2017 Election Questionnaire: Michael Clements, Geneva Alderman 2nd Ward

Name: Michael Clements

Age: 39

Town of residence: Geneva

Position sought: Alderman, Ward 2

Family: Elizabeth, my wife of fifteen years, and my four-year-old son, Mikey. I also have two rescue dogs, Thelma and Louise.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My wife, Elizabeth, serves on Geneva's Strategic Plan Advisory Committee.

Education:

B.S. and M.S. in physics from Brown University.

Occupation:

I have worked in quantitative finance for the last 14 years. I am currently vice president of research and development for a boutique money management firm in the Chicago area.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Substantial dependence on what is likely to be a declining source of revenue.

In 2003, Geneva published a comprehensive plan focused on three areas, one being the Randall Road corridor. At that time, online retail sales only accounted for approximately 1.5 percent of all retail sales, barely a factor for consideration. By the third quarter of 2016, that number had climbed to 8.4 percent. Similarly, big box and department stores have seen revenues decline by roughly 35 percent from 2006 to 2015, with an additional drop of 12 percent projected by 2020. Even online sales are expected to account for 20 percent of all grocery shopping by 2025. These trends will likely continue as online retail embraces mobile shopping and works to provide free, rapid delivery of goods.

Geneva’s largest source of revenue is not property tax but sales tax, more of which comes from the Randall Road corridor than any other location in the city. Given these seismic shifts in retail trends since the original plan was put forward, combined with the city’s heavy dependence on sales tax and the potential for long-term decline, I would encourage the development of a new master plan for the Randall Road corridor. As well as getting in front of the potential loss of revenue, a new master plan might afford the opportunity to configure the corridor to be more consistent with the look and feel of Geneva, with a unique identity as opposed to simply being part of an endless suburban strip.

From having worked on large-scale research projects at Fermilab to developing complex trading algorithms, my background in science and business gives me a distinct set of analytical skills. These skills, combined with the more personal experiences and human interactions working as a guardian ad litem have enabled me to approach complex problems from a fairly unique angle. I also see things from the eyes of a father whose young son is about to start kindergarten this fall. I have lived all over the country throughout my life and experienced many different kinds of communities. My wife and I chose Geneva as the place where we want to raise our family, and it is important to me that the city continues to move forward in a positive direction - not just economically but also as a community working together. Finally, as a newcomer to city government, I would bring a fresh perspective, new ideas, energy and a determination to do a great job on behalf of the residents.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

When I first decided to run for this office I decided that I was running for a seat on the council more than I was going to be running against the incumbent. My intent was to run a positive campaign that was focused on reaching out to voters and letting them learn about me, my message, and what I have to offer to the community. With that said, I will say that I do not believe that my opponent has, as the question asks, failed the community. I believe we both care about Geneva but have different views as to how best to move forward and build on the progress that has been achieved thus far and navigate the potential pitfalls ahead.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

Aside from what I see as a need to get a more representative City Council in terms of the demographics of our community, there are several other issues which define my platform. One of these is the city’s dependence on sales tax revenue in an era when online retail sales are relentlessly trending up at the expense of big box retail, which is currently such a vital component of Geneva’s revenue. Discussions must start now regarding how the city can navigate this potential problem. Also, although I certainly understand the importance of economic incentives to drive development, I do feel that the degree to which they may distort or erode the tax base is not fully taken into account. Further, the council must be mindful of the fact that incentives, such as sales tax rebates, are effectively subsidizing private business decisions made in the absence of public review.

If you gain this position, what accomplishment would define your term in office as a success?

Should I be fortunate enough to earn a seat on the City Council I would like to deliver a new Randall Road corridor master plan by the end of my first term. Besides that I would hope to have served as a useful facilitator between residents and the city through strong relationships and effective communication.

Please share with voters a story about wisdom gained from a mistake you made in your life or career.

I am certainly no stranger to experiencing setbacks in my life. Although setbacks can be difficult they also provide excellent opportunities to develop and grow. One lesson I learned early on in my career in quantitative finance is the disparity that can develop between something that looks good on paper and how it can play out in the real world, especially with a lack of proper planning. I had identified some market inefficiencies on various futures markets which had the potential to generate significant profits. The problem was that the technology was not yet in place to capture these inefficiencies (perhaps the very reason for their existence). To make a long story short, I did not properly account for these technological shortcomings and instead focused solely on the quantitative element. In so doing I pushed forward and learned a hard and expensive lesson on the importance of giving just as much attention to the implementation and execution of an idea as the idea itself.

Why should voters trust you?

I realize that on some level voters are taking a leap of faith regardless of my response to this question. I would, however, put forward as evidence of my trustworthiness the fact that as a guardian ad litem I am an officer of the court, entrusted with advocating for the best interest of children in extremely difficult circumstances. In addition, in my role as a fund manager clients have entrusted me, via my firm, to safely and intelligently allocate their assets.

Share a quote that defines your philosophy:

“The circumstances of the world are so variable that an irrevocable purpose or opinion is almost synonymous with a foolish one.” - William H. Seward

What questions should be asked of current government employees accountable to your board?

As part of my campaign I have pledged to meet at least quarterly with each of the city’s department heads. During these meetings I would discuss current concerns within each department and how those concerns might impact the ability of the city to provide the expected high level of service to the residents. These meetings would also provide an excellent opportunity to discuss any anticipated future needs that the city should be preparing for now. I would also inquire about the frequency of direct requests to the city from residents since an increase may be an indicator of an underlying issue not being properly addressed. Lastly, I would want to know if any of the city staff feel that there are current policies in place that are antiquated, inefficient, or redundant that make it more costly or more difficult to provide services to residents.

Explain your attitudes toward fiscal policy, government spending and how taxpayer dollars should be handled by your office (or board)?

Like most residents, I am not a fan of my property tax bill. Since buying my home in Geneva four years ago not a year has gone by when I have not received a letter from the bank informing me that my escrow amount will be increasing. With that said, I certainly believe the City Council has a responsibility to do its best to see that tax dollars are utilized wisely. I will always be open to cutting costs wherever reasonable cuts can be made. There is, of course, a difference between spending a dollar and investing a dollar. Just as the council must be vigilant in controlling costs it must also be guarded in curtailing wise investments that will have long term benefits to the community. Finally, I would be very judicious in the use of economic incentives that subsidize development at the potential expense of the taxpayer.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

Rather than say that there is some exceptional moment or singular event which has prepared me for the office I am seeking, I would instead say that it is the culmination of experiences in my life up to this point. My training as a physicist and work as a researcher at Fermilab, combined with fourteen years in quantitative finance, have given me the opportunity to tackle many challenging problems and collaborate with large teams on complex projects. These professional experiences have provided me with the tools necessary to easily work with numbers, realize the importance of long-term planning, and most importantly learn from setbacks.

As much as I have gained and have to offer from my professional background, working as a guardian ad litem for abused and neglected children has yielded my greatest strengths. I am no stranger to making decisions of consequence in people’s lives. Having acted as the eyes and ears of the court I have had to put together complex pictures by carefully listening to many parties, while also asking what are often difficult questions. Ultimately, as an advocate for the child, I make recommendations to the court. These recommendations range from benign up to the termination of parental rights. I do not take lightly responsibilities entrusted to me. That same level of responsibility would carry directly over to the council.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

As cliche as it may be, it is to keep trying. In my life, as in almost everyone else’s, I have experienced many setbacks. No endeavor I have ever tackled has ever gone perfectly smooth from start to finish. Life simply does not work that way. In order to achieve success for either yourself or those who have backed you it is essential to push forward with an eye on your objective.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am an open minded individual. Within the bounds of reason I am open to discussing or debating any issue or topic and listening to different points of view. In fact, I believe having a variety of viewpoints on the council is extremely important for the health of our community. Should I earn your vote this April I will be committed to listening to all sides of an issue and acting on what I believe are the best interests of Geneva and it’s residents.

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