Couldn't find anything on Michael G Connelly
Archive: The info below is from Michael Connelly's previous races
Board’s big issue? It’s the traffic
By Robert Sanchez, Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Thursday, February 23, 2006
Traffic congestion is the top issue for candidates in the most-crowded DuPage County board race.
“Anyone who has taken 45 minutes to drive across Naperville knows there’s a problem,” Joseph Wozniak said during a Wednesday meeting with the Daily Herald’s editorial board.
“Traffic congestion is getting bigger and bigger by the day,” the 63-year-old Naperville real estate consultant said. “How long are we going to wait before we do something?”
The three other candidates in the District 5 Republican primary — E. “Erin:” Busche, Richard Tarulis and Michael Connelly — agree.
“In my opinion, traffic congestion is the No. 1 problem in the county; worse than taxes and crime,” said Tarulis, a 47-year-old Naperville attorney.
The candidates differ when it comes to how they would address the problem.
Wozniak said he would like more bus and trolley routes created throughout the district, which includes all or parts of Aurora, Lisle, Naperville, Warrenville and Woodridge. He also would like to see more commuter rail lines.
Busche said expanding and modifying public transportation services could entice more commuters to leave their cars at home.
“The state, county and local governments need to work together … to find ways to increase services and make them more flexible so people have an incentive to use public transit,” said Busche, a Naperville Township trustee.
For example, Busche said, one of the reasons more people don’t use the train is because it’s difficult to find parking at the train stations.
Connelly said he believes the addition of turn lanes in the right places could help improve the flow of traffic.
The 41-year-old Lisle trustee pointed to the county’s recently completed widening of a roughly half-mile stretch of Maple Avenue from Steeple Run Drive to Yackley Avenue.
As part of the $1.5 million project, a continuous dedicated turning lane was created to give drivers time to make left turns into Benedictine University and Benet Academy and several side streets.
And the result has been reduced delays and fewer accidents, Connelly said.
“You don’t need to make 75th Street a superhighway to improve traffic flow,” he said.
If elected, Tarulis said he would work to reduce the number of curb cuts on major roads and mandate turn lanes at all new intersections.
He also has a unique suggestion for encouraging people to reduce their daily commute — an economic incentive program for residents who are moving to relocate closer to their place of employment.
The crowded field is the result of incumbent District 5 board member Robert Heap's decision to give up his seat. He is running for county treasurer.
Michael G. Connelly
Age: 41.
Residence: Lisle.
Family: Wife, Lisa (married for 16 years); three children, Matthew, Maureen and Sheila.
Education: John Marshall Law School, 1989; Loyola University (Chicago) political science, 1986; St. Joseph High School, Westchester, 1982.
Employer: Attorney at law, private practice, Hinsdale.
Political experience: Lisle trustee, elected 2001 and re-elected 2005.
Community involvement: Former assistant state's attorney; Illinois State Bar Association member (1989-present); 18th Judicial District arbitrator, chair qualified; Convention and Visitors Bureau Board member (2001-present); St. Margaret Mary Church parishioner; Benet Academy Dad's Club (2005-present); Sacred Monastery picnic volunteer (2002-2004); St. Raphael Youth Football League coach, 2004; Little League and girls softball coach (1996-present); boys and girls travel basketball coach (1999-2005); and Young Naperville Singers sponsor, 2004.
Issue 1: Taxes and spending: I am not incumbent, and as such, seek to bring a fresh vision to the county board. I will make decisions based on the fiscally conservative principles that are the bedrock of the Republican party. The critical issue facing the county today is spending and taxes. The board needs to take the position that it can't be all things to all people, recognizing that the taxpayers have had enough. This is not for new costly programs. The board needs to hold down the costs of government and limit any further expansion of that government entity. Raising taxes — be it property taxes or other forms of taxes — should be the last option. As was stated in the paper in the past few months, “Instead of groping for dollars to spend, the board should consider ways to further cut spending.”
Issue 2: Traffic congestion: I first became active in local government many years ago in the fight against the proposed Meijer superstore at Chicago Avenue and Benedictine Drive (in Lisle). A resident of Green Trails, I joined with neighbors from Steeple Run, Century Hill, Huntington and Rock Ridge to fight a project that would have brought 6,000 additional cars to a street that currently carries 20,000 cars per day. The impact new development has on traffic must be considered when determining if that development is appropriate. Recently the county, village of Lisle, Benet Academy and Benedictine University all contributed toward the addition of a turn lane on a stretch of Chicago Avenue/Maple Avenue from Benedictine Drive to College Road to alleviate traffic backups during the morning rush hour. Where traffic once backed up two blocks in the morning, it now flows. Safety is greatly improved for nearby residents as well as for Benet parents and students.
Issue 3: Economic development: Chairman (Robert) Schillerstrom should be commended for creating the DuPage business public/private partnership. This program brings together some of the brightest business minds in the county at little or no cost to discuss ways to make the county more attractive to the business community. I would augment the program by inviting participation from economic development directors from the municipalities. The board needs to reduce the tax burden on businesses and individuals and create an environment amenable to new business development.
From: http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/politics/naperville/n17dup5th.html