Francine McGuire-Popeck

On the Record

What experiences do you have that make you a good candidate for office?

First, I have utilized the services of a local library since childhood when my mother began reading library books to me and taking me to story-telling programs. I continued to utilize library services throughout my youthful school years, through college and again as an adult returning to school. Today, I still enjoy utilizing our library’s services and educational and entertaining programs. Secondly, I feel that my years of experience in the business world as a consultant and salesperson in the telecommunications field and as a business analyst in information technology have provided me with skills, such as requirements gathering, cost justification, and contract negotiation, that will be an asset on the board as it makes financial decisions.

What are your top two or three priorities if elected?

1) Through results of upcoming Community Survey, determine what changes to make in library services, programs and hours of operation; 2) Determine what alternative funding methods, besides taxes, can be employed for services and programs; 3) Resolve lawsuit with Geneva library district.

Would you support freezing your taxing district’s levy until housing prices rebound? Why or why not?

Housing sales and prices both nationally and in Chicago are beginning to rebound but not yet to the level in the Fox Valley that enable us to feel economically secure. A potential request for an increase to the library district’s levy would need to be thoroughly examined and cost justified based on community needs, along with investigation into other potential funding sources that could be utilized before the district’s levy was increased.

What one decision by the library board do you most disagree with and why?

Many years ago, when the library first became a district, the board had an opportunity to annex additional property within the Batavia city limits but voted against it.

What was the biggest accomplishment of the board in the past year?

1) Bringing in more technology devices for the public to a) Try before buying their own and, 2) In the case of PCs, utilize to pay their bills, apply for jobs, do research, etc. 2) The joint website project with the Batavia Depot Museum to make Batavia historical information more available to the local community and the world. 3) Evaluating the condition of outside facilities and deciding that a remediation program is needed sooner versus later when conditions worsen and repairs will be more costly. 3) The addition of many more programs for the public to learn from and enjoy.

Why should voters elect you to office?

I have the ability to weigh both sides of an issue while maintaining objectivity and am not afraid to ask questions and voice concerns. As a Batavia taxpayer, I will endeavor to make decisions that will enable our library to meet the changing needs of our community while being mindful of controlling costs.