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Politics & Government

Meet Lincolnwood Mayoral Candidate Peter Moy

Skokie Patch recently sent out several questions for the mayoral candidates to answer. Questions range from where they like to eat to creating a fourth TIF district.

Editor's note: Each candidate was sent the same questions. And all three profiles are running today, April 5, 2013 on Patch. To read Jerry Turry's Georgia

Also, be sure to check out our coverage on the Lincolnwood mayoral debate that was held on March 28.

1)  How long have you called Lincolnwood home?  

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 I have lived in Lincolnwood for 24 years - since 1989.

2)  Briefly tell the readers about your background?

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I immigrated to the United States when I was 7 years old and grew up in the West Rogers Park area of Chicago. I received a BS in Accounting from the University of Illinois Chicago.  I am a certified public accountant and have spent the majority of my career in the financial services sector as a regulator and trader.  I currently run an accounting and consulting business, a restaurant business, and am an avid golfer.  

3) What is your favorite place to shop/eat/hang out in Lincolnwood?

I go to many places in town, but I especially like to eat at Kow Kow and L.Woods.  I love Proesel Park in the summer - especially all of the activity at the ball fields and the swimming pool.  

4)  Can you briefly explain your short term goals?

 In the short term, I want to regain the confidence of our residents regarding the fairness and transparency of the legislative process.  Many of my goals are both short and long term in nature.  That being said, as a community, we need to unite and work on important issues such as promoting economic development, reducing real estate taxes, the prioritization of infrastructure considerations, improved communication channels and community involvement with an eye toward the betterment of our village for all members.

5)  Can you briefly explain your long term goals?

In the long term, I would like to improve the Lincoln/Devon area, as well as the Touhy/Lincoln area until they are vibrant business districts again.  I expect to achieve this without placing the burden of financing solely on the backs of our community’s residents.  I would propose an increase in the home rule sales tax of .25% which would create additional revenues of $500,000 to $700,000 annually to finance improvement projects. Pride needs to be restored among our residents and businesses to a point where we all can work together toward the central goal of improving our community.

6)  What is your position on adding a fourth TIF district in Lincolnwood?

It has been well documented that a significant portion of sales taxes generated in our community are paid by non-Lincolnwood residents.

Over the course of my campaign, I have stated that Lincolnwood does not need any more TIFs.  The TIF issue has been effectively ignored by the current administration for years.  There has been no discussion about an end strategy for any of our existing TIFs, and there has been no communication about the status of the TIFs to Lincolnwood residents.   Business and residential properties outside the TIF district carry the significant financial burden for these ‘projects’ through the payment of higher property taxes.  

Property owners are thus required to charge higher rent, resulting in higher operating expenses for business owners.  This has been one of the obstacles for our Village in attracting new businesses to properties outside of the TIF boundaries.  Property taxes have skyrocketed to a point where potential buyers of homes cannot afford to move to Lincolnwood because they cannot afford the taxes. School District #74 recently published a report on the significant financial impact TIFs have had on Lincolnwood property owners and the other taxing bodies alike.

I am the only candidate who understands this problem and has offered a true and honest solution to this problem.   Numerous studies have concluded that TIFs do not provide substantiated benefits to the economic development of a suburb, nor are TIFs necessary for economic development and growth to take place.  

A timely example of the irrelevance of TIFs in attracting new businesses is  the new Mariano’s store planned  in Skokie.  If TIFs are an attractive engine for economic development, why did Mariano’s chose a site outside of the Skokie TIF despite possible financial incentives to relocate within the TIF?

Consumers would pay an additional 25 cents on each purchase of a hundred dollars, an amount that will not change shopping habits. This funding alternative will allow for flexibility on where our funds could be spent and would not place any financial burdens on taxpayers for a potential 23 years. This method of financing economic development and improvements will effectively transfer the largest  financial burden of economic development from property owners to non residents.

7)  Anything else you’d like to add?

Elections should not be a popularity contest.  I do not want residents to vote for me because I am Asian, nor do I want them to vote for me as a personal favor because they are my friends .  

I want residents to vote for me because of my experience, my knowledge, my problem solving prowess, my ideas, my passion, my honesty and my integrity; but most importantly, I want residents to vote for me because they believe in me and my forward vision.  I encourage all residents to participate in the election process, regardless of who they are voting for.  The candidates have made substantial sacrifices in their personal life to offer residents an opportunity for a contested election, and it would be very disappointing if we had a low voter turnout.

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