If you scroll through the sample ballots for area Democrats you won’t see many contested races. In fact, in DeKalb County, there are two. Dennis Anderson and Jonathan Farnick are squaring off for their party’s nomination to challenge Randy Hultgren (R) in the 14th Congressional District. The other contested race is for District 6 on the DeKalb County Board. Three Democrats are seeking the two seats open for election. The two incumbents seeking re-election are Ruth Anne Tobias and Bob Brown. Craig Roman is challenging for one of those seats.
Ruth Anne Tobias
Ruth Anne Tobias, 68, was first appointed to the DeKalb County Board in 1999, and has been re-elected several times since. She has served as Chair of the DeKalb County Board, the Metro Counties of Illinois Board, and as the Metro Counties representative to the Illinois Counties Association (ICA). She has been president of ICA and has served as an Illinois member of the National Association of Counties Board of Directors (NACo). For NACo, Tobias served on the Community and Economic Development Committee. She has been a research associate at the Center for Governmental Studies at Northern Illinois University since 1981, with extensive experience in public data management and use for community, economic development and spatial analysis activities. Tobias has a Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology from New York University and a Master’s Degree in Geography from Northern Illinois University.
Bob Brown
Bob Brown, 63, was first elected to the DeKalb County Board in 2010 defeating incumbent Steve Walt (R). Brown identified his campaign with the Stop the Mega-Dump grassroots effort. Walt voted in favor of the expansion of the DeKalb County landfill. Brown’s private sector experience is in real estate, as a small business consultant, and as a family farm manager. He is former director of U of I Extension in DeKalb. Brown received his Bachelor’s Degree in agricultural communications and marketing from the University of Illinois and his Master’s Degree in mass media and public administration also from the University of Illinois. He is a graduate of DeKalb High School.
Craig Roman
Craig Roman, 37, has been seen observing city council and county board meetings for the past several years. Roman is seeking his first elected office. He ran for 6th Ward alderman in the 2009 consolidated elections losing to longtime incumbent David Baker. He has been a critic of the expansion of the DeKalb County landfill. He has an Associate’s Degree in Mortuary Science from Worsham College. His professional career includes experience in sales with CFL Pre-Need Insurance.
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4 Comments
Interesting points, Kerry. Tuition related fees like room & board are quite a bit higher than in the 70s and I think that creates a catch-22. If the students (and parents) are going to pay such high fees they’re going to demand more amenities.
The video featured property has 1,000 beds and is open to all students, not just Freshmen. The potential for surplus revenue is dangling to a University like all others — in need of surplus revenue. In the private sector that’s called profit and it and the buildings that create the revenue are taxed. Since campus housing fits the mission of the U, it is not.
So will this property, Northern Lifestyles, transfer students from existing private-owned residential to on campus living? If so, what will landlords do to make up the difference (see old greek row as one example) and/or will many of the complexes, rental properties join the rank of The Foreclosed? Will the new owners be local banks or those among the Too Big To Fail variety?
I know that was discussed during a City Council Meeting and they told us about the improvements but never what was going there. Going west is NIU’s easiest mode of expansion, but yes knowing what their plans would possible assist us in acquiring new businesses to our county. I plan to be the voice of the people and issuing lines of communication to NIU, the City and our business leaders so we can work in tandem not in conflict.
Here’s a County Board District 6 issue. NIU’s far west campus appears to have big plans. How big? We don’t know. But it’s big enough to warrant three turnabouts on the service roads! How can a county board member of District 6 improve communications so all residents of DeKalb know what’s planned and going on with NIU’s development? And while I’m asking, what impact will a major expansion on residential development by NIU have on the local taxing units and the taxpayers who support them?
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Wow! Just watched the video posted with this article. I’ve driven by the new student housing many times now. Very attractive on a drive past. In fact, after watching the video, too attractive for state owned student housing. They seem less like dorm rooms and more like upscale commune apartments. One more factor why the cost of education is too high.
As one who lived in undergraduate public education dorms in the seventies, I just don’t see why today’s young people (who are there for an education) need such amenities as these apartments. Certainly it must be more expensive to build and operate these facilities as compared with more traditional dorms.
I was at that council meeting when NIU’s representative was questioned by council members regarding west side intentions. I was flabbergasted when no answers were given. Obviously there needs to be much better planning and communication between the city and the university.