Search the headlines and you're more likely to find stories about candidates jockeying for a spot on the primary ballot than about what they would do, if elected, about traffic gridlock or under-funded schools. Yet on election day, these will be the issues on voters' minds.
MPC stepped up efforts this fall to educate candidates about our region's most pressing challenges. By briefing campaign staffs and distributing issue briefs, we're establishing contacts with future leaders across the political spectrum. They need to understand that their constituents' top concerns can only be solved on a regional or even statewide basis.
Here, then, are the top three issues we want to see highlighted and debated. If we've omitted your favorite, drop us a line and make your best case.
Education
The electorate is split over whether the solution is more funding or more accountability, but folks generally agree that quality is paramount. Needed is a package that ties new funding to teacher recruitment, improved facilities and technology, and high academic standards. Education and workforce training have been getting 51 percent of all new state spending. But a closer look shows a dismal 3 percent increase over three years went to General State Aid for basic classroom needs, less than the rate of inflation. What are candidates willing to do? Increase the foundation level to at least $5,000 per pupil? Shift the burden away from the local property tax? Our partners in Network 21 stand ready to help.
Traffic
The high-stakes debate on O'Hare expansion should spur a wider review of surface transportation needs for the entire region. Access to the airport and the northwest suburbs is key, but so is creating an intermodal freight corridor in the south suburbs, securing funding for upkeep of existing Tollways, and expanding transit service ... not just to the Loop, but for north-south service between suburbs. Which candidates can best persuade Congress to expand federal funding? Business Leaders for Transportation is ready once more to organize employers behind the effort.
Sensible Growth
With Illinois Tomorrow, the state has taken small steps to encourage balanced growth and to wisely target limited public infrastructure dollars. Seed money is in place for improved local planning, employer-assisted housing and open space acquisition. But other states have gone much further by targeting, for instance, public investments at established communities rather than subsidizing new ones. Where do candidates stand on sensible growth? How would they better coordinate community development, transportation and housing strategies? The Campaign for Sensible Growth has a list of promising local and statewide tools.
Late next Spring, MPC plans to host the Democratic and Republican nominees for governor at a forum on regional issues, as we did in 1998 with candidates George Ryan and Glenn Poshard. We'll pose specific questions and give them a chance to detail their vision as "CEO of the Chicago region."
With your help, we can prod our politics beyond slating intrigues and beauty contests to the issues that really matter.
