Mark Tendam: Why I'm running.

Time has come to change the way we manage our City.

In this time of economic crisis, Evanston and the 6th Ward need strategic leadership. We need a City Council that thinks creatively, works collaboratively and focuses all of its energies on keeping our City safe, secure and vibrant. We must reject the notion that we can limp from budget to budget, line item to line item and elect a Council that is capable of managing the present in a way that ensures our future. We must also plan for the day when the economic crisis allows us to return to a more normal way of life in this city.

Evanston needs to improve efficiencies and cut unnecessary spending. But to do this effectively, we must prioritize City services. That means focusing first on identifying services essential to health and safety and ensuring there is sufficient resource to continue providing those services indefinitely. Only then can we undertake the more challenging process of building a consensus across wards about how best to provide remaining services to Evanston residents.

Job 1 for your next 6th Ward Alderman will be soliciting and listening to your views using some new technologies available today, in addition to enhancing a few old ones. When I’ve heard from the people of the 6th Ward, on this and many other critical issues, I’ll be much better prepared to carry those views into the Council chamber.

I believe that I am uniquely qualified to act as the voice of the 6th Ward for the next four years.

If you entrust me with this role, I will, unlike my opponents, be your full time Alderman, available when you need me. I plan to establish regular office hours so you can meet with me face to face on any important issue because I believe responding to your needs and the needs of the City should be my first and only professional responsibility.

For the past 14 years, my primary work has been community activism and philanthropy, so I have the experience and personal network necessary to get things done.

I’ve served on the Boards of BEHIV, the McGaw YMCA, the Democratic Party of Evanston and the Evanston Community Foundation’s Leadership Evanston program. I was also appointed by Mayor Morton to serve on the City’s Sign Appeals and Review Board.

This work regularly immersed me with the City and the current Council to learn first-hand what does and does not work. My idea for establishing regular office hours, for example, is a direct result of my dissatisfaction with our current ineffective and unhelpful “Citizen Comment” procedures. Now more than ever the Council needs to establish a two-way conversation with Evanston’s residents.

I want to be part of the conversation, but more importantly, I want to begin many new conversations with all the people of the 6th Ward.

I hope you will support me on April 7th. If you plan to be out of town on election, please vote at the Civic Center beginning March 16. There are no special requirements for early voting.