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Don Gerard

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Don Gerard
File:Don Gerard, Mayor of the City of Champaign, Illinois.jpg
Mayor of Champaign
Assumed office
May 2011 (2011-May)
Preceded byGerald Schweighart
Personal details
Born(1965-10-31)October 31, 1965
Chicago, Illinois
Political partyDemocratic
ChildrenTwo
Alma materUniversity of Illinois
ProfessionFacilities manager
Musician

Don Gerard (born October 31, 1965) is the current mayor of the city of Champaign, Illinois.[1]

Early life and work

Gerard was born October 31, 1965 in Chicago, Illinois.[2] He moved to Champaign, Illinois in 1968, where he attained the rank of Eagle Scout in local Boy Scout Troop 7.[3] He attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign[4]

Prior to serving as mayor, he began a job as a facilities manager at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign where he continues to work.[2][5]

Music

Gerard has played in a number of local rock bands, including The Farmboys (with Adam Schmitt), The Bowery Boys (with Leroy Bach), The Moon Seven Times (with Lynn Canfield, Henry Frayne, and Brendan Gamble)[6] on Roadrunner Records, and Steve Pride and His Blood Kin (with Jay Bennett).[7] He was also a member of the short-lived skate rock band McWilson.[8]

Mayor

Election

On April 5, 2011, Gerard defeated three-term and twelve-year incumbent Gerald Schweighart,[9] receiving 4,324 votes (51.4%) to Schweighart's 4,092 votes (48.6%).[10] His four-year term began in May 2011[9] and ends in 2015.[1] Upon his election, he promised responsible fiscal management without big impacts on essential city services. Schweighart defended cuts made during his tenure as appropriate.[9]

Actions

As liquor commissioner, Gerard issued emergency orders restricting the distribution of alcohol on "Unofficial St. Patrick's Day" (celebrated by students at the nearby University of Illinois) in February 2012 and February 2013.[11][12]

Responding to a campaign by Champaign residents, Gerard and the city council voted to allow chickens to be kept within city limits for egg production. Gerard reported that he received more emails on the chicken issue than any tax issue in his first term.[13]

Gerard has explored bringing a minor league baseball team to the city.[14]

Policies

Environmentalism

Together with the mayor of nearby Urbana, Laurel Prussing, Gerard has worked to get the Mahomet Aquifer designated as a Sole Source Aquifer by the EPA.[15][16] This designation is intended to help prevent contamination and overuse.[17]

Gerard has participated in several attempts to reduce the use of disposable plastic bags.[18] In July 2012, he traveled to Chicago to help fight a bill that would ban local municipalities from restricting their use.[19][20] The bill was vetoed by Governor Pat Quinn in August.[21]

Marriage Equality

Mayor Gerard has been an active proponent of marriage equality in the State of Illinois, saying in an interview, "I’ll put my voice in for marriage equality 24 hours a day. I think that’s something I believe in".[22] To this end, Gerard was an early signatory of the Mayors for the Freedom to Marry petition.[23] Despite Champaign receiving an above-average score on the Human Rights Campaign "municipal equality index" for LGBT issues, Mayor Gerard said he would continue to seek ways to improve.[24]

Immigration

In October 2013, Mayor Gerard joined with other mayors from around Illinois, including Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, in urging the Illinois congressional delegation to vote for immigration reform. Said Gerard, “No matter from where a talented individual may come, we should be able to afford them the opportunity to keep their talents here if they so wish”.[25]

Personal

Through his musical and political careers, Gerard has become a fixture of local pop culture as evidenced by winning Illini Media's "Best Personality" award in 2013 after coming in as runner-up in 2012.[26][27]

As an Eagle Scout, Mayor Gerard continues to make scouting a part of his life - both by attending local Eagle Scout ceremonies, as well as serving in the Board of Directors for the local Prairielands Council of the Boy Scouts of America.[28]

Civil Case

Mayor Gerard settled a small claims case filed against him by his former girlfriend, Laura Huth. A financial settlement had been reached between Mayor Gerard and Do Good Consulting owner Laura Huth. The money was for consulting work that Huth had performed for Gerard during campaign for mayor in 2011. The amount of the settlement was not disclosed.[29]

References

  1. ^ a b "Home > City Council". Website of the City of Champaign. City of Champaign. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Candidates for mayor of Champaign". The News Gazette. Retrieved 2013-06-19.
  3. ^ "Don Gerard | Mayor of Champaign >> About". Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  4. ^ "About Don". Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  5. ^ "Staff Directory". University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign School of Integrative Biology. Retrieved 2013-06-19.
  6. ^ "Hive Five: Musicians With Political Cred". Viacom (MTV Hive). 8 August 2011. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  7. ^ Margasak, Peter (6 April 2011). "Former Rocker Don Gerard Elected Mayor of Champaign". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  8. ^ "Don Gerard for Mayor" http://skateandannoy.com/2011/01/don-gerard-for-mayor/
  9. ^ a b c Wade, Patrick (6 April 2011). "Gerard elected mayor of Champaign". The News-Gazette. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  10. ^ "Official Final County Summary*". Champaign County Clerk. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  11. ^ "Champaign Mayor issues emergency order for Unofficial". Daily Illini. 10 February 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  12. ^ "Gerard issues emergency order for 2013 'Unofficial'". The News-Gazette. 20 February 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  13. ^ "Champaign council backs chickens". The News-Gazette. 9 July 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  14. ^ "Champaign mayor wants baseball in town's future". State Journal-Register. Associated Press. 27 June 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  15. ^ "Coalition seeks to stop landfill from taking PCB's". WGLT. 16 October 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  16. ^ "Mahomet 'Sole Source' Aquifer Petition Process Underway". WILL Radio/TV online. 15 October 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  17. ^ "The Mahomet Aquifer". Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  18. ^ Patrick Wade (8 February 2012). "Champaign officials look at reining in use of plastic bags". The News-Gazette. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  19. ^ "Girl to Quinn: Bag the plastic bag bill". Chicago Tribune. 2 July 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  20. ^ "12-Year-Old Girl Urges Quinn To Toss Out Plastic Bag Legislation". CBS Chicago. 3 July 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  21. ^ "Governor Quinn Vetoes 'Plastic Bag' Bill, Calls it a Roadblock to Innovation". 26 August 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  22. ^ Donald Mabbott (10 October 2013). "15 questions for Mayor Don Gerard". Smile Politely. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  23. ^ "Mayors for the Freedom to Marry". Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  24. ^ Wade, Patrick (28 November 2013). "LGBT equality index puts Champaign in middle of Illinois cities". The News-Gazette. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  25. ^ Ellison, Nyajai (30 October 2013). "Illinois mayors call for immigration reform to help economy". The Daily Illini. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  26. ^ Neumann, Sean (8 November 2013). "Winner: Don Gerard". http://readbuzz.com/best-of-cu/2013/winner-don-gerard. Retrieved 4 December 2013. {{cite news}}: External link in |newspaper= (help)
  27. ^ Durley, Dan (10 November 2012). "Winner: Dawna Nelson". buzz. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  28. ^ "Board of Directors - Prairielands Council, BSA". Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  29. ^ "Champaign Mayor Don Gerard settles civil case with Laura Huth". The News Gazette. 19 September 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.

External links

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