Meet Alsip Village Clerk Candidate Michael J. Pierce

ALSIP, IL — Michael J. Piercce is running for the office of village clerk on the Alsip Community Alliance slate in the April 6 election. Pierce is a sceientist and managing partner of a science and engineering firm.

Name: Michael J. Pierce

Age (as of Election Day): 51

Town/City of Residence: Alsip

Office Sought: Alsip Village Clerk

Party Affiliation (if a partisan race): Alsip Community Alliance

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My wife, Lori, is currently in her second term as an unpaid, elected member of the School District 126 Board of Education.

Education:

United States Naval Nuclear Power School: Certified Nuclear Engineer
Governors State University B.S. Chemistry

Occupation:

Managing Partner and Vice President of Science and Engineering at LPMS USA, Downers Grove, IL

Campaign website: Alsip Community Alliance and Alsip Community Alliance Facebook page.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office:

2005-2013: Alsip, Hazelgreen, Oak Lawn School District 126 board member
2017-2018: Alsip Village Trustee (did not complete full elected term 2017-2021 due to immediate and urgent health issue which has been rectified. Mayor Ryan appointed Mr. Chris Murphy to complete my term until my un-expired 2 years were on the ballot in 2019)

The single most pressing issue facing Alsip, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue in our village is community outreach and input and here is what I plan to do about it: Transparency and Accountability in government is such a tired and over-used campaign slogan, however, it is a huge problem in our community. Our village operates almost on a “need to know” basis and I too didn’t do enough about it during my short time as a trustee.

Our village has always been an industrial hub that has attracted very large corporations that have kept our property tax base solid. However, during the changing economic times, a key component to the village’s operating fund has suffered and that of course is the retail sector that produces sales tax and service fees. We have struggled to entice large retail even with TIF districts and incentives.

As the empty properties are increasing, the easy way out is to increase the amount of liquor licenses infinitely and saturate the sector with businesses that are willing to come just for the ability to have the gaming licenses that come with them or change the zoning to allow truck repair after truck repair company to open right up against citizens properties without any input. I will change this as the village clerk as the main responsibility is being the keeper of village records and community notification.

Immediately I will push the board to create and approve an ordinance that all meetings that are not exempt under closed session allowances, be commenced in the boardroom with live video streaming and also video recording. This will include all board and committee meetings, commission meetings and also public hearings. I will also push for an ordinance that states that any proposed zoning change within 100 yards of a homeowners residence will require a first class mail letter to those residents informing them of the proposed change and the date, time and location of the public hearing and subsequent board vote.

Do you support Black Lives Matter and what are your thoughts on the demonstrations held since the death of George Floyd and the shooting of Jacob Blake?

I do support the Black Lives Matter mission of peaceful civil protest against police brutality and all racially motivated violence against black people. The incidents of violence and destruction should be separated from the mission and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
I do not support defunding or shifting monies from our police department. Instead, we must continue to diversify our law enforcement while equipping them with the tools necessary, including de-escalation training to maintain our laws protecting our residents and property.

Do you think the current board has done enough to support racial equality, and if not, what specifically should be done to do so?

I do believe this and I have been a part of this effort. We have as a village, elected our first minority Trustee in Alsip’s history, have elected another in Catalina Nava-Esparza, and hopefully will elect Ms. Rocio Restrepo this election. Our village demographics are changing quickly and our government should reflect this. As a board in 2017 we demanded more diversity in our recruitment search for department heads and elected the first African American. This cannot be the end and we must continue with diversifying all hiring, every capacity.

What are your thoughts on the national and local coronavirus response? Do you favor measures such as limiting operation of non-essential businesses and restricting indoor/outdoor dining? And do you favor a local mask mandate?

I am a scientist and believe in science and data. I think the world response to the pandemic is what could be expected under such a scenario. Responses were made to what was known at a given moment in time. Without long-term data, this is the best that could have been done. For example, it was determined that discharge from the mouth and nose was a quick spreader of the virus. A mask mandate was necessary, but unfortunately, became a political issue. It should not have gotten to this point and politicians shouldn’t have made decisions based on what was good for their careers.

Luckily, mandates did not come down to the local level, at least not in Alsip. Alsip followed the Illinois state department of public health guidelines on social distancing, masks and business closures. This was and still is the best solution. Independent health organizations should make the recommendations and should be followed until proven that they are unreliable. This simply has not been the case and thus their guidelines should be followed.

What are your thoughts on the state and local coronavirus vaccine distribution, and how do you think local governments should work together to handle vaccine rollout?

The state should continue to make the decisions on vaccine distribution and tiers of eligibility. There is too much at stake for local politicians to make these decisions. We are not equipped with experts to advise us on this. Instead, every effort should be made to make village properties and centers available for state organized vaccination along with constant communication on where/how to register for vaccination.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I do not know the other candidate personally that is on the ballot for this position as Village Clerk. However, I understand that she has been the president of a youth sports organization for the past 5 years that I was a founding member and organizer for almost 20 years ago. This is a positive as she does have the grassroots skills of leading a community organization. Where we differ would be my experience in elected government roles. I have experience leading the board of education for our community and also my time on the village board.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency).

This seat is open as both candidates would be succeeding the current clerk. Some have argued that the current clerk is not fast enough with meeting minutes. I would argue that the entire board has failed in not instituting a live streaming ability for meetings or at the very least video recording requirements for any meeting held.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Honesty and accountability define who I am and how I have contributed as a public servant. There are laws, rules, and precedents we need to live by. I am only accountable to the citizens who elect me, not politicians or political parties, not even my own. I will call out situations that seem to have undue influence by outside parties, businesses, individuals and even residents that seek to gain at the expense of the village. I will continue to ask hard questions to make sure every vote and decision has been properly vetted and is in the best interest of the residents.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

1) While serving on the Board of Education, I became took the proper courses and certification to become a member of NAP. (National Association of Parliamentarians) Too often in local government, procedure and precedent are ignored. I have never shied from calling a point of order to stop a process that do not follow the rules and procedures outlined in the Illinois laws governing agendas, processes, and votes. In the Village Clerk position, I do not have a vote, but I will control the agenda in a non-partisan way. I will follow strict guidelines for adding to an agenda that follows the law and gives the public the proper notification.

2) Friendships and party affiliation don’t matter when it comes to ethics. In one of the most painful moments of my time in office, I censured my best friend for a violation of the public trust. I will not ever put anyone before the public’s trust in me.

3) I asked the hard questions in 2017 during the discussions to replace the incumbent red light camera company with Safespeed. The signs of corruption were obvious and because of my persistence (I insisted that any red light vendor under consideration come before the board and make their pitch and agree to answer questions about campaign contributions, lobbying efforts with village government and hidden fees and commissions paid to lobbyists and sales associates), the board voted to keep this company out. Once I left the board for health reasons, I was replaced with an appointed Trustee that voted to approve them, giving the mayor the ability to break the tie with his vote. This company has since cost the village tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees, FBI investigations and the loss of the original vendor due to violating their contract.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success?

1) No lawsuits or scandals involving my office as Village Clerk
2) The renovation of the village information system including the municipal ordinance repository, the online payment portal and the streamlining of FOIA requests and releases.
3) The ability to watch live every meeting and hearing and the immediate deposit of these recordings on the village website.
4) Bringing the Village into the 21st century ways of communicating with residents via social media platforms instead of archaic notices and news in print publications that have less than a 2% total reach into the community.
5) Keeping the Village Clerk’s office a self-sustaining, low cost but effective tool for village collections and communication.

Why should voters trust you?

I can only lean on my record as an effective communicator and consensus builder. I refuse to make campaign promises except to be honest and forthright with the village citizens. I was personally attacked when I refused to state in a forum in 2017 that I would not raise taxes. I simply stated that I cannot make that promise without having all the information that might require one and the subsequent discussion with those that it would impact.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the use of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

My view is simple. This money is not mine! I have been entrusted as a caretaker. The taxpayer’s money must be treated with the idea that we don’t have a penny to waste. I cannot spend taxpayer’s money with reckless abandon. There cannot be spending with preferred vendors or service providers based on who we know or who we owe a favor to. Money must be spent on the most qualified, lowest bidder. Government spending must be made to live within our means. Any loss of revenue must be met with a corresponding cut in the budget or supplement from another source, whether it is a new stream of revenue or in certain circumstances an increase in fees or taxes. Any tax increase, including levy increases must be made with proper public notification and input. This is never the case as tax levy hearing notices are always buried in print publications.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

Health is the only reason and I have made that decision in the past and would not hesitate to do it again. I believe the village residents are owed my full engagement and participation. If I cannot do that, someone else should replace me. My family has made this decision with me and they know my passion for community service and involvement. They know going in, the amount of time I will be dedicating to this office.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Don't make promises you cannot keep.

Be the voice for those that do not have one or are unable to speak up.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I have always voted with my conscience and have no regrets for decisions I’ve made that I felt were in the best interests of those that elected me. Partisan loyalty ends at the door to the board room. I will continue to ask the hard questions, I will continue to draw information from both sides of an argument and promise to call out corrupt acts.

I am an Alsip resident win or lose and I will continue to support our village government in any way I can.

If you are a candidate running for local office and would like to participate in a candidate profile, please email lorraine.swanson@patch.com.