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I am David R. Taylor, candidate for mayor of Harrisburg. I have lived in Harrisburg nearly my entire 55 years. The past 18 years I have been employed by the Illinois Department of Corrections. I was previously employed for 10 years at Sahara Coal Company as a procurement assistant director, at Southeastern Illinois College and the Saline County Sheriff’s Department.
I graduated from Harrisburg High School in 1974, SIC in 1976 and obtained my Bachelor’s’ Degree from SIU-C.
My wife, Diana, owns Diana’s Decorating and is employed at Joy’s Hallmark. We have two grown sons, Nathan and Justin, who live and work in other communities. We are longtime members of Dorrisville Baptist Church. I am a member of Harrisburg Masonic Lodge No. 325 and the AFSCME union.
I have had a lifelong commitment of dedication to the citizens of Harrisburg, having served 20 years as a city commissioner until 2007. As your past public servant, I am the only candidate who has had the experience of serving the city in three different departments — Police and Fire, Public Property and the Street Department. In these departments I have set goals, tackled problems and have made many accomplishments while being fiscally responsible and making the best use of taxpayer dollars without compromising public safety and services.
It is my desire to use this broad-based experience and knowledge to rededicate myself to serving the citizens of Harrisburg.
I believe in using common sense, being fair and listening to your concerns and ideas with our actions being transparent to the public. I will be accessible and will accommodate the public with flexible office hours.
I want to thank the Daily Register for providing the opportunity to voice my opinions.
In regard to the question of zoning: The public has responded in the past that due to its highly restrictive nature, zoning is not what they desire. Many zoning concerns can be dealt with through the enforcement of city ordinances. Maintaining a clean and safe city by providing city services and encouraging community pride should be our first priority for promoting our city.
To answer the annexation questions, the issue is whether the cost of expanding city services to these areas would be offset by any potential revenue generated by these properties. The real revenue will be generated through means of economic development by encouraging businesses to come in and create jobs and further stretch those revenues by aggressively pursuing grants and state and federal matching funds. Homeowners and property owners are already taxed enough.
I am David R. Taylor, candidate for mayor of Harrisburg. I have lived in Harrisburg nearly my entire 55 years. The past 18 years I have been employed by the Illinois Department of Corrections. I was previously employed for 10 years at Sahara Coal Company as a procurement assistant director, at Southeastern Illinois College and the Saline County Sheriff’s Department.
I graduated from Harrisburg High School in 1974, SIC in 1976 and obtained my Bachelor’s’ Degree from SIU-C.
My wife, Diana, owns Diana’s Decorating and is employed at Joy’s Hallmark. We have two grown sons, Nathan and Justin, who live and work in other communities. We are longtime members of Dorrisville Baptist Church. I am a member of Harrisburg Masonic Lodge No. 325 and the AFSCME union.
I have had a lifelong commitment of dedication to the citizens of Harrisburg, having served 20 years as a city commissioner until 2007. As your past public servant, I am the only candidate who has had the experience of serving the city in three different departments — Police and Fire, Public Property and the Street Department. In these departments I have set goals, tackled problems and have made many accomplishments while being fiscally responsible and making the best use of taxpayer dollars without compromising public safety and services.
It is my desire to use this broad-based experience and knowledge to rededicate myself to serving the citizens of Harrisburg.
I believe in using common sense, being fair and listening to your concerns and ideas with our actions being transparent to the public. I will be accessible and will accommodate the public with flexible office hours.
I want to thank the Daily Register for providing the opportunity to voice my opinions.
In regard to the question of zoning: The public has responded in the past that due to its highly restrictive nature, zoning is not what they desire. Many zoning concerns can be dealt with through the enforcement of city ordinances. Maintaining a clean and safe city by providing city services and encouraging community pride should be our first priority for promoting our city.
To answer the annexation questions, the issue is whether the cost of expanding city services to these areas would be offset by any potential revenue generated by these properties. The real revenue will be generated through means of economic development by encouraging businesses to come in and create jobs and further stretch those revenues by aggressively pursuing grants and state and federal matching funds. Homeowners and property owners are already taxed enough.
The progress and future for Harrisburg is neither about the mayor nor the city council, but rather it’s up to each of us as citizens to contribute their part and work together. Let’s try something unique and put our individual interests aside and place our community first. This starts at home by setting examples for our children and neighbors. There are no shortcuts to responsibility, hard work and dedication — standards I intend to set by my own example.
I also plan to give back, and if elected I will donate a portion of my mayor’s salary for community service awards to students in Harrisburg. In this way, I hope to provide an additional opportunity to instill community service and pride in our youth for future better citizens.
