Four candidates vying to become Elmwood mayor

By JEFF LAMPE
For The Weekly Post
Four candidates who have spent more than 157 years combined living in Elmwood are vying for the position of mayor in this city of 2,300.
This is the first contested mayoral contest in Elmwood since 2009, when John “JD’ Hulslander, then 32, defeated Bob Howard. Hulslander served two terms, before outgoing mayor Bryan Davis took over.
The other candidates are Brandon Butler, 36, David Courson, 76, and Dave Ramsay, 56. Courson also served as Elmwood mayor, from 1979-83.
Ramsay has spent most of his work career in construction operations and sales for steel structures, including Meyer Utility Structures, who he worked for the past 10 years.
Courson is retired after working a wide variety of jobs, including being a mechanic, a garbage collector, a machinist at Caterpillar Tractor Co., a salesman for various companies, a personal financial advisor, a human resources manager and a vice president at H&H Industries, Inc. of Elmwood.
Hulslander has spent the bulk of his career as an electrical systems and hardware engineer and currently works for Kress Corp. in Brimfield.
Butler has worked 10 years in the supply chain at OSF St. Francis.
We asked the four candidates questions heading into the April 6 election. Here are their answers, edited only for space.
• Why are you running for mayor?
Butler: “I love this community and the people in it. I believe we have the potential to do great things not just for Elmwood, but for central Illinois and beyond. I am running for mayor for the youth, because I believe sometimes they are forgotten about.”
Courson “To reverse a troubling trend toward lack of officials’ responsiveness, including “analysis paralysis”. To ensure the voice of citizens is heard and their concerns addressed. I have been stalled, dismissed and ignored by portions of the city council. This should not happen to any citizen. To provide meaningful oversight of all city operations to prevent future elected and appointed office shortcomings.”
Hulslander: “I love Elmwood and want to help improve it and lead it into a successful future. I was born and raised here, greatly care about Elmwood, and want to give back to the community that has given me so much.”
Ramsay: “Elmwood is a special community. To stay that way, it will take some effort and vision. We have a great history in our town and our school has a great reputation, so there is a lot to build on.”
• What are some things you hope to accomplish in your tenure as mayor?
Butler: “As mayor I will start a mentorship program for our youth. I will work hard to bring in new businesses and work with the Elmwood Community Foundation on projects that will help everyone in our community. Another thing is working with other local mayors on bringing jobs to central Illinois. Working with the school with a job-shadowing program and also bringing in another festival for the summer. I want to work with the Phelps Barn committee on what we can do to use the barn and spread the news of Mr. Phelps.”
Courson: “To have a reliable procedure for auditing the accuracy of allocation of Elmwood’s share of revenues collected by the state and county. To help open new sources of ideas and opportunities, as through organization and commerce media groups, that will supplement the great work the Economic Development department is doing.
“To ensure there are 1-year, 3-year, 5-year and 10-year plans for water and sewer systems maintenance and development, street maintenance and development and surface water drainage.
“To rehabilitate city streets in addition to seal-coating. To have a
workable plan and ability to extend curb and gutter and re-pave Ash Street from Rose east to Jarman.
“To maintain contact with our internet and cellular telephone providers about their long range plans for service so Elmwood does
not become an information technology forgotten zone.”
Hulslander: “I would like to see our infrastructure, such as sidewalks and streets, continue to be repaired and improved. We have had some budgetary strings holding up projects. The chair of those two major committees is not running for re-election. I would like to ensure that we keep on the path forward Nick [McElroy] has put us on.
“The parks are another area where I would like to focus. Bob Paige has done a great job and I would like to continue to work with him and set up a five-year plan to rebuild, reinvigorate and create new recreational opportunities.
“The city is on a great path for economic development. We are exploring, finding and creating tools to keep our business community thriving. I want to ensure we keep our focus to make Elmwood prosper.”
Ramsay: “One primary focus I’d like to see is significant effort to revitalize our central business district. Thirty years ago there was vitality and energy in our local businesses. We all recognize that business is conducted differently than it was just a generation ago, but we still need the core business district to help strengthen our community. I believe we can find creative ways to incentivize business to build and to stay and help keep our unique charm.”
• Elmwood’s downtown TIF district will expire on April 19. Are you in favor of renewing the TIF district?
Butler: “I believe right now the TIF should be extended. Development of the business district is a high priority. To continue building our businesses, I believe we should extend. We have a couple of buildings sitting empty right now.”
Courson: “The Fairgrounds Acres development seems to have been quite successful in increasing tax revenue and merging it with the Downtown has added options to the fund use. I am currently not in favor of extension. I feel it is time for the other local taxing bodies to receive the benefits they have been waiting for, which just may let them avoid a rate hike.”
Hulslander: “I am on the fence on this issue, with a leaning towards renewal. I would like to see a reasonable time limit if there is an extension. There are pros and cons for the TIF. The pros are monies and programs the city could offer to help revitalize businesses, buildings, and infrastructure in the TIF district. One con would be the additional tax money other groups may miss out on. Ultimately, I would likely side with the other taxing bodies that would be affected.”
Ramsay: “Of all the tools available to small towns, this is a powerful one. The constraints put on our spending limit where we can focus our money. The TIF gives us local control. It should be extended to allow us to use new (incrementally new) tax money, directed where we believe it should be best spent.”
• Would you consider lowering taxes?
Butler: “That is not something I can answer at this moment. I will say I understand that people are hurting right now financially and I will try and find a way within my power to help. I cannot say yes or no to lowering taxes.”
Courson: “ Lowering taxes sounds good – until services drop below public tolerance. It is usually less expensive to maintain than to rebuild. But, I do not often reject an idea out-of-hand, and would consider reasonable arguments for lowering taxes.”
Hulslander: “I would consider it. I, like everyone, would be in favor of lower taxes. On that same note, we would probably need to cut or limit city services as tax money funds the vast majority of projects, payroll, equipment, etc.”
Ramsay: “Elmwood is a small community with a small budget. The taxes that the city controls don’t appear to be out of proportion in any significant way. Our goal should be a to align taxes with the norm and our budget.”
• Anything else?
Butler: “Being mayor isn’t just for a title, it’s to help people and move our community forward. I look forward to working with the community leaders and business owners. This is step one of a process that we have put together to be able to serve others.”
Courson: “There are many causes and projects that an individual would like to be involved in, and should be supportive of, that one may lose sight of the primary role of a mayor. My intent is to stay focused on mayoral duties.”
Hulslander: “I am the only candidate on the ballot with recent and applicable experience as mayor. As a current Alderman I can assure a smooth transition to the office of mayor as well as assist with the acclimation of the two newly elected Aldermen.”
Ramsay: “I spent six years in the U.S. Navy as a Nuclear Power Plant Operator and was attached to the USS Enterprise. We circumnavigated the globe in 1989 over a six-month period. That may not qualify me for mayor but I’m pretty sure no other candidate has done this.”
• Notable: Butler has been involved with Elmwood school athletics as a coach for the past eight years. … Courson volunteered for the Elmwood Fire Department, was a Jaycees member, has helped with Elmwood Trojan Tool Day at the high school and completed a course in municipal water systems at Illinois Central College. … Hulslander was appointed Ward 3 Alderman for Elmwood in 2019, was a volunteer with the Elmwood Fire Department for 12 years before retiring and was a former member of the Elmwood Zoning Board of Appeals. … Ramsay created the Biddy Basketball program at the Elmwood Community Center in 1994, was an Elmwood School Board member, worked for ROHN to help develop Saudi Arabia’s civil defense communications infrastructure and recently stepped down as President of Maple Lane Country Club.