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Pointing to the green Bulldogs T-shirt he wore, Hyde drew applause from the crowd but also some boos from apparent political opponents.
Waukegan Mayor Richard Hyde (left), Greg Flesher and Robert Sabonjian debate issues Sunday afternoon at Waukegan High School.
(Joe Shuman/Special to the News-Sun)
Hyde rivals swing at leadership
Mayoral debate renews sparring on towing, harbor, cop behavior
March 23, 2009
By DAN MORAN <!-- e --><a href="mailto
MORAN@SCN1.COM">DMORAN@SCN1.COM</a><!-- e -->
WAUKEGAN -- Sunday's mayoral debate at Waukegan High School's west campus had been scheduled weeks ago for 2 p.m. As events turned out, that was also the exact time that Waukegan High's state-finalist basketball team was being welcomed home at the East Campus gymnasium.
The scheduling conflict ended up producing some tension, as Mayor Richard Hyde attended the rally and arrived at the debate about 50 minutes after the start.
Hyde then began his response to the first question he fielded -- which was the seventh of the forum -- by briefly commenting on the team's accomplishments. Several members of the audience called out "answer the question," [Chris Brutha Blanks re: the "Do you need the black vote?" question] drawing admonishment from the moderator.
The episode provided one highlight of a session that otherwise echoed differences aired by the three April 7 candidates -- Democrat Hyde, Republican Greg Flesher and independent Robert Sabonjian -- at the City Club debate earlier this month.
Sunday's forum, co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters, the Lake County NAACP and the Waukegan Leadership Council, also returned to issues featured in February's Democratic debate, including the city's towing ordinance and allegations of racial profiling.
"We have a good police department in this community. What we don't have is good leadership," said Sabonjian, who was joined by Flesher in calling for a revamp of the department's review board.
Hyde responded that Waukegan has "the finest police force in Lake County -- the best. There isn't anybody even close." He defended the right of police to defend themselves in situations like last summer's shooting of Jeffey Lewis, though he added that ideally, "nobody should be shot for anything."
Sabonjian also drew a direct retort from Hyde when the Lake County Board member repeated past assertions that the city should be run by a professional administrator.
"We need a professional, nonpartisan form of government in Waukegan. It's something that we've needed for years," Sabonjian said. "We need a city administrator (who) is professional and nonpartisan ... We need a change of mindset."
Hyde replied, "I've got a college degree and three master's (degrees), and every single department head we have is a professional."
The candidates also sparred while discussing development. Flesher, president of Flesher Construction Co., said the current job market for laborers has "been brutal. We get calls every day from people who are looking for work ... We can't be too dependent on one type of industry -- residential development. We need to make better use of our airport and harbor."
Sabonjian criticized the Hyde administration for trying to attract a casino, saying the focus should have been on developing the land set aside for one at Fountain Square of Waukegan.
Hyde said the 30 acres in question will be under contract to Waukegan Gaming LLC until December 2010, but it will eventually be developed, "and that's being played out right now." He later mentioned that Fountain Square officials are seeking to build a movie multiplex.
Regarding downtown development, Sabonjian said the Genesee Theatre has been under-utilized and "run in the most inept fashion I've ever seen in my life."
Hyde agreed that the Genesee was not open often enough initially. "We fired the person (in charge) and we've got a new person in there now" who has the theater used more often, he said.
On other issues, Flesher called for the city to scale back its parking-meter policies around downtown businesses, saying the meters "push a lot of people out of town because they don't want to put up with that nonsense." He called for "a friendlier city that reaches out to businesses" and works more efficiently with them.
On the environmental cleanup of Waukegan Harbor, Hyde reiterated his past stance that the city filed suit against shoreline industries to ensure it doesn't have to pay for up to $50 million in continuing remediation.
Sabonjian said Hyde's comments were "in direct contravention" to figures supplied by the EPA, and called on the city to cooperate with the federal agency on a cleanup.
Flesher called for "a balanced approach" to remediation, saying the city should "work with industry so the shipping can bear some of the costs."
