THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2008
Ex-Ald. Christiansen Eyeing Mayoral Run
Former 2d ward Ald. Tom Christiansen has been taking full advantage of no longer having the duties and responsibilities of being in government. But, he admits the thought of returning hasn't left him.
Christiansen held his post for 20 years, before term limits ended his run in 2007. Still, he hasn't ruled out jumping back into the scene by running for mayor of Des Plaines next year.
"I haven't ruled it out," Christiansen said. "But right now, I'm enjoying spending more time with friends, family and being able to do more things around the house."
Besides Christiansen, former Ald. Dick Sayad and current council member Ald. Laura Murphy (3d) have been men tioned as possible mayoral con tenders.
Christiansen said there would be many steps in the process, which would include becoming current on all the city's issues. During the past year, the neces sity to keep and ear to the ground has diminished.
"There are some things I haven't been paying close atten tion to, and what's going on, since I left office," he said. "As a potential mayoral candidate, you have to make yourself abreast of what's going on. Even though I left office just a year ago, things change and should I decide to run, I'd need to play the catch-up game."
One thing the city would need to move on, according to Christiansen, is the process of getting new facilities for the po lice and fire departments. While he sees many positive things in the city, those two issues are ones that should be quickly ad dressed.
"There are a lot of things go ing on and a majority of them are good and those should con tinue," he said. "But new police and fire stations have been talked about for five or six years and those are desperately needed."
He also said should he choose to run for mayor, taxes would be a key issue for him.
"Trying to keep a lid on taxes is important," he said. "Everything is going up, sky rocketing. People in Des Plaines are watching their money and you see it when you drive by restaurants and the crowds aren't there anymore."
Before potentially dealing with those financial issues, Christiansen would need to or chestrate his own campaign funds should he enter the race. He said the funds needed to run for mayor would be signifi cantly more than what he used to win alderman campaigns.
"It would take a lot of money and a big commitment," he said. "I don't think I ever spent more than $1,200 or $1,300 on an al derman campaign and if some one donated money to me, I'd kindly give it back.
"But fundraising would have to be done for a mayoral elec tion. Strictly a ballpark figure, I'm guessing $30,000 to $40,000 would be needed for a mayoral campaign. That's with mailings and how postage is go ing up and I just don't have those kinds of resources."
A return to pounding the pavement would be one of the few similarities between his al derman and potential mayoral campaign.
"I know what some people spent running for alderman and it's totally ridiculous," he said. "What I did in the past, and it proved to be a winning method, was knock on doors, then when I was done, knock on more doors."
He added should he run for mayor, he would decide his can didacy well before the start of 2009.