Candidate Profile: Philip W. Chapman
Name: Philip W. Chapman
Office seeking: County Board District 3
Age: 67
Occupation: Retired
Are you an incumbent? Yes
Hometown: Highland (Unincorporated)
Why are you running and why should people vote for you? I’m running as a conservative Republican. I put the people first and get results.
My record of three years speaks for itself. Budget: When the administration proposed deficit spending in 2017 I ensured a balanced budget with spending matching receipts. My Specific Budget Cuts In addition, I fought against numerous boondoggles which would have been a waste of tax payer’s money. Included were; $500,000 for an Heroin Program with no plan, $400,000 to repair of the Freeman School (the county wasn’t responsible for legally paying the Superintendent of Schools was), $85,000 for an unneeded GPS System, and $65,000 for fancy furniture and carpeting for the Recorder’s Office. Low Bidder Protocol: Some people wanted to ignore the low bidder rule regarding hiring an auditor. I said, ‘no’. The administration wanted to approve a Chicago firm after Madison County’s own’ Scheffel - Boyle proved the low bidder by $10,000! What does common sense tell you?
I Backed Conservative Issues: I supported the following issues by circulating petitions and writing Letters to the Editor. 1. I wrote the referendum “Shall all taxing districts in Madison County first seek voter approval before letting bonds?” Which passed with 98% of the vote. 2. I helped defeat the “Jail Bond Issue” which would have cost 32 million dollars to build the ‘Taj Mahal of Jails’ which voters rejected 4 to 1. ( Pioneer, BND) 3. I helped defeat the 1 % Sales Tax voters rejected three (3) times. (Pioneer and Riverbender) 4. I moved and helped pass Cahokia Mounds Resolution to become a National Park to bring additional tourism dollars to Madison County.(P and D tapes, County Board Vote) 5. I wrote and helped pass the County Board Resolution recommending Route 66 be designated a National Trail to bring tourism to Madison County.(P and D Tapes, County Board Vote) 6. Pro second amendment I wrote letters in support of Madison County becoming a ‘sanctuary gun county’ which passed with 66% of the vote. (Pioneer, BND, County Vote Totals)
2. Provided Constituency Services:
Grantfork: I battled for $60,000 to retain Heartland Conservatory for flood and land usage issues. (P & D Tapes) Chapman helped defeat an 80% fee increase on ‘mom and pop’ restaurants like Diamond Mineral Springs, Dawg House, 9th Street Café, and the Railshake Inn. (County Board Tapes)
Hamel: 1. I worked with Mayor Bloemker to bring a good used vehicle for municipal use. 2. I worked with Mayor Bloemker and IDOT Officials and brokered improvements to drainage along old Route 66 north of Il 140. (Hamel Newsletter) 3. Working with Mayor Bloemker and citizens we defeated unwanted solar farm variances in Hamel and a request for new subdivision opposed by over 30 homeowners along IL 157. 4. I wrote the Resolution approving Designation of Route 66 as a National Trail with Mayor Bloemker hoping to bring tourist dollars to the area. (P & D Tapes) 5. I also helped defeat a proposed 80% increase in ‘mom and pop’ restaurant fees for Weezy’s, Prairietown Inn, and the Yellow Dog Café. (County Board Tape)
Highland: I shepherded a $50,000 grant to build the St Rose roundabout in the Transportation Committee that unanimously passed the board. Chapman battled for hundreds of thousands of dollars for Community Development Grant for the Highland Villa Project. When some sought to replace ‘low bidder’ Scheffel Boyle from remaining county auditor, Chapman ‘fought it tooth and nail’ and Scheffel Boyle got the bid. (Grant Committee, Planning and Development (P & D), and Transportation Records, and Board Tapes) Variances for Business: Phil supported variances which helped business. He moved a variance for Shantz that helped save 35 jobs and another for Plocher Construction in Highland to expand. Nevertheless, it remains important to know when to draw the line. When 68 home owners fought against a business variance along Final Drive Phil helped citizens stop it. (Planning and Development Tapes)
New Douglas: I worked with New Douglas leaders Lisa Michnmeier and Mayor Ridens to funnel badly needed resources to them. I arranged for; (1) two vehicles for municipal use, (2) road engineering support for flooding problems, (3) a ‘clean- up day’, (4) 500 feet of culvert, (5) $30,000 in grants for drainage issues. In addition, I arranged with Township Road Commissioner Larry Walker and the Chief County Engineer for county heavy equipment to assist with poor drainage southeast of New Douglas. (P & D and Transportation Records)
Prairietown- Omphgent Township: 1. I helped arrange for essential resources. Working with local leader Mike Goebel, County Highway Chief Engineer Mark Gvillo, and Township Road Commissioner Vern Ruble, I helped with; (a) repair the Renken Road and Schiller intersection, (b) widening of North Schiller Road, and, (c) ensured parking improvements at the Prairie town - Renken Road intersection. 2. In addition, l toured Ompghent township roads with Township Road Supervisor Vern Ruble then arranged for heavy equipment support for a culvert repaired on Albrecht Road. (Highway Chief Engineer)
Worden: 1. I worked with Mayor Hall then moved and helped pass a resolution for a $200,000 curb and gutter south of town. (Transportation Master Plan) 2. I fought for citizens who rejected ‘solar farm’ variances around Worden. (P & D Tapes) 3. I worked with Mayor Hall for a development northeast of Worden securing a $20,000 development study. (P & D Tapes)
I Supported Law Enforcement
Jail Renovation: I voted for the cost effective 15 million dollar jail upgrade ensuring clean and safe cell blocks to repair years of neglect by the previous administration. (15 million was much less that a bonding proposal which would have cost 32 million). (Facility, Finance Tapes, County Board Votes)
Youth Detention Center: I toured the Detention Center and then argued for immediate safety repairs and a plan to improve years of neglect. Repairs of $935,000 are much less than the new facility some asked with a price tag of 8.6 M. When some board members argued for cutting staff I asked for research which revealed staffing guidelines from the Illinois Supreme Court are being followed. I insisted on adequate staff to detain and to help troubled youth. (Judiciary, Finance Tapes)
Sheriff’s Training Facility: I toured the County Sheriff firing range and immediately called for needed safety upgrades to benefit law enforcement. The Firing Range has been drastically improved with better berms, concrete walkways and pads, and a realistic state of the art scenario area. (Judiciary and Finance Tapes)
Child Advocacy Services: I voted for grant and emergency appropriations ensuring protection of youth and the investigation of child predators. (Finance, Judiciary, and County Board Tapes)
Law Enforcement Equipment: I voted for police cruisers, personal protection gear, and upgrade of the weapons for the Sheriff’s and Coroner’s Office. The ‘bad guys’ shouldn’t have better weapons than the police. I voted for the drone to assist with apprehension of criminals and to aid in the finding of lost aged people with dementia or lost children in rugged terrain. (Finance and Judiciary Tapes, County Board Votes)
What are your goals if elected? I have four (4) major goals.
Goal # 1: Save Tax Payers 40 Million Dollars during the next three years. A. I helped defeat bonding referendum to build the ‘Taj Mahal of Jails’ voters rejected over three years ago. Given actual bids it would have cost at least 32 million dollars. The plan I voted for cost 15 million. Savings = $15 M. B. Detention Center: I fought for repairing the current run down Detention Center for $935,000 rather than building a new one for an estimated 8.5 million. Let’s finish the job savings: 5 M 3. I support repair of the unused second floor of County Annex (Hillsboro Building) for an estimated 1.5 M thus adding 45 personnel spaces. A new building would cost at least 5.5 million dollars. Let’s fix what we have in prime real estate. Savings = 4 M C. Get rid of the ‘The Money Pit’ we don’t know here the money pit is on Oak Island but we know where it is in Madison County. The Wood River Facility (Old Wood River Hospital) would cost an estimated 20 million to fix. Afterwards it would be worth 1 M. Savings $20 = M. If re - elected I pledge myself towards working to save 40 million dollars in facility costs. 17 M + 7.5 M + 4 M + 20 M = SAVINGS TO YOU 48 million dollars. (Estimated)
Goal # 2: Continued Excellence in Constituency Services I served Grantfork, Hamel, Highland, New Douglas, Prairietown, and Worden. (See above)
Goal # 3: Support Law Enforcement: I will continue to provide Law Enforcement the funding needed to complete their mission apprehending, investigating, incarcerating, and trying criminals. I will continue to vote for the Sheriff’s Office to maintain excellence in training and equipment. Law Enforcement is not a ‘political football’ or a ‘political game’. People must be protected.
Goal # 4: Transparency
I’ve provided 121 Reports to the People in three years. I will continue to provide timely Reports to the People in local news outlets to keep citizens informed.
What are the most pressing issues to your constituency? The most pressing issues to my constituency are; HIGH Taxes, Responsive Cost Effective Government, and Government Transparency.
This story was originally published February 18, 2020 at 2:49 PM.