MY VISION OF DANVILLE

MY VISION OF DANVILLE IS OF A COMMUNITY THAT TAKES PRIDE IN ITSELF, PROMOTES ITS DIVERSE CULTURES, ITS HISTORY, ITS LOCATION AND ITS ATTRIBUTES. A COMMUNITY WORKING TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE IT'S GREAT POTENTIAL, THROUGH EDUCATION, NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

I SEE A COMMUNITY WHERE ALL RESIDENTS SHARE A COMMON VISION, ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE TO GUARANTEE OUR CONTINUED PROSPERITY AND PROMOTE PRIDE IN OUR CITY,

I SEE A COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDING IT'S DIVERSE CULTURES THROUGH OPEN DIALOGUE SESSIONS, STUDY CIRCLES AND ETHNIC FOOD FAIRS.

I SEE A COMMUNITY EMBRACING OUR YOUTH AND PROVIDING RESOURCES WHICH WILL ENABLE THEM TO GROW, SOCIALLY, CULTURALLY, INTELLECTUALLY, MORALLY AND SPIRITUALLY.

I SEE A COMMUNITY WHERE EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS ARE REBUILT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE.

I SEE A COMMUNITY WHERE SCHOOLS ARE THE HEART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, A CENTER OF ACTIVITY, THE POSITIVE FORCE THAT KEEPS OUT BLIGHT, STABILIZES PROPERTY VALUES AND CREATES A SENSE OF FAMILY.

I SEE A COMMUNITY BUSTLING WITH RETAIL AND COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY.

I SEE A COMMUNITY WHERE ANYONE WILLING TO WORK CAN AND AT A FAIR WAGE.

I SEE A COMMUNITY WHERE OUR LEADERS ARE PROACTIVE, FUTURISTIC AND RECEPTIVE TO CHANGE.

If you share my Vision I would appreciate your vote February 25th, 2003

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WHAT ARE THE ISSUES

THE SAME ISSUES ARE PROBABLY AS PREVALENT TODAY AS THEY WERE 10 YEARS AGO: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION AND COMMUNITY IMAGE, ALL QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:

CONTINUE TO SUPPORT VERMILION ADVANTAGE

CONTINUE TO PROVIDE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS TO NEW AREAS OF DEVELOPMENT.

OFFER INCENTIVE PACKAGES, WORKING WITH STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS TO LURE BUSINESS NOT ONLY TO NEW SITES BUT EXISTING VACANT SITES.

PROMOTE AN 1-74 RETAIL CORRIDOR

PROFESSIONALLY PURSUE RETAIL STORES TO LOCATE HERE.

ESTABLISH A FUND FOR THE PRESERVATION OF VACANT COMMERCIAL STRUCTURES.

PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF BUSINESSES CATERING TO LEISURE ACTIVITIES, UTILIZING OUR NATURAL ASSETS.

NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION:

CONTINUED DEMOLITION OF DILAPIDATED PROPERTY

STRICT ENFORCEMENT OF CODES ON OWNER OCCUPIED AS WELL AS RENTAL HOUSING

IN FILLING OF VACANT LOTS AND DILAPIDATED AREAS WITH NEW HOUSING UTILIZING OUR EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE

RETENTION OF NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS

INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS - ESTABLISHMENT OF A CAPITAL PROGRAM FOR STREET AND SEWER REPLACEMENT

COMMUNITY IMAGE:

CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE " AT THE CORNER OF PROGRESS AND HISTORY " CAMPAIGN

CONTINUED REVIEW, UPDATING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN. ESTABLISHMENT OF MORE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS.

FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PRIDE GROWS PROGRAM. (PARTNERS RESTORING AND IMPROVING DANVILLE'S ENVIRONMENT)

QUARTERLY WARD MEETINGS - TO ADDRESS CONCERNS, PROVIDE ACCURATE INFORMATION AND ALLOW FOR PUBLIC INPUT.

WORK TO TELEVISE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS

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WHY DO I WANT TO RUN FOR MAYOR?

I HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING A RUN FOR MAYOR SINCE 1994 WHEN I FIRST BEGAN ATTENDING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.

I DECIDED TO RUN AFTER BEING ELECTED AS AN ALDERMAN AND BY THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF MANY FRIENDS AND ASSOCIATES.

THE FACT THAT BOB JONES DECIDED NOT TO RUN WAS ALSO HELPFUL IN MY DECISION.

THE NEW SLOGAN PROMOTING OUR CITY AND COUNTY " AT THE CORNER OF PROGRESS AND HISTORY " IS VERY TRUE IN THIS ELECTION, AS WE WILL SEE MANY NEW ALDERMAN AND A NEW MAYOR.

WE ARE AT A CROSSROADS WHERE WE CAN, CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD OR WE CAN SLIP BACKWARDS.

THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION AND ALDERMAN, WHILE NOT PERFECT, HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE KEEP WITH THAT TYPE OF RESPONSIBILITY.

I AM RUNNING FOR MAYOR NOT ONLY TO INVOKE POSITIVE CHANGE, BUT TO KEEP SOME CONTINUITY OF PAST ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

IT IS NOT, WHAT AM I, GOING TO DO, AS MAYOR, BUT RATHER, WHAT ARE WE, GOING TO DO TOGETHER, AS A TEAM, TO MAKE THIS COMMUNITY BETTER FOR ALL.

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A HISTORY OF DANVILLE By Michael Puhr

I WANT TO TAKE YOU BACK

TO A TIME FAR FROM HERE

IT'S ANOTHER CENTURY

 IT'S ANOTHER YEAR

THE WILDERNESS, THIS VALLEY

 LIES ALL AROUND YOU

 THE MIAMI'S AND KICKAPOO

AND CHIEF KENNEKUK TOO

THE RIVERS ARE CALLING

THE SETTLERS ALL HEAR

 "WE HAVE SALT DEPOSITS

SO PLEASE GRAB YOUR GEAR"

BECKWITH AND TREAT

AND WEIR STAKED CLAIMS

IN "THE VALLEY OF THE SALINES"

THIS AREAS, INDIAN NAME

THE TRAPPERS AND TRADERS

GUERDON HUBBARD WAS ONE

 WENT NORTH TO CHICAGO

 ON WHAT'S NOW CALLED RT 1

TO DAN BECKWITH OUR FOUNDER

WE ALL OWE A HAND

IT WAS HIM AND GUY SMITH

THEY DONATED THE LAND

OUR CITY WAS FOUNDED IN 1827

TO MANY IT SEEMED ALMOST LIKE HEAVEN

 IT GREW AND EXPANDED AT A RAPID PACE

THERE WAS A DEMAND FOR MUCH MORE SPACE

THE SALT WORKS WERE DAMAGED

 WITH THE DISCOVERY OF COAL

THE LAND STRIPPED OF IT'S BEAUTY

WAS THAT REALLY THE GOAL ?

THE RAILROAD'S ARRIVAL IN 1856

BROUGHT WITH IT EXCITEMENT, SOME EVEN TURNED TRICKS

THE JUNCTION AND GREEN STREET WERE OFF LIMITS TO YOU

IF YOU SERVED IN THE MILITARY OF THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE

WESTERN BRICK WHEN IT OPENED

 BACK IN 1901

BEGAN PRODUCING SO MANY

IT WAS SOON NUMBER ONE

NOW I CAN'T FORGET OUR FAVORITE SON

YOU KNOW ABRAHAM LINCOLN

 THE LAWYER, THE PRESIDENT

 OH YEAH, THAT'S THE ONE

OUR DOWNTOWN WAS BOOMING

 THERE WERE FACTORIES GALORE

 JOBS WERE PLENTIFUL

 AS WERE MOM AND POP STORES

THE ECONOMY TOOK A TURN FOR THE WORSE

 OUR CITY SUFFERED FROM THAT TERRIBLE CURSE

WE LOST MANY FACTORIES AND POPULATION TOO

 OUR LEADERS WONDERED WHAT COULD THEY DO

WE'RE NOW AT THE PRESENT

 YOU ALL KNOW THE REST

 IT'S UP TO ALL OF US HERE

TO MAKE DANVILLE THE BEST

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In this Space will be comments and updates as the campaign progresses:

Opening and Closing Statements at the forum-debates:

See: Press Release-February 21, 2003 Economic Development Plan

DEBATE 1

DACC BREMER CONFERENCE CENTER

6:30 PM FEB 3, 2003

OPENING STATEMENT

ABRAHAM LINCOLN, IN HIS FINAL ADDRESS IN ILLINOIS WAS ON A TRAIN AT THE WABASH STATION ON MAIN STREET, FEB 11, 1861.  HE SAID,  “ I HAVE A BLESSING AT MY DISPOSAL, OLD VERMILION WILL COME IN FOR A BOUNTIFUL SHARE ”.

HAS OLD VERMILION, OR DANVILLE FOR THAT MATTER, ACHIEVED, IT’S BOUNTIFUL SHARE, I, DON’T THINK SO.

WE STILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR LOCATION AND OUR NATURAL ASSETS.   WE ARE WITHIN 500 MILES OF 35% OF POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES. 

WE CAN USE OUR LOCATION, TO CONTINUE TO ATTRACT DISTRIBUTION AND MANUFACTURING CENTERS TO OUR AREA. 

WE CAN ATTRACT VISITORS TO OUR AREA BY PROMOTING OUR TIES TO LINCOLN, OUR RIVER SYSTEM AND OUR MANY PARKS.  TOURIST DOLLARS CONTINUALLY HELP THIS CITY.

WE HAVE A GREAT LOCATION, OUR RETAIL TRADE AREA ENCOMPASSES SOME 112,000 PEOPLE, YET WE CONTINUALLY SEE LEAKAGE TO OTHER COMMUNITIES.  MOST COMMUNITIES DEVELOP ALONG THE INTERSTATE BUT WE HAVE SEEN EVERY NEW DEVELOPMENT FAR NORTH OF THE INTERSTATE.  

OUR RIVERS AND MINED LAND MAKE MANY OF THE AREAS ALONG THE INTERSTATE UNUSABLE OR UNDESIRABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT.  HOWEVER WE COULD STILL DEVELOP AN I-74 CORRIDOR, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES, AND SHARE STATE AND LOCAL REVENUES.

WE NEED QUICKER ACCESS TO OUR ESTABLISHED RETAIL TRADE CENTERS TO THE NORTH.  DOES THAT MEAN I SUPPORT THE PROPOSED BYPASS?  NO, BUT ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO MAKE ACCESS TO THE VILLAGE MALL AND DANVILLE CROSSINGS QUICKER WILL BE BENEFICIAL. 

OPENING UP OF NEW LAND FOR COMMERCIAL AND RETAIL DEVELOPMENT WOULD ALLOW FOR FUTURE GROWTH. 

FINDING A MAJOR ANCHOR STORE FOR HOLIDAY SQUARE AND THE HILL PLAZA IS ALSO A PRIORITY.

THE DOWNTOWN HAS GREAT POTENTIAL. 

THE TEMPLE PLAZA PARK, THE RESTORATION OF THE FISHER THEATER, DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE RIVER AND THE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE RENAISSANCE INITIATIVE WILL BE THE STIMULUS NEEDED TO REVITALIZE THE CENTER CITY.   

TO ADDRESS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONCERNS, I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH AND SUPPORT VERMILION ADVANTAGE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME FEEL WE ALL NEED TO GO OUT OF THE BOX AND DRAW ON OUR OWN OUTSIDE CONTACTS TO ATTRACT BUSINESS TO THIS COMMUNITY. 

I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH OTHER DEVELOPMENT AND VENTURE CAPITAL GROUPS TO ATTRACT NEW BUSINESSES TO DANVILLE AND VERMILION COUNTY.  THEY WOULD ALL FIT IN VERY WELL WITH OUR EXISTING MANUFACTURING NICHE.    

THE UNCERTAINTY OF A WAR WITH IRAQ, THE VOLATILITY OF THE KOREA’S AND THE DEPRESSED NATIONAL AND STATE ECONOMY, ARE AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE DETERRENTS TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 

HOWEVER, WE MUST BE READY TO SEIZE ANY AND ALL OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARISE.   

THANK YOU FOR COMING TO THIS FORUM AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ANSWERING QUESTIONS.

CLOSING REMARK

THE SLOGAN PROMOTING OUR CITY AND COUNTY “ AT THE CORNER OF PROGRESS AND HISTORY” IS VERY TRUE IN THIS ELECTION, AS WE WILL SEE MANY NEW ALDERMEN AND A NEW MAYOR. 

WE ARE AT A CROSSROADS WHERE WE CAN MOVE FORWARD OR WE CAN SLIP BACKWARD.

I AM RUNNING FOR MAYOR TO INVOKE POSITIVE CHANGE AND TO ADDRESS YOUR LONG STANDING CONCERNS ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION AND OUR COMMUNITY’S IMAGE.

AN UNKNOWN AUTHOR WROTE  “ PAST ACHIEVEMENTS MUST BE GUIDEPOSTS NOT HITCHING POSTS”.

I WILL LOOK AT THE PAST, BUT WOULD MUCH RATHER LOOK FORWARD AND LEAD THIS CITY INTO THE FUTURE.

TOGETHER, AS A TEAM, WE CAN MAKE THIS COMMUNITY BETTER FOR ALL.

DEBATE 2

DACC BREMMER CENTER

FEBRUARY 10, 2003

OPENING STATEMENT

LADIES AND GENTLEMAN THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TO THIS PUBLIC FORUM.  YOUR ATTENDANCE SHOWS YOUR TRUE CONCERN FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE 14 DAYS BEFORE THE PRIMARY ELECTION.

AN ELECTION THAT WILL SEE 2 CANDIDATES ADVANCE TO THE GENERAL ELECTION, APRIL 1.

AS I SAID AT LAST WEEKS FORUM –

“AT THE CORNER OF PROGRESS AND HISTORY ” IS VERY TRUE IN THIS ELECTION, AS WE WILL SEE MANY NEW ALDERMEN AND A NEW MAYOR.

WE ARE AT A CROSSROADS WHERE WE CAN, MOVE FORWARD OR WE CAN SLIP BACKWARDS.

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU ELECT SOMEONE WHO IS FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE, HAS A CURRENT KNOWLEDGE OF THIS CITY GOVERNMENT PROCESS, HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE CITY TAX LEVY AND BUDGET PROCESS AND AT THE VERY LEAST, HAS ATTENDED CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS, SINCE ANNOUNCING THEIR CANDIDACY. 

I AM RUNNING FOR MAYOR TO INVOKE POSITIVE CHANGE AND TO ADDRESS YOUR LONG STANDING CONCERNS.  THE SAME ISSUES ARE AS PREVALENT TODAY AS THEY WERE SEVERAL YEARS AGO, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION AND OUR COMMUNITIES IMAGE, ALL QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WAS ADDRESSED AT LAST WEEKS FORUM SO I WILL SPEND THIS TIME TALKING ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION AND OUR COMMUNITY IMAGE.

TO ADDRESS YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT NEIGHBORHOODS:

FIRST AND FOREMOST OUR CURRENT CODES AND ORDINANCES WILL BE REVIEWED.  THOSE THAT WORK WILL BE KEPT, THOSE THAT DON’T WILL BE ELIMINATED AND NEW ONES WRITTEN, WHICH HAVE TEETH IN THEM AND ARE ENFORCEABLE IN A COURT.

I WILL ADVOCATE THE DEMOLITION OF DILAPIDATED STRUCTURES THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND AT THE SAME TIME, I WILL PROMOTE THE INFILLING OF THOSE VACANT LOTS WITH NEW HOUSING, UTILIZING OUR EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE. 

TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF THE ALMOST 1600 VACANT HOUSES IN THIS CITY, I WILL DEVELOP A PROGRAM PROMOTING HOME OWNERSHIP, WITH LOCAL LENDING INSTITUTIONS AND THE CITY WORKING TOGETHER TO PROVIDE LOANS TO QUALIFIED BUYERS. 

I WILL RECOMMEND ADOPTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF OUR 182 MILES OF STREETS, OUR 70 MILES OF STORM SEWERS AND THE 140 MILES OF SANITARY SEWERS.  THESE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS MUST BE ADDRESSED AND FUNDED.

TO IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITIES IMAGE

I WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE “AT THE CORNER OF PROGRESS AND HISTORY” AND ANY OTHER CAMPAIGN THAT PROMOTES OUR LOCATION, OUR MANY NATURAL AND MANMADE ASSETS, OUR ARTS, OUR SMALL TOWN ATMOSPHERE, OUR HISTORY AND TIES TO LINCOLN. 

I WILL CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE IMPLEMENTING AND UPDATING OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH ADDRESSES MANY OF YOUR CONCERNS.

I WILL ENCOURAGE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PRIDE GROWS PROGRAM ( PARTNERS RESTORING AND IMPROVING DANVILLE’S ENVIRONMENT).

I WILL ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MORE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS.

I WILL HOLD MORE WARD MEETINGS TO ADDRESS YOUR CONCERNS, PROVIDE INFORMATION AND RECEIVE YOUR INPUT ON ISSUES, PRIOR TO THE TAX LEVY OR BUDGET PROCESS.

LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, WHAT I AM GOING TO DO HAS BEEN USED TOO MUCH, IN THIS PRESENTATION. 

IT IS NOT SO MUCH, WHAT I AM, GOING TO DO, AS MAYOR, BUT RATHER, WHAT ARE WE, GOING TO DO TOGETHER, AS A TEAM, TO MAKE THIS COMMUNITY BETTER FOR ALL. 

ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR COMING, THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ANSWERING QUESTIONS.

CLOSING STATEMENT :  SEE VISION STATEMENT

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Committee to Elect Alderman Puhr for Danville Mayor

Hold for Release-February 21, 2003

For More Information-Telephone 312-371-6301 (voice)

                                      Mark@alternativesystmsusa.com (e-mail)

            (Chicago) The leader of a non-for-profit economic development group today joined City of Danville Alderman (5^th) and mayoral candidate, Michael Puhr in announcing plans to recruit new manufacturing jobs to Danville, Illinois.

            Mayoral candidate Puhr launched his "Native Son & Daughter" economic development mentoring program, targeting Danville's expatriates who may now assist in hometown economic recruitment projects.

            Puhr encourages both Schlarman & Danville High School alumni drives to address former residents in identifying prospective new Danville employers.

            "Danville has blessed a generation with a good education and traditional heartland values" Puhr exclaimed, "We need to reap the bountiful economic harvest from those who know our community best and from their business associates." 

            Danville native, Mark A. Fredrickson, 47, president of the Northwest Area Citizens Organization (NWACO), joined Alderman Puhr in endorsing Puhr's "Native Son & Daughter" recruitment campaign by announcing that a major multinational has expressed strong interest in expanding US manufacturing to provide better service to their customers in the Midwest.

            City of Danville Alderman Michael Puhr, 47, said that he is in talks, with Vermilion Advantage officials, and has forwarded information on local incentive packages to ensure that plans go forward. He has, also, been in contact with a local venture capital group interested in participating in financial backing of the project.

            Fredrickson, a former executive of a European based multi-national, indicated that talks through one of the Chicago-based, European Chambers of Commerce are progressing & expects that a final agreement may be struck as early as late 2003.

            Fredrickson indicated that the undisclosed manufacturer favors Danville owing to its skilled workforce, rail service & interstate access.

            Fredrickson indicated that the recruitment target plans to employ in excess of 200 employees, initially.  Plans include an integrated assembly, distribution, and raw materials staging arena.

            Fredrickson has requested special state incentives through a political associate of Governor Rod Blagojevich.

            NWACO economists predict that successful recruitment will produce an economic benefit worth more than $10 million over the next ten years to the east central Illinois manufacturing community of 39,000.

            Danville has seen two leading high-wage manufacturers--General Motors Central Foundry & Hyster shutter their manufacturing operations during the past twenty years.

512 West Woodlawn Avenue; Danville, Illinois; 61832; (Voice) 217-443-6034

                                                                                            (cell)   217-260-1983