxes and our declining sales tax revenue that is use to support village services like police and public works,” said Morgan, who also identifies “rising crime” and “housing starts” as other issues important to residents.

“I plan on developing a comprehensive strategy to bring in more industrial users to help support our schools and lower our reliance on property taxes and to bring in more balanced commercial growth that fits Frankfort to add to our tax revenue so that we can continue to support the high level of services our community demands,” he said.

Holland says if he is elected again, he will ensure the village will “continue to aggressively seek new light industrial and commercial businesses because their increased tax payments fund schools which helps reduce the upward pressure on residential rates.”

The mayor also stresses the importance of funding schools.

“The way to create significant property tax reduction is for the state to fund schools properly,” he said.
Morgan says that while serving as a village trustee for 14 years under two different Mayoral regimes has helped him fully understand “the working operations of the community” and has “led on many of the quality initiatives for commercial and residential development especially in our Downtown.”

“The main difference in my platform is my deep passion for making Frankfort the best it can be,” he said. “When I move here 23 years ago with my young family all I could think about was getting involved in making Frankfort an amazing community and while I accomplished a lot as a trustee I still feel I have work to finish. Passion, vision and execution is what I feel separates myself from the current Mayor.”

If elected, Morgan says he will bring a much higher level of communication between the staff, Mayor’s Office, trustees and citizens.

Holland refers to himself as a “full time mayor” who carefully listens “to all sides of an issue before making a decision based on what is best for all the residents of Frankfort.”

“During my 12 years as mayor, Frankfort has eliminated bonded debt, has balanced budgets, has lowered the village portion of property taxes and has brought quality development such as Mariano's and Emagine Theaters,” he said. “We have revitalized the historic downtown with all available retail space now being rented, with quality public restrooms, with a ninety-four car parking lot, with additional open space and with new and improved events.”

“I am well known to the people of Frankfort as a person they can trust and with whom they can easily communicate… Frankfort will enhance residents' lives with quality development, quality events, preservation of the character of our historic district, enhancements to community policing and conservative fiscal management.”

About the candidates:

Family - Morgan: Brittany Morgan age 27, Alex Morgan age 25, Devon Morgan age 21. Holland: I have been married to my wife, Stacy, for 46 years. We have two married children and one grandchild.

Education - Holland: I have a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics from the University of Washington. Morgan: Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing/Economics from Ferris State University
Financial Certifications - Series 7, 24, 63, 8 and 65.

Work - Morgan: 32 years as a Financial Investment Advisor. Holland: I am retired from a 33 year career as a marketing director in the food industry.

Political Experience - Holland: Mayor of the Village of Frankfort for twelve years. Trustee for the Village of Frankfort for six years. Past Chairman of the 275 member Metropolitan Mayors' Caucus. Past President of the Will County Governmental League. Member of the Board of Directors of the Will County Children's Advocacy Center. Member of the Will County Community Block Grant Development Advisory Committee. Member of the Will County Para-Transit Committee. Morgan: Village of Frankfort Trustee for 14 years

Website - Morgan: www.morgan4mayor.com. Holland: www.hollandforfrankfort.com.