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| By G. Michael Dobbs, Managing Editor SPRINGFIELD Although he didn't make it onto the Springfield City Council two years ago, John Lysak believes he did well enough to warrant another run. "The city is in a great position to have some new leadership," he told Reminder Publications. "It's time for the city to move forward.' Unlike many current City Council members, Lysak doesn't see the Finance Control Board (FCB) continued role in the city's government as a problem. Lysak does support having the FCB here for another year. "I don't want it to be a permanent fixture," he added. He also differs with members of the council in his support to ward representation. He supports the plan of eight ward representatives and five at-large councilors. Lysak said that many of the issues he spoke of during the last campaign remain of concern today. "We need to clean up the city," he said. Getting buildings in better shape and dealing with absentee landlords is a "huge, huge thing." He also called for more code enforcement in the city. He said the on-going perception of Springfield being a dangerous community and the outcry concerning the enforcement of quality of life issues has led him to call for the formation of an auxiliary police force, not unlike units existing in neighboring smaller communities. Lysak said volunteers who are seeking experience, as police officers would staff this unit. The unit could be assigned to enforce quality of life violations, freeing up full-time officers for other duties. Lysak believes this would be a way to increase law enforcement activities in the city without increasing the budget. With the discussion of casinos being renewed at the state level, Lysak said while he wonders if a casino would be a fit on the city's riverfront, he is not pushing for a casino. Lysak is a native of the city and was raised in the Pine Point neighborhood. He is a financial services agent. |