Ryan Carson

How long have you been a resident?

I was born and raised in Rochelle and have lived here my entire life for 33 years.  

What are your qualifications for this position and previous public service experience?  

Government positions were envisioned to be filled by citizens with a strong desire to serve the public for the greater good and to form a singular voice representative of the community.  I very much care about my community, the wants and needs of our city as a whole, and the future we will shape for generations to come. That means careful considerations, tough decisions, and thoughtful action; a challenge I am ready to take on. I have also been on the Rochelle City Planning and Zoning Commission for the last eight years. I was on the Ogle County Civic Center Authority board for a short time and I also volunteered as a Precinct Committeeman when I was younger. 

What are the main reasons you are running for this position and why should voters elect you?  

I am running because I deeply care how our community develops as we move into the future. I have seen our city come together in amazing ways. The base of my tremendous civic pride was started when I was just a boy and saw our town come together to give the youth a great facility in KidsGround. That has evolved into my strong belief that our community is capable and deserving of anything it wants. I am raising my family in this town and I want them to be just as proud of Rochelle as I am. I want to be inclusive, transparent and open to creative initiatives and concepts to really bring about the best in the people this city has to offer. There are some people in Rochelle who feel areas of our town have been neglected and that their concerns aren’t being listened to and I want to remove those feelings because everyone should feel represented and considered by their government.  

What do you believe to be the most significant issues facing Rochelle, and if you are elected, what is the top priority you want to see accomplished during your term?  

Rochelle has a huge industrial presence with a ton of workers.  A small percentage of those people actually live in and spend money in Rochelle. That is directly related to the lack of family-oriented businesses. I think Rochelle needs more variety in dining and restaurants, more retail and commercial options and more activity and entertainment businesses. I love what Rochelle has to offer– the Butterfly is my favorite restaurant in town, T-Byrd Lanes has great food and our family loves to bowl, the farmers market that Cypress House puts on is amazing. I love the things Rochelle has to offer but I think we can support more. We do not have enough entertainment or a large enough variety for shopping. Families and the youth of Rochelle need more activities and reasons to spend their leisure time here. I want to see incentives and lobbying offered to businesses that offer those types of things to us. There seems to have been more of a focus on the industry and manufacturing that has come to Rochelle in the last 15 years. That has been great, but the balance needs to shift. 

What can be done by local leaders to encourage the out-of-town workforce to relocate to Rochelle? 

Rochelle has done a great job lately of putting on and promoting community events. I would like to see that expanded. The monetary incentives offered recently to new home construction is a nice start. Rochelle has the potential to be an attractive destination to families if there were just a little more to offer as far as entertainment and retail. Rochelle has the space to offer these things. The population of the city and surrounding area can support more businesses. Some businesses close in Rochelle not because they don’t offer great products and services, but because there isn’t enough complimentary businesses nearby. Most families have both adults working full time jobs during the week. The opportunity for shopping and leisure is limited to the weekend. Convenience and time management is critical during this time and families can’t afford to do the few things they are able to do in town then have to drive 30 minutes to finish up somewhere else. If there were more options for shopping, dining and entertainment in Rochelle those families would certainly stick around and save the drive time. Leaders should get creative and proactive in attracting the types of businesses that meet those needs and more people would choose to make Rochelle their home. That would, in turn, attract more businesses, the challenge is making it over that first hump. It’s a bit of a catch-22 in that regard. 

Additional comments:

Rochelle has such tremendous potential and ample opportunity to grow and adapt in today’s world. There are tons of great people who make up Rochelle and everyone deserves to have a great town. The city has so much to offer in terms of services, space, convenience and opportunity. When our community comes together, amazing things are accomplished. Rochelle is on the horizon of positive changes and we need inclusive and creative leaders to promote and motivate community involvement. Rochelle has recently been successful in attracting industry and laying the groundwork for this change and now is the time to refocus on different areas of improvement. This is a difficult balance to achieve and requires caring, thoughtful, creative and deliberate decisions to be made. The world is changing and may require different approaches, fresh eyes and new energy to steer Rochelle in a beneficial and comprehensive direction. I’m the person for that challenge. We may not agree on the path but I’m positive our destinations are the same. I want Rochelle to be a wonderful place to live and be a place for all of our kids to grow up and raise their own families in. Be sure to vote on April 2 and be a part of your own vision.

How long have you been a resident? 

I have lived in Rochelle almost 10 years, and in Creston for 15 years before that.

What are your qualifications for this position and previous public service experience? 

I served two terms as Dement Township Clerk and am presently on the Rochelle Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. I work as a Dean at Kishwaukee College, and formerly at the Creston Grade School. I have worked in government public service all my life and want to continue to engage in making the decisions that improve the lives of the people in this community.

What are the main reasons you are running for this position and why should the voters elect you? 

Rochelle has an energy and is poised and ready for growth and development. I am running for council to help shape the future of this community and guide its development so that it remains the great place to raise a family it always has been. 

What do you believe to be the most significant issues facing Rochelle, and if you are elected what is the top priority you want to see accomplished during your term?

Rochelle faces problems most small towns do – aging physical infrastructure, expensive technology expenses to stay current, vacant business properties, a lack of entry level housing, and a long list of community needs – combined with limited funding. Rochelle has done great work recently with strategic planning and branding initiatives, but some in the community don’t see how the dreams and big ideas can ever become reality with current economic conditions. I hope to help the city stay focused on the short-term and long-term projects that keep moving us forward, and to move forward in ways that assure fiscal stability. Big goals can be achieved in small, measured steps. I hope to help the city think strategically, collaborate effectively, and accomplish much.

What can be done by local leaders to encourage the out-of-town workforce to relocate to Rochelle?  

Rochelle has jobs to offer, but lacks the housing, public spaces, and entertainment options available in DeKalb or Rockford. Rochelle offers a quaint hometown feel, but you have to drive by empty and distressed property on both IL Route 38 and IL Route 251 to get the good stuff. We do not make a good first impression when the out-of-towner comes to visit. Local leaders can continue to research collaborations and incentives to improve the blighted areas, promote our amenities, and partner with other government and community groups to bring additional affordable housing, entertainment, and retail shops into the area.

John Gruben

How long have you been a resident?

I have been a resident of Rochelle for 64 years.

What are your qualifications for this position and previous public service experience?  

I have 29 years of teaching at the college level (public service) and two years in the U.S. Army.  I also have “real-life” project management skills involving my roles as a Senior Corporate Engineer for DeKalb Forge Resources Group, a Quality Manager, for CST in DeKalb and Senior Supplier Development Engineer at Borg Warner in Dixon. My college curriculum taught and used creative problem solving, critical thinking, project management skills, and change management skills. These abilities I also used in my post education private industry roles. I have received an AAS degree from Rock Valley College, a bachelor’s degree from NIU, a master’s of science in education NIU and also a master’s degree from NIU. I am also ABD (All But Dissertation) in my doctoral degree program and I also have received the rank of professor from Waubonsee College. I mentor senior students on their senior year design projects from the University of Illinois, Department of Engineering.  I have a U.S. patent and have been a guest speaker at National S.A.E. Conferences. I am a member of several state and national organizations.

What are the main reasons you are running for this position and why should voters elect you?  

I have a very unique set of skills that I feel would be of value for the City of Rochelle.  I am now at a point in my life where I have the time and energy to give back to this community. This is my community, I’ve lived here all my life.  My children live here and I know that if we don’t grow this community and create an environment in which they can live here and prosper, then I feel that I just didn’t do enough.

What do you believe to be the most significant issues facing Rochelle, and if you are elected, what is the top priority you want to see accomplished during your term?  

Jobs- good paying jobs and skilled jobs. I want my children, as well as yours, to stay in this family community.  With this accomplished we can offer good housing market, good schools, local merchandizing opportunities, by supporting small businesses. To accomplish this we need a solid local government that has a good vision, filled with critical thinkers and great problem solvers. It will take all of us as a community to do this.    

What can be done by local leaders to encourage the out-of-town workforce to relocate to Rochelle?

I have been a significant part of the Kishwaukee College and the Waubonsee College corporate development effort for more than several years.  We need to be careful of the take-and-dash companies that want only our resources and free giveaways. We need to think long term and be acutely aware of our return-on-investments.

Bil Hayes

How long have you been a resident?

I’m a lifelong resident with exception of schooling after high school. Following school, I returned to a home and career in my hometown.    

What are your qualifications for this position and previous public service experience?

My dedication to the community and my commitment to beneficial influence for our city’s future are some of my best qualifications. Being socially accessible and outgoing, I’m eager to discuss constituent viewpoints and address concerns.

Knowledge I’ve acquired through review and study of other cities as to the impacts of their policies on their community is information I’ve utilized to benefit our community.  Throughout my years as a policy maker for the city of Rochelle, I’ve also gained knowledge of the inner workings of our beneficial enterprises such as electric, generation and distribution, (solar and landfill gas generation) communications, water, water reclamation, landfill and city-owned rail, all important aspects of our city that aid in revenue sources to the general fund, offsetting costs of providing services to the public.     

What are the main reasons you are running for this position and why should the voters elect you?

I have a lifelong loyalty to my community and wish to see the community continue to do well and progress responsibly.  I have the drive, the commitment, and the interest, along with the experience to do what is right for our community with respect for the future of the region.

What do you believe to be the most significant issues facing Rochelle, and if you are elected what is the top priority you want to see accomplished during your term?

Remaining fiscally responsible while considering state mandates on pension obligations is a necessity.  Fiscal responsibility is crucial if we are to advance toward other goals such as addressing critical issues of replacing and upgrading a multitude of infrastructure such as flood control. Without a sustaining infrastructure, we don’t have what is needed to build a prosperous community. 

What can be done by local leaders to encourage the out-of-town workforce to relocate to Rochelle?

Our community needs to provide the amenities the out-of-town workforce and our young graduates and their families are seeking outside our community. Schools, housing, retail and restaurant options, entertainment facilities as well as opportunities for career advancement need to be available. Promotion of assets recently put in place have been added to the city website; Three-year city property tax rebates and elimination of utility connection fees for new single family residences.  Our city also has a record of being a safe community in which to live and raise a family. We have several catalysts for revitalization that have already brought new life to the city in the way of luring new shops and increased revenue for local restaurants. The Chicagoland Skydiving Center brings people from around the globe seeking experiences and activity options within and outside the skydive facility.

Additional comments:

Rochelle has long been a positive place for myself and my family to live and create great memories.  Following in the footsteps of his father, my father ran a well-known and well-loved restaurant/soda fountain located in his downtown drugstore. My mother spent decades enjoying her career as an elementary school teacher here in Rochelle as well as supporting various causes in the area. Together they raised five children in Rochelle who went on to have very successful careers. I want to assure families in Rochelle have the same opportunities I had and more. One of the last things a wise man once told me, “You’re doing a good job.”  I’m not sure if he meant in life in general or if it was just in the way I was adjusting his pillow. I am a product of my parents and small-town America and I appreciate your vote for city council.

Tom McDermott

How long have you been a resident?

Lifelong resident of Rochelle

What are your qualifications for this position and previous public service experience?

I have spent the past 40 years working for the citizens of Rochelle. During that time, I have followed one guideline: “What is best for the people I serve.” The first four years I worked for the utility department and the next six as a firefighter. In 1985, I became the youngest fire chief in Rochelle history and served in that position for 24 years. Since retiring in 2009, I have served on the Rochelle City Council for six years. I have worked with every mayor since Bill Cippola and every city manager. My education includes associates of arts and associates of applied science degrees from Kishwaukee College, a bachelors degree from Western Illinois University, and a graduate certificate from the Police Management Institute. 

What are the main reasons you are running for this position and why should the voters elect you?

I am running for city council because I want to continue working toward improving our community for all of our citizens. 

What do you believe to be the most significant issues facing Rochelle, and if you are elected what is the top priority you want to see accomplished during your term?

There are many issues facing our community. Infrastructure, community relations, taxes and utility rates are only a few of the most obvious. These issues must be addressed if we are ever going to move forward with downtown renovation and attracting population growth. Some issues are easier to address than others. Utility rates can only be reduced through expanding our user base. About 12 years ago the city bought into the Prairie State power generating plant. This investment has caused our rates to increase. Unfortunately, we are trapped in this contract for another 18 years. Infrastructure maintenance has been accepted as a priority and an annual program is in place. Rochelle has several economic and ethnic groups. Any plan for Rochelle that focuses on an imagined future citizenry at the expense of the current, actual, citizen base is doomed to fail. Rochelle can only move ahead if we involve the young, old, white collar, blue collar and no collar citizen. Taxes should only be raised for required expenses, and then only if it is unavoidable. 

What can be done by local leaders to encourage the out-of-town workforce to relocate to Rochelle?

Rochelle used to draw people with lower taxes, lower utility rates and affordable housing. Our taxes have increased, our utility rates have increased, and our housing is high for the income of the available jobs. Utilities will be problematic for the foreseeable future. Taxes are primarily based on the school districts which account for approximately 80 percent of the real estate tax. The city council only controls about 10 percent of the real estate tax, is less visible and requires greater effort to have an impact. The pay scale of locally available jobs is such that many people who work in Rochelle cannot afford to move to Rochelle or anywhere else for that matter. Rochelle continues to search for higher paying employers unfortunately every community if Illinois competes for the same employers. 

Additional comments:

Rochelle has a great location, but more importantly Rochelle has great people. Our diversity is one of our greatest assets, until we see it as an asset we will continue to pull apart rather than pull together. If re-elected I will try to do what is best for the people I serve.