Learn where the candidates stand on issues important to park districts, forest preserves, conservation and recreation agencies Every four years, Illinois Parks And Recreation magazine profiles the major party candidates for governor using a question and answer format. For this election cycle, we sent the candidates a questionnaire and asked them to provide responses of 500 words or less to questions about issues that concern Illinois park, recreation and conservation professionals, as well as the elected officials that serve on the boards of Illinois park and recreation agencies. The Illinois Association of Park Districts and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association thank Governor Blagojevich and Treasurer Topinka for their responses to this questionnaire. And, in an effort to help you decide whom to support in November, we are happy to share those responses with you.

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In January 2003, Rod Blagojevich was sworn in as the first Democrat Governor of the State of Illinois in 25 years. Before winning the states highest office in 'November 2002, he served in the U.S. Congress, representing Illinois' 5th district, from 1997 to 2002. He served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1992 to 1996. Prior to running for office, he was a Cook County Assistant State's Attorney, prosecuting domestic abuse cases and felony weapons charges. Blagojevich was born on December 10, 1956 on the northwest side of Chicago. He graduated from Northwestern University in 1979 and earned his law degree from Pepperdine School of Law in 1983. He and his wife, Patti, have two daughters, 8 year-old Amy and 2-year-old Annie. What is your vision for Illinois parks, conservation and recreation? My priorities as governor have been health care, education and job creation. Parks, recreation and conservation are important components of each. In the 21st century economy, jobs follow an educated labor force, and people want to locate where there is a good quality of life, including recreational and natural areas. Parks and open space contribute to health and well-being, provide educational opportunities in conjunction with our schools, are central to tourism (the second-largest source of jobs in the state) and also can enhance the value of residential properties. I understand and appreciate the need to expand our economic opportunities while preserving our natural resources. I believe that, with the right leadership, Illinois can accomplish both goals and even create more opportunities for working families. The state should work to better use existing, under-utilized spaces, like brownfields, and encourage redevelopment in existing communities to increase the amount of open space. Continued on page 14

In November 1994, Judy Baar Topinka was elected Illinois State Treasurer, becoming the first woman to hold the post. She also became the first Republican to be elected treasurer in 3 2years. Winning re-election in 2002, Topinka became the first treasurer to win three consecutive terms. Topinka began her political career as a state representative from the western suburbs in 1980. After serving two terms in the Illinois House of Representatives, she won a seat in the Illinois Senate in 1984 and served for 10 years. Topinka was born in Riverside, Illinois on January 16, 1944. She earned a B. S. degree in 1966from Northwestern University's Me dillSchool of Journalism. Upon graduation, she worked 11 years as a newspaper reporter and editor. Topinka's son, Joseph, is a major in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps in Washington state. He is a graduate of Northern Illinois University Taw School. What is your vision for Illinois parks, conservation and recreation? I place a high value on open space and recreational opportunities because I believe strongly they are important to all facets of our lives. Parks, conservation and recreation dramatically affect quality of life and have a positive economic impact on communities and the entire state. By expanding recreational opportunities and protecting open space, we make Illinois a more attractive place in which to live and work. My vision for Illinois is to have a true partnership between the state and local park districts and forest preserves. State government is only one part of Illinois' conservation world. I recognize the large role played by local agencies. The State of Illinois can leverage more dollars if it partners with park districts and forest preserves. I will not use conservation programs to balance the state budget. Four years ago, in the pages of this magazine Rod Blagojevich told you he would not hurt conservation and

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Would you support placing a referendum on the ballot that would allow the citizens of Illinois to let their views on funding for open space acquisition be known?

I always value the views of Illinois citizens and would seek a variety of means for input on recreational and open space issues. I will certainly work with the Illinois Association of Park Districts to look for ways to fund recreation and open space in Illinois.

Because IAPD has a strong partnership and working relationship with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, please share the criteria you will use for selecting the director of the department.

I will look for candidates that are qualified and understand the needs of the state's natural resources. I will look for a person who has proven that he or she can get things done and knows how to provide value for the public dollar.

What initiatives would you support for additional funding for park districts and forest preserves to satisfy the growing demands of citizens for recreational facilities and services?

My budgets have included $10 million to the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, a federal-state conservation program that provides financial incentives and technical assistance to landowners in an effort to restore highly erodible lands along the Illinois River and its tributaries.

To date, the program has helped restore 110,000 acres and has placed 67,000 acres in protective conservation easements. Another 20,000 acres are expected to be restored in the new fiscal year. The program targets floodplain land and adjacent environmentally sensitive agricultural lands in the Illinois River watershed.

I also appropriated $7.9 million to the Conservation 2000 program, a partnership program between the state and local groups that restores and enhances forests, wetland and prairie habitats throughout Illinois. Conservatioi 2000 also funds educational programs and projects focusing on the benefits of habitat restoration and protection.

As governor, what have you accomplished for park districts and forest preserves in the state of Illinois and, ultimately, quality of life issues related to parks, recreation and conservation?

I recently helped to bring the long-anticipated World Shooting and Recreational Complex (WSRC) to Sparta. The newly constructed, state-of-the-art facility will become an economic boon for southwestern Illinois, bringing more than 250 new jobs to the region and hundreds of thousands of visitors to the state.

The 1,600-acre WSRC will feature: 250 acres of water; 120 trap fields extending 3.5 miles; two sporting clay courses; a cowboy action shooting corral; a permanent exhibition building; 746 RV campsites with electric, water and sanitary services, and an additional 264 sites with electrical service, providing potential for camping jamborees; a multi-purpose recreational facility; a gift shop; and a full-service restaurant and lounge. It's also expected to quickly become a premiere meeting, exhibit, banquet and reception space in southwestern Illinois.

My most recent budget includes funding for the River Edge Redevelopment Initiative, which encourages developers to clean up and develop environmentally contaminated riverfronts. The Illinois EPA is receiving an additional $5 million in a capital appropriation to implement the initiative. The initiative will be launched in Aurora, Rockford and East St. Louis — newly designated "River Edge Redevelopment Zones." Each designated municipality would be eligible to receive up to $2 million to investigate and remediate brownfleld sites within the zone.

Other budgets have included $10 million to the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, a federal-state conservation program that provides financial incentives and technical assistance to landowners in an effort to restore highly erodible lands along the Illinois River and its tributaries.

To date, the program has helped restore 110,000 acres and has placed 67,000 acres in protective conservation easements. Another 20,000 acres are expected to be restored in the new fiscal year. The program targets floodplain land and adjacent environmentally sensitive agricultural lands in the Illinois River watershed.

I also appropriated $7.9 million to the Conservation 2000 program, a partnership program between the state and local groups that restores and enhances forests wetland and prairie habitats throughout Illinois. Conservation 2000 also funds educational programs and projects focusing on the benefits of habitat restoration and protection.

I released of more than $7.7 million in state funds from 2002 and 2003 capital funds for a series of improvement projects at state parks and facilities managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. I also provided grants to communities to help develop new bicycle trails or to widen or repair existing bicycle trails in northeastern Illinois.

Do you support a bipartisan blue ribbon panel made up of members of the General Assembly to review the tax cap, its effect on local communities and take the appropriate corrective actions recommended in order for local communities to continue to be effective?

I am always interested in hearing recommendations from the General Assembly on issues important to Illinois communities.

What are your personal recreational pursuits?

In my spare time, I enjoy reading, spending time with my daughters Amy and Annie and long distance running. I have run three marathons in my lifetime. And I have spent countless hours with Amy and Annie visiting parks, schools and recreational facilities throughout the state.

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recreation: "I would work hard to find other places to cut the budget when revenues are down, besides threatening to withhold needed funding for park and recreational facilities and programs that are so important to our families."

In 2002, candidate Blagojevich's words were good; his subsequent actions were not. The governor cut the department's budget by a third. He reduced the IDNR headcount by more than 400. The IDNR building resembles a ghost town. State parks and other recreational facilities have little staff and some now do not even have a park manager.

I want the department to be properly staffed with park managers and enough staff to ensure garbage is picked up and restrooms are cleaned. The department needs qualified staff to work with park districts and forest preserves, so they don't have to wait months for answers to the simplest questions. My vision is for department leaders who stand up for conservation and the state's conservation partners, rather than accepting second class standing in an administration that cares little for the great outdoors, open space and recreational pursuits.

My vision also includes the desire to establish a capital program with money for important conservation and open space programs. During the Blagojevich administration, practically no money has been provided for IDNR capital needs. The governor found more that $50 million for the shooting facility at Sparta, but he has ignored the rest of the department's facilities. The state needs to properly maintain its facilities or taxpayers will ultimately pay for the deterioration and neglect of its infrastructure.

Would you support placing a referendum on the ballot that would allow the citizens of Illinois to let their views on funding for open space acquisition be known?

I would have to see specific language for a referendum, but I have no objection to asking voters their opinion. I have great faith in voters and would be interested in their opinion on open space and conservation issues.

Voters and conservation stakeholders need to be brought back into the decision making process regarding issues such as hunting and fishing policies, land protection and program implementation. I will re-institute the Conservation Congress to ensure there is a formal mechanism for groups and individuals to interact with IDNR and my administration I will also seek input from "customers" of conservation through satisfaction surveys and other tools.

The Conservation Congress was used by the two previous governors to seek stakeholder opinions, and it served a valuable purpose. Early in his administration, Rod Blagojevich cancelled the Conservation Congress and has never re-instituted it. That was a mistake. When the stakeholders recently met under the banner of the Conservation Forum, the governor was invited to speak. He snubbed the event and so did the entire leadership team of the IDNR. In fact, the governor and IDNR sent no staff to the forum.

I am proud to say that I attended the Conservation Forum and spoke to its participants. I also traveled to Starved Rock to meet with the Outdoor Writers Association. In four years, the governor has never met with the Outdoor Writers nor attended their annual meeting. In fact, during his term as governor, Rod Blagojevich has never attended a major conservation meeting, an annual dinner of the Illinois Environmental Council or any conferences of the Illinois Association of Park Districts.

A governor needs to be willing to put in the time, attend events and work hard. Just as important, a governor also has to show up. When the legislature is in session, the governor needs to be in Springfield working with legislative leaders. When important groups meet, the governor needs to make an effort to join them.

Because IAPD has a strong partnership and working relationship with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, please share the criteria you will use for selecting the director of the department.

A huge difference between Rod Blagojevich and me is that I will honor my promise to you to appoint natural resource professionals to run the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Hiring and promotion within the IDNR will be based on qualifications and performance, not political connections and nepotism.

The governor's actions contrast sharply with his specific promise to you four years ago. In 2002, you asked the gubernatorial candidates how they would select the director for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Rod Blagojevich told you: "I will seek the best, brightest and most professional candidate. I will look for appropriate education and experience, in both recreation and open space issues."

That is not what he did. Instead, he appointed a legislator with no professional training or experience. Then he tapped a Democratic county chairman whose qualifications appear to be his ability to place family members on the state payroll.

Morale in the IDNR is at a historic low and there has been no leadership in the Blagojevich administration. There have been no fewer than eight directors, deputy directors and assistant directors. None has had any natural resource training. And worst of all, no one in the administration has stood up and said "no" to the devastating budget cuts and staff reductions.

I will restore professionalism to the IDNR and place respected men and women in leadership positions of the department. People will be hired based on their qualifications, and promotions will be based on merit. The IDNR was once a national leader. It is not today. I will correct this and return Illinois to a national leadership position.

As governor, I will find the best people to restore the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to its proper role as a respected leader on conservation issues. I will ask the Illinois Association of Park Districts to help me in recruiting top-

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flight candidates. I am a strong believer in communication and partnerships. I will work with conservation stakeholders and build a quality team of which Illinois can be proud.

Under the Topinka administration, the new IDNR director and the department's leadership team will meet the following criteria:

•  Strong professional credentials in natural resources and recreation

•  Respected career as a natural resources leader

•  Good communication and listening skills

•  Ability to work with multiple interests, which is a necessity for IDNR

•  Smart, with initiative and vision

•  Independent and strong enough to fight for conservation interests

•  Unquestioned ethics and honesty

What has happened during the last four years is sad and tragic. Professionals with 20, 25, 30 or more years of experience have been let go, transferred, demoted or pushed out. Other respected professionals have fled to other jobs where their knowledge and hard work are respected. It will take time and hard work to rebuild the department, but I am committed to doing what it takes to make Illinois a national leader again.

What initiatives would you support for additional funding for park districts and forest preserves to satisfy the growing demands of citizens for recreational facilities and services?

I will restore programs the incumbent has cut and stop raiding natural resource funds. Rod Blagojevich has raided more than $60 million in natural resource funds, including OSLAD, Natural Areas Acquisition, Conservation 2000, the State Boating Fund and the State Parks Fund. That $60 million should have been used for conservation initiatives.

I will use conservation funds for the purposes they were intended, not for pet projects. Governor Blagojevich and his budget office have played a game with these dollars. They have chosen not to spend the money and declared a surplus. The Blagojevich administration has argued the money is surplus and not needed. Facts suggest otherwise. There are millions of dollars of need in local park districts and forest preserves that are being ignored.

The incumbent governor has never put forward an initiative for open space, recreation or natural areas protection. This contrasts with the good work of several of his predecessors and it conflicts with his own promises to you four years ago: "We must ensure that Illinois continues its investment in important programs, like the Open Lands Trust, which is due to expire, and OSLAD.... I have endorsed the continuation of funding for the Open Lands Trust, an important program in great demand by local governments to help preserve open space."

There has been no new funding for Open Lands, no gubernatorial initiative and no other infusion of dollars for such an "important program." Illinois has a history of governors who showed strong leadership on conservation issues. Governor Kerner signed legislation creating the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission. Governor Ogilvie created the Illinois EPA and provided increased funding for conservation. Governor Thompson signed OSLAD. Governor Edgar initiated the $100 million Conservation 2000 and Governor Ryan provided $160 million for the Open Lands Trust. What is the Blagojevich legacy? It is a pull back on the great programs begun by his predecessors, slash-and-burn budgeting for conservation and the devastation of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

The only initiative proposed by Governor Rod Blagojevich was his "Let's take a holiday from the land acquisition funding initiative." Two years ago, the governor tried to stop OSLAD and Natural Areas Acquisition funding and raid more than $35 million from natural resources funds. He was wrong, and fortunately Republican and Democrat legislators stopped the Blagojevich "holiday" initiative.

I have a reputation for straight talk and I do not want to mislead you in the fashion that you were misled four years ago. I am interested in a new natural resources initiative, but I will not make unrealistic promises you. We must first get our budget in balance and then I will work with your organization to craft a new initiative.

Illinois must reestablish itself as a leader on conservation issues. Conservation and natural resource funds should be used for their intended purposes and then we should look for funds to provide expanded recreational opportunities, greater protection of natural areas and more open space.

As treasurer, what have you accomplished for park districts and forest preserves in the state of Illinois and, ultimately, quality of life issues related to parks, recreation and conservation?

As a state legislator and later as state treasurer, I have worked and fought for 25 years to protect Wolf Road Prairie. I joined with the Save the Prairie Society and led efforts to obtain millions of

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dollars to acquire Wolf Road Prairie and surrounding buffer lands. I also worked closely with the Cook County Forest Preserve District. The Save the Prairie Society has recognized my quarter century commitment to this endeavor. The passion and commitment I showed toward Wolf Road Prairie is indicative of how I will fight for conservation and open space issues as governor.

As state treasurer, I have overseen the Local Government Investment Pool that has helped local governments, including park districts and forest preserves, obtain better returns on their investments. I have worked closely with local units of government to help them access this pool and earn greater investment income.

I am a strong supporter of using natural resource funds for their intended purposes. Natural Areas Acquisition Fund money should be spent to buy the precious remaining parcels of native Illinois, not for paying new gubernatorial initiatives. OSLAD money should be used to fund conservation, open space and recreation projects, not the governor's pet projects. Park money should be spent on parks, not shifted to the General Revenue Fund.

As treasurer, I blocked efforts by the governor to raid OSLAD and conservation funds. I objected to the governor transferring funds to the General Revenue Fund in order to pay for new initiatives. Natural resource funds, as wells as hundreds of other funds, were established for specific purposes. Instead, they have become the governor's piggy bank for balancing his budget. Governor Blagojevich raided more than $60 million from conservation funds and would have raided $100 million if legislators and others had not stopped him.

Do you support a bipartisan blue ribbon panel made up of members of the General Assembly to review the tax cap, its effect on local communities and take the appropriate corrective actions recommended in order for local communities to continue to be effective?

It has been more 15 years since tax caps first appeared. I see nothing wrong in reviewing the impact of the program. I want to be clear that I support tax caps, but I am willing to listen to concerns and review ideas for improving the program.

What are your personal recreational pursuits?

I have a strong appreciation for the outdoors and enjoy visiting parks and natural areas. I especially like wild flowers. In the last couple of decades, Illinois has developed a greater appreciation for its native prairies and wild flowers, and I believe this has been a very positive development. I also feel very strongly about the need for trails and bikeways in Illinois. After experiencing tremendous growth, especially in the 1990s, this program has slowed during the Blagojevich administration. I would like to see more trails and bikeways.

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