1. Why are you running for alderman of the 29th Ward?

I was raised to believe in public service. Even as a small child, I worked

alongside my grandmother feeding the homeless. Later, when I became
homeless myself, I found the support of local community-based social
services that got my family and I back on our feet. I was able to put
myself through school and provide a better life for my family. The Austin
community is my home. I grew up here, and I believe the 29th Ward’s
best days lie ahead. I believe in service and I believe that together we
can accomplish much. I love the 29th Ward. It’s my lifetime home, and I
believe that I can show that the 29th Ward is a strong and vibrant job
center with an active and involved citizenry.

2. Why are you qualified to be alderman?

I grew up in the Austin community, graduating from Collins High School. I

put myself through school, later taking a job with a social service agency
helping homeless women find housing and employment. In 2002, I was
elected to the Illinois State House of Representatives from the 78th District
serving the Austin community. In 2010, I was appointed to the Chicago
City Council as Alderman of the 29th Ward.

3. What, if any, is your relationship with former alderman Ike Carothers.

I have valued the former alderman’s friendship and expertise, and he has
supported me in past elections.

4. What do you believe to be the 29th Ward’s assets? Its weaknesses?

The current economic crisis has weighed heavily on my constituents, and

solutions for high unemployment can be elusive. I'm optimistic that as the
economy improves as will job prospects. Clearly, public resources at all
levels must be dedicated to providing job training and experience for our
community. I'm pleased the laborers union chose the 29th Ward to locate
its new training center. Additional opportunities exist by enticing
employers, particularly in the green energy and high-speed rail fields, to
the 29th Ward and the west side. Use of tax increment financing and tax
credits tied to community-based hiring can provide a needed boost in
employment.

I've long wished there was an easier solution for the problem of crime and
violence. I've found that solutions lie in multiple and diverse community-
based efforts to get criminals off the streets. Organizations like CeaseFire,
that directly confront potential violent offenders continues to show
success, and I was pleased to support their efforts when I was a member
of the Illinois House. The Chicago Police community-based approach
shows progress, and I strongly support the efforts of the CPD to work with
the community to fight crime. Sadly, as a ward that borders the suburbs,
all too often we find suburban residents coming to the 29th Ward to
purchase drugs. The CPD effort to report these "customers" to their home
community police department shows promise, and I hope this program
expands in the future. Finally, working to solve the two challenges I listed
above, access to good jobs and quality education, can go a long way to
alleviating crime problems.

In many ways the weaknesses of the 29th Ward, when properly applied,
can become assets. A high unemployment rate, and a real need for
expanded job training means that 29th Ward has a motivated workforce,
ready and able to work today. While crime continues to be a challenge,
we also find large groups of our young people looking to enter the social
service field and to give back to their community. Though we continue to
find our schools have challenges, I also find our students are motivated to
succeed academically. In short, we have a strong base for employment,
for business, for community service, and for education.

5. How do you envision the 29th Ward changing under your leadership?

Perhaps the most important change I can bring to the 29th Ward is to show
that leadership is a grassroots effort. I believe that the community hold
the answers to our challenges, and can bring about change. I want to
hear from the people. I want input. I want to be the citizens’ conduit to
the Chicago City Council. Whether it’s working to bring a new
manufacturer to the ward or to convert a vacant lot to a public garden,
working together as a community we can make the 29th Ward a more
vibrant and beautiful place. The best change I can make is to collaborate
with our community.

6. What are your top three priorities as alderman? How will you
accomplish them? Please be as specific as possible.

The 29th Ward has enjoyed many successes and many challenges over
the past few years. Nonetheless, the challenges to the 29th Ward
community remain familiar, the need for long-term employment
opportunities, access to quality education for our children, and curtailing
crime. The current economic crisis has weighed heavily on my
constituents, and solutions for high unemployment can be elusive. I’m
optimistic that as the economy improves as will job prospects. Clearly,
public resources at all levels must be dedicated to providing job training
and experience for our community. I’m pleased the laborers union chose
the 29th Ward to locate its new training center. Additional opportunities
exist by enticing employers, particularly in the manufacturing, green
energy and high-speed rail fields, to the 29th Ward and west side. Use of
tax increment financing and tax credits tied to community-based hiring
can provide a needed boost in employment.

7. What is your position on the creation of a new Austin High School? If

you believe one should be opened, where do you think it should be
located?

I would never oppose building a new school in the 29th Ward. I do support
the concept of a new Austin High School, and I believe there are many
options for a location. Particularly with Austin High School this school is
not in the 29th ward but the impact is felt thru the Austin community.
Simply providing a community-based school for no other reason than
convenience has been long shown to be a failing model. We cannot
always control parental involvement or student desire for an education.
What we can do is provide the tools and facilities for our children to
receive a quality education in a safe school. I believe the best way to
continue to improve the Chicago Public Schools is to work with a group
called Austin Coming Together which is a coalition of groups working with
Chicago Public School to improve the quality of education in the Austin
community.

8. How will you tackle the issues of crime and public safety in the 29th
Ward?

Obviously providing meaningful employment and educational

opportunities for our citizens would go a long way to lowering the crime
rate. Still, I believe that the strongest means to combat violent crime is an
involved citizenry. That means providing citizens with a belief that
reporting crime will be met with support and protection from the Chicago
Police Department against retaliation. We must continue to support the
efforts of community-based organizations to intercede before violence
occurs. Finally, I have personally gone into the community to encourage
residents to report crime, and to let potential offenders know the
community will not tolerate violence. I intend to continue that effort.

9. How will you create jobs and encourage businesses to open in the
ward?

The current economic crisis has weighed heavily on my constituents, and

solutions for high unemployment can be elusive. I’m optimistic that as the
economy improves as will job prospects. Clearly, public resources at all
levels must be dedicated to providing job training and experience for our
community. I’m pleased the laborers union chose the 29th Ward to locate
its new training center. Additional opportunities exist by enticing
employers, particularly in the manufacturing, green energy and high-
speed rail fields, to the 29th Ward and west side. Use of tax increment
financing and tax credits tied to community-based hiring can provide a
needed boost in employment. Moreover, I believe that making the entire
city a haven for job creation benefits the 29th Ward. There is a “big
picture” to look at. Chicago’s central proximity, access to transportation,
and available workforce already makes it attractive to potential
employers. Tax incentives for job creation may be the best additional way
to entice employers to Chicago. Particularly by reward direct job creation.
Green jobs, particularly as Illinois looks to lead on wind and solar power
should be a significant priority for the City. Chicago’s reputation as a rail
town makes it a natural location to host high-speed rail design and
manufacturing companies, particularly as nearby states seem inclined to
refuse federal high-speed rail funds.

10. How will you address the multitude of vacant lots and work to beautify
the 29th Ward? As Alderman, I’ve already started to address some of
these issues.

I’ve worked with a variety of organizations to create small parks and

public gardens on undeveloped city property. We’ve created a new small
park on Chicago Avenue, and several new community gardens throughout
the ward. I was inspired by First Lady Michelle Obama’s call to create
gardens throughout our country. I’ve been heartened by the enthusiasm
the community has shown towards these neighborhood gardens.

11. Do you feel the 29th Ward is getting its share of TIF projects? If not,
how will you go about bringing TIF dollars to the ward?

I’ve certainly seen the advantage of Tax Increment Financing in the 29th
Ward. Thanks to improvement efforts undertaken, in particular, in the
Madison St., Division St., Chicago Ave., and North Ave. corridors in the
29th Ward, we’ve seen an increase in business interest in our community.
This includes local small businesses, franchises, and larger national
chains. I support Tax Increment Financing. I am concerned that the
spending and oversight of TIF funds is limited to the Mayor’s office. I
support increased involvement of the City Council in oversight and
spending of TIF funds so that more funds are utilized in the 29th Ward.

12. How, as alderman, will you keep residents informed about what is
happening in their ward? (i.e., public meetings, website, Facebook)

As Alderman I have already put many means of notification to the

community in action. I maintain a Facebook Page, web site
(www.aldermandeborahgraham.com), advertise ward events in local
media, deliver flyers on ward events to residents, and use robocalls to
notify residents of upcoming events.

13. How much money do you expect to spend on your aldermanic

campaign? From whom are you raising the funds? How are you spending
the funds?

Up to date information on campaign fundraising and spending for my

campaign committee, Citizens to Elect Deborah L. Graham, can be found
at www.elections.state.il.us.