Terri’s priorities for the 11th ward include:
- Increase communication to the residents and businesses of the 11th Ward.
- Improve the outward appearance of the 11th Ward.
- Increase youth activities in the community.
- Provide transparency of fund allocation in the 11th Ward
- Cultivate innovative business opportunities.
- Cultivate training opportunities in emerging technologies to upgrade 11th Ward workers’ skills to the 21st century in the neighborhoods where they live.
Teri submitted answers to the League of Women Voters of Greater Rockford candidate views questionnaire. It was relentlessly thorough.
| LWVGR | RRStar | Survey answers |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Name: | Terri Schierer |
| Street Address | 2124 17th Ave |
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| City | Rockford | |
| Preferred public campaign contact method | http://terrischierer.com friends@terrischierer.com facebook.com/friendsofterrischierer Phone: 779-548-5408 |
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| Hometown | Detroit, Michigan |
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| Family: | Father & Mother, deceased, seven siblings, 2 deceased, 1 son, my pride and joy | |
| Education | High School: West Bloomfield H.S., 1973; Undergraduate College: Michigan Tech University, Major: Chemical Engineering, B.S., 1980; Undergraduate College: Michigan Tech University, Major: Biological Sciences, B.S., 1980 |
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| Highest Education Achieved | Four-year College Degree | |
| Hobbies/Interests: | Horseback riding, cat-wrangling, outdoor enthusiast | |
| Are you from Rockford? If so, what neighborhood and how did growing up in Rockford influence you? If not, what brought you to Rockford and when? | I grew up in Detroit, Michigan, in a racially and socio-economically diverse neighborhood, and went to college in Upper Michigan. After college I worked in Houston, Texas and various places in the Chicago area, moving to Rockford about six years ago. I changed careers, from engineering to running my own financial services business, to allow greater flexibility in order to care for my mother. I sought an areaæthat provided excellent senior services for my mother but also a diverse community with many activities. After researching and visiting the area, I found exactly that and more in Rockford. My mother recently passed on in November, but I have fallen in love with Rockford and now consider Rockford my true home. | |
| What is something people might be surprised to learn about you? | Many people have never known that I played the trumpet when I was younger and was in the school orchestra and marching band for many years. In my later years in high school, I set aside my organized musical endeavors to become more active in college-bound activities such as the debate team. Still, after all these years, I pick up the trumpet from time to time. | |
| Describe a time when you thought one way, but then were convinced to change your mind? | I grew up in a happy and loving family atmosphere. I thought if a person would get a college education and be financially independent that domestic violence would never be a concern. But as I got older and was married I became more aware of the circumstances of my friends and others around me. I realized I needed to change my mind; that domestic violence was not just a concern for people who were poor. It didn't matter if one did everything right, had a college education, and the means to support oneself. Domestic violence does not discriminate across economic, cultural, gender, or age boundaries. Domestic Violence is in all aspects of our community and has to be fought unceasingly. |
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| Occupation: | Business Owner, Financial Services | |
| Field of Experience, either paid or volunteer | Financial Planning Services, Personnel Recruitment, Engineering, Environmental Services, League of Women Voters Local Government Committee, Neighborhood Group President, Community Groups |
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| How do you feel about Rockford and why? | Rockford is a medium-sized city the mindset of a small town. People are very friendly and have a general concern for the well-being of others around them. Neighbors will stop and say "Hi" if you are out mowing your lawn or shoveling snow. In fact, they may even pitch in and help during snowstorms. And like a small town, the people you know are everywhere. You would be hard-pressed not to run into friends and acquaintances as you attend to daily errands and activities around the Rockford area. I love that about Rockford.[1] |
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| What are Rockford's major strengths? | Rockford is known for its its vibrant restaurant scene, world-class parks and recreation, family-friendly holiday activities, plus many historical and cultural places of interest. On any given weekend there is any number of places to be. However, I believe the major strength of Rockford is its people. Rockfordians are friendly, outgoing, and have concern for others. They are hard-working, tough-minded, and resilient. They display generosity, which is demonstrated in the many opportunities for activism throughout Rockford. |
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| What are Rockford's major challenges and what do you plan to do about them as alderman (List and explain your top three)? | The same challenges that plague Rockford are also major concerns in my Ward. However, because the 11th Ward has been underserved for so many years, these challenges have been heightened. These challenges and remedies include: 1.) Forums and workshops are needed to further address safety, social-economic, and race inequity. Relations between residents and law enforcement can be strengthened through activities, but also through greater community policing and law enforcement oversite. 2.) Rockford has a large pool of workers with 20th century skills. The key to attracting more business is to provide training in emergent technologies so that companies can hire the skilled workers they need. That training must be in locations where the workers live and can easily access. 3.) If community is Rockford's "superpower," we must encourage neighbor watch groups to have more social events. Studies indicate that the more neighbors get to know each other the more they will look out for each other, resulting in a reduction in crime, which is sorely needed. |
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| Candidate Party | Democrat | |
| Elective Office | Alderperson | |
| Constituent Area | 11th Ward | |
| Candidate Status | Challenger | |
| Why do you want to be on the City Council? What prompted you to run for office? | I decided to run for Alderman because of the lack of leadership and communication in the 11th Ward. I want to ensure that the families and businesses in the 11th Ward have all the opportunities for a safe quality of life and an economic environment with growth-potential. | |
| How much time, in hours, do you think you will have to spend each week in committee meetings? | 15 | |
| How much time, in hours, will you have available each week to address constituents concerns, discuss issues, and personally meet with some constituents? | 15 | |
| Do you have any plans, or ambition, to seek other elected positions in government after serving on the City Council? | No, This office is my only goal. | |
| Do you plan to hold regular public constituent meetings? | Yes, monthly | |
| What are the special challenges of your constituent area and how do you plan to address those needs? | There is a high unemployment rate, high rate of crime, and need to improve roads, sidewalks, etc. Plan includes workshops addressing unemployment, crime, resources for home improvement, and committee to oversee funds for ward improvement. Citizen action groups will research and advise me with decisions. |
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| What specific talents from your previous experiences make you a good candidate for your office? | My experience in financial planning services, personnel recruitment, engineering and environmental services, as well, as my volunteer work in neighborhoods, youth activities, community groups, and elected school positions. | |
| For Rockford aldermanic candidates: On which committees do you wish to be a member? | Code & Regulation Labor Negotiations Rockford Area Economic Development Council Planning & Development Finance & Personnel |
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| What specific skills do you bring to the committees? | My work experience in Financial Planning Services, Personnel Recruitment, Business Owner, Engineering, and Environmental Services. My volunteer work in Neighborhood Groups, Community Groups, School Organizations, and Business Organizations. |
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| What is your experience in group negotiations for stated goals? (In partisan situations certain guidelines may need consensus.) | My experience has included negotiations with environment agencies about required equipment and discharge limits in company environmental permits as well as with school officials about student needs. |
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| If you feel strongly about a particular issue and your constituents feel the opposite, how would you vote when the issues comes up on the Council? | Vote as the majority of my constituents want. I represent them. | |
| In decisions where your constituent area will gain at the expense of the community as a whole, where does your allegiance to your constituent area end and your concern about community-wide issues begin? | I will vote as my constituents want. However, there is an adage of "winning the battle but loosing the war." After thoroughly reviewing the issue and discussing the issue with my constituency, I will sometimes vote with the adage in mind |
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| What is the core reason(s) for crime in your constituent area and the community as a whole. | Police reports indicate the majority of crime in our area is attributed to kids. Crime is also because some people Òdo not want to get involvedÓ and don't report crimes. Criminals won't worry about what they do if they won't be reported. |
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| What ideas do you have to reduce crime in your constituent area and the community as a whole? Please include funding ideas. | Ideas include youth activities; more neighborhood watch groups; provide tools for increasing the reporting of crimes; and improving the relations between our citizens and police. Funding will include grants and community fund raising. |
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| Do you support retraining police to reduce confrontational police tactics? | Yes, police retraining is needed and additional social resources are needed to augment the ability to keep the peace. |
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| What method would you support to pay for additional social resources to keep the peace? | Re-allocate current police funding to pay for additional social resources. No higher taxes. |
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| What do you think the community can do about the increase in gun violence that has not already been done? | In addition to answers above, we will encourage neighbor watch groups to have social events. Studies indicate that the more neighbors get to know each other, the more they will look out for each other, resulting in a reduction in crime. |
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| What ideas do you have for more commerce that brings jobs to the community for middle-class wages and benefits? | The key to attracting more companies is providing training in the newer technologies that companies now need. Even if we show companies economic incentives in relocating to Rockford, it would be for not if we didn't have the trained workers |
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| What do you think needs done to address the issues of social-economic and race inequity this community? | Forums and workshops need to be developed to address social-economic and race inequity. Relations between residents can be strengthened through picnics, block parties, chili-cook offs, etc. |
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| For Rockford Candidates Only: Do you support the continuation of the 1% sales tax for road infrastructure? | Yes | |
| Concerning the Covid-19 pandemic, what mitigation-level rules you support? | Mandatory CDC-recommended masks and 6-foot social distancing. | |
| Please state any other areas, important to you, that you want the public to know. | The only way to make the 11th Ward truly representative of its citizens is to vote. DonÕt let anyone stop you. Whomever is elected, make them accountable to everyone in the Ward, regardless of whether they funded or volunteered for the candidate. Demand public meetings. Demand equal access to city services. I guarantee you, as your alderman, you will finally be equally represented. |