Alderman, 24th Ward: Sharons Denise Dixon

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Updated: January 20, 2011 4:28PM

Birth date: 12-11-1962

Political affiliation: Democrat

Neighborhood: North Lawndale

Occupation/Firm name: Incumbent Alderman, 24th Ward

Marital status: Not Married

Campaign HQ address: 1630 S. Central Park Avenue, Garden Apt, 60623-2523

Campaign website: dixonforalderman.com

What is your campaign budget?

$75,000

What are your top priorities for the City of Chicago?

(1) The top priority has to be restoring fiscal soundness to the City of Chicago. The decision of a few conservative congressional Democrats, virtually all Republicans in Congress and, beginning with Ronald Reagan in 1981 and culminating with 8 years of George W. Bush from 2001-to-2008, to engage in irresponsible economic policies, have put the national budget and many necessary programs in crisis along with the budgets of virtually every state, county and local city budget. (2) The second priority has to be education. Recent studies have shown how far behind the U.S. has fallen in math, science and other vital subjects that are the basis for jobs and economic growth in the 21st Century. Chicago's schools are doing no better and in my ward they are doing much worse. (3) The third priority has to be jobs and economic development. Chicago will remain viable only to the degree that we have enough well-paying jobs and economic development to attract strong businesses that are prepared to compete on a world-wide basis.

What are your top priorities for your ward?

Jobs and economic development. Unemployment is very high in my ward, especially among young people. As a result of the lack of jobs -- plus poor schools, inadequate health care and poor health habits, a lack of recreation, a housing foreclosure crisis and more - we have lots of drugs and a high crime rate in the Lawndale Community. Only a national commitment to full employment and economic development-- not currently forthcoming -- can adequately address this problem, but I am doing all I can to brings jobs and economic development to the 24th Ward. I have brought several new businesses and projects to the 24th Ward -- Nationwide Furniture, Cermak Car Auction, a new senior citizen high rise, a new fire house, a new public library, Tall Stage and Cinema Services, the new $20 million Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Legacy Apartments and a new $16 million Lawndale Christian Health Center. I've also helped to expand businesses already in the community -- a new modern Geokat Granite Company and a $5 million expansion of Charter Steel. Finally, I have several job creating and economic development projects that will come to fruition in 2011 and beyond -- the conversion of the historic Sears Headquarters at 3301 (2011) and 3333 (2013) W. Arthington to affordable apartments; a Streetscape along Roosevelt Road from Albany to Homan to attract new businesses; a new olive oil factory on the northern half of the vacant lot at Roosevelt and Kostner that will hire between 200-to-300 employees over the next several years; the reopening of the Lawndale Theatre in January, 2011; and, in all likelihood, bringing a Bo Jackson Sports Dome and dozens of businesses to the southern portion of the 18 acres of land at Roosevelt and Kostner (the sight of Silver Shovel) that has been vacant for at least 20 years.

The city is in serious financial trouble and can't afford the level of service it currently provides. For 2011, Mayor Daley, with City Council backing, balanced the budget without raising taxes or fees, relying instead on some cost-saving measures and one-time fixes, including using proceeds from leasing the city's parking meters. Do you support this approach? What should be done differently going forward?

Please be specific about your plans to reshape government: what services and departments would you scale back or cut? Can you identify new revenue sources? How can the City reduce personnel costs? What kind of concessions should the City seek from the unions?

No, I do not support such one-time fixes. Unfortunately, I did vote for the parking meter ordinance - one of the very few votes I regret making - but I voted "Yes" only because it didn't affect my ward. I only have a total of 38 parking meters in my ward and we weren't offered any other source of City funding and the City desperately needed money. Finally, I believe there are only about three alternatives: (1) raise taxes to increase the budget; (2) cutting the budget; and (3) privatization of more City assets to increase City revenues. There are no good choices, but this is what I see. One, I'm generally against the privatization schemes of elected officials, so I can't think of any City asset that I would agree to privatize. Two, from the perspective of my ward, I think the City has cut the budget to the bone. I know I need more workers and city services in my ward, not less. If someone can show me where an agency or department is bloated or wasting money, I'm certainly willing to cut it. But, personally, I don't know of any. So, three, I would support some formula for raising taxes in the fairest way possible. Poor people, working people and the middle class are being taxed heavily, so any raise in taxes should be proportionately easiest on them. When I read that some of our richest individuals and some of our largest corporations (e.g., GE) pay no federal taxes -- indeed, some get millions in refunds - it outrages me. If they can buy and influence Congress (i.e., national power and policy) in that way, I have to assume that they have even more power to manipulate less powerful governmental bodies -- e.g., like Chicago. So I also have to assume that the richest and most powerful in Chicago are not paying their fair share of taxes. In short, given the state of the economy and the City's budget, all of us may have to sacrifice something to get us back on track, but the guiding principle should be "to whom much is given, more is required."

The city's four employee pension funds have been called a "ticking time bomb," with Mayor Daley's pension commission predicting that the four funds will run out of money in 20 years. "There is no low- or no-cost solution to this problem," the commission wrote in a report earlier this year. "Deferring action is not a viable option." What is your plan for bringing the pension funds to solvency?

What I would recommend is that we get the national economy growing again in a balanced fashion, but that doesn't seem likely in the immediate future. Again, we can mostly thank the national Republicans and George W. Bush for this current state of dismal affairs, leaving us with nothing but a huge crisis and bad choices. An economy growing steadily and long-term at 3.5-to-4% would produce essentially a full employment economy and would be generating enough money to keep these employee pension funds solvent - perhaps only requiring a few reasonable adjustments. Lacking that, it may require high contributions. I am opposed to higher retirement ages and reduced benefits for future and current employees. There is something structurally wrong and immoral about the richest nation on earth not being able to take care of the workers - who made it the richest nation on earth - through their pension funds.

Does Chicago need 50 aldermen? If not, what's a better number? What City Council committees could be combined? What other ways can the City Council save money?

I don't have a problem with keeping the City Council at 50 aldermen. My ward is very demanding and I can't imagine having to serve any more people than the 57,000 that we were assigned after redistricting in 2001. The 24th Ward is already more than a full-time job if one takes their responsibilities seriously - and I do.

Chicago was designed as a weak mayor, strong council form of government yet Mayor Daley wields considerable power over the City Council. What measures would you recommend to strengthen the council? On which issues should the mayor lead? On which should the council lead?

It's true that we have a strong council and weak mayor FORM of government, but it didn't function that way under Mayor Daley. I think that may change - at least to some degree - with the election of a new Mayor. Fewer people will feel intimidated. I tried, to the best of my ability, to ALWAYS vote with the best interests of my constituents in mind. I may have made some mistakes, but I have NEVER voted because the Mayor or a special interest told me to vote their way. It's why I'm generally considered an independent in City Council. If I voted "for" or "against" the Mayor's position it was because I thought it best served my constituents. It is also why I consider myself a truly independent member of the City Council because in 2007 I had no institutional financial or political support. Every other member of the Council was supported either by the Mayor or the unions. Both the Mayor and the unions supported the incumbent in my ward. I can truly say that I was elected "by the people" and, to the best of my ability, I've tried to work hard and represent them in my service and in my votes.

The city's tax-increment financing program has been criticized on several fronts, including the proliferation of districts, how money is diverted from schools and other basic city services, how TIF funding decisions are made and for an overall lack of transparency. How would you improve the TIF program? Does the TIF law need to be changed in any way?

I believe that the TIF money should have greater normal democratic City Council over-site and that the Mayor should not have almost total control over how it is spent - as the current Mayor does. I've had to fight aggressively to get TIF dollars for projects in my ward that my community needs and supports. Some TIF money has been spent wisely -- I'm doing my best to spend it wisely in my ward - but much of it has not been spent fairly (i.e., invested disproportionately downtown instead of in the neighborhoods). Virtually my entire ward is contained within five TIFs. I wish there was an alternative to those five TIFs for economic growth, community development and job creation in my ward, but currently there isn't. So I have tried to do the best I can with what is available and given to me to develop the ward. The number of TIF districts should be reduced.

Mayor Daley has focused on privatizing city assets. Are there any other assets the City Council should consider privatizing? If so, would you make any changes to the way privatization deals are negotiated and passed through the City Council?

No. I am strongly opposed to the privatization movement. In my view that's a "rush to the bottom."

The Chicago Police Department is understaffed, with no lasting budget solution in sight. Given the current staffing levels, what changes would you recommend to use resources more efficiently? Do you support realigning beats in a way that moves police from lower crime areas to higher crime neighborhoods? What should happen to the diminished CAPS program?

Yes. There is a lot of crime in the 24th Ward so I welcome Superintendent Weis' plan to relocated Chicago Police Officers to high crime areas. I have put a lot of pressure on the commanders in my ward to both aggressively and professionally enforce the law AND respect the rights of citizens - which has not always been the case. If the new mayor selects a new Police Superintendent, I do not necessarily believe that he or she should come from within the current ranks. In fact, I tend to favor someone from the outside. My experience has been that the insiders are too cozy with one another and independence and professional police work suffer as a result. Again, the CAPS program in my ward was a mixed bag. The same small group of people tended to meet at the CAPS beat meetings over-and-over again and not much seemed to be accomplished - at least not to the degree of change that I thought it should have been. While I support more police on the street, I also believe that if the police force that we have is made up of dedicated, committed, hard-working, honest, aware, aggressive and professional police men and women (i.e., respectful of all citizens), we can effectively police our city.

The next mayor will choose a new CEO for the Chicago Public Schools. Do you think the CEO needs to have education experience? Should the new mayor continue the Renaissance 2010 program of shutting down failing schools and creating new ones? Should the new mayor continue Ron Huberman's "culture of calm" effort, which aims to improve the culture of the toughest schools and provides mentors and extra support for kids at greatest risk of being shot? What should CPS do to improve neighborhood schools that are struggling to educate the large numbers of students left behind, the students that don't make it into test-based, charters or other specialized schools?

I think an education background might and could be helpful to a new CPS CEO, but I say "No" to education experience if that means it's a "requirement." While I certainly believe that the CEO of the CPS system should run the schools in a fiscally responsible and efficient manner, I certainly don't believe that just because a person has a business background that they will be a good school administrator. In education, students are the bottom line, not profits. Renaissance 2010 has achieved mixed results -- some good, some not so good or not any better than most public schools. As I understand it, Renaissance 2010 was about creating new educational options for parents and students, with charter schools being the centerpiece of this approach. The original purpose of charter schools was to give schools enough freedom to experiment with new methods and strategies of teaching, with the resulting best methods and strategies to then be applied to the public schools to improve them. However, in my view, charter schools have increasingly been used to undercut public education and teacher unions on the conservative's road to privatizing public education and weakening unions -- both of which I STRONGLY oppose. I do support the "culture of calm" that Ron Huberman initiated. The board of CPS should be elected and the Chief Executive should then be appointed by the elected board. While I'm not married to elected school boards -- I know they can become undemocratic and unresponsive as well - I basically believe direct democratic participation in the election of public officials is best. Regardless of the model, there is really no substitute for active parent and community participation to make a school board and the entire school system responsive to the desire of parents to have their children to receive a high quality public education, be responsive to community needs and effective in education policy.

Do you support one or more casinos for Chicago? If so, where would you like to see casinos located?

I am opposed to casinos in Chicago. It is a poor way to gain revenue -- increased fair general taxation is better - and if people have a gambling need or habit, let them take it elsewhere.

Aldermen have considerable influence over TIF, zoning and other decisions, both large and small, related to development and services in their ward. Do aldermen have too much influence?

Not in my ward. I agree that the TIF money should have greater normal democratic City Council over-site and that the Mayor should not have almost total control over how it is spent - as the current Mayor does. I've had to fight aggressively to get TIF dollars for projects in my ward that my community needs and supports. Some TIF money has been spent wisely -- I'm doing my best to spend it wisely in my ward - but much of it has not been spent fairly (i.e., invested disproportionately downtown instead of in the neighborhoods). Virtually my entire ward is contained within five TIFs. I wish there was an alternative to those five TIFs for economic growth, community development and job creation in my ward, but there isn't. So I have to do the best I can with what is available. The number of TIF districts should be reduced.

If elected alderman, do you plan to maintain an outside job? Would you pledge not to hold any job that represents a conflict of interest, including those that involve spending public dollars?

No, I've never had an outside job as Alderman. For me, this is more than an full-time job.

Would you accept campaign contributions or gifts from your employees? Would you pledge not to hire relatives on your staff?

Currently, I only have two employees. I have discouraged my staff from making contributions to my campaign and I have never and would never put any direct or indirect pressure on them to make a contribution to my campaign. One staff member has pretty much insisted on making a contribution to my campaign in spite of my discouraging him.

Does the City need to change the way it hands out contracts? Should aldermen reclaim oversight of City contracts? If so, contracts above what dollar amount?

Yes. Yes. I think virtually every City contract should have the City Council's oversite. But if there is a dollar amount it should be the lowest dollar amount that is practical.

Do you support an inspector general just for the City Council? Would you support giving the city's existing inspector general power to investigate aldermen and their staffs, including subpoena power?

Not necessarily at this point, but I'm open to be persuaded by an argument. I would support expanding the existing inspector general's power to investigate aldermen and their staffs, including granting that inspector general subpoena power.

Should there be new limits on who can lobby City Hall officials, including aldermen? Should former City Hall employees be prohibited from doing business with the city after their departure? If so, for how long?

I think everyone should have the ability to lobby City Hall officials, including aldermen, but we need to devise a process for making such meetings and every lobbying effort transparent. The public has a right to know who you are meeting with and why. I would support prohibiting former City employees from lobbying for at least 2 years after their departure.

What's the best book ever written about Chicago? Why?

"Boss" by Mike Royko.

Please list your educational background

I attended William Penn, Thomas Jefferson and Jacob Beidler and graduated from Leif Ericson Elementary School in 1977. I graduated from Manley High School in just three years (1980). I'm a graduate (1985) of the University of Illinois (UIC), majoring in Criminal Justice. I need approximately 25 hours to complete my Masters Degree in Social Work (MSW) at Loyola University.

Please list civic, professional, fraternal or other organizations to which you belong

None.

Have you held elective or appointive political office or been employed by any branch of government?

I was elected 24th Ward Alderman in 2007 and 24th Ward Committeeman in 2008.

Please list jobs or contracts you, members of your immediate family or business partners have had with government

To date I don't have many more than five total campaign contributors. I've only raised about $5,000. My fundraisers are yet to come.

Name your five biggest campaign contributors and the amount they contributed

To date I don't have many more than five total campaign contributors. I've only raised about $5,000. My fundraising events are yet to come.

Please paste a brief biography here

I grew up at 3541 West Lexington in the Lawndale Community. I have worked in various jobs since the age of 13. I began as a part-time CETA worker and worked for 11 years at the Cook County Hospital in the Dietary Department as a Food Service Worker. I was later promoted to Dietitian Assistant. I worked as a flight attendant for American Airlines traveling throughout the nation and world, before working in corporate America for General Electric. I also worked for Northwestern Memorial Hospital in the Magnetic Resonance Imagining (MRI) Department. Most recently I was employed by the Ada S. McKinley social service agency as a social worker for two years. In early October, 2006, I quit to work full time as a candidate for Alderman of the 24th Ward.