Mayor challenged in Whiting

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Updated: November 24, 2011 3:34AM

Municipalities are faced with a lot of tough choices these days, but Whiting managed to trim its budget and create new parks at the same time.

Mayor Joe Stahura touted these efforts in his bid for a third term. Stahura is being challenged by entrepreneur David Aguilera in the Democratic primary.

“We weathered a major crisis with the property tax situation,” Stahura said. “We have 25 percent fewer employees and a 25 percent lower budget than we did in 2004, but we haven’t had any layoffs.”

Stahura said that the city works on infrastructure issues every year, but the Standard Diamonds Park project is really transforming the city. Part of it was funded by the Regional Development Authority.

The stadium, which opened this spring, is the new home of Whiting High School and Calumet College of St. Joseph’s baseball teams. The second phase of Whiting’s lakefront park will include a concession stand, parking lots and pavilion seating.

The city also acquired Whihala Beach from the county, rehabilitated a community center, gave $1 million in grants to home and business owners and helped create two housing developments.

“The tax cap losses are shrinking, but I don’t want to say out of the woods yet,” Stahura said. “The assessed value climbed so dramatically so we’re in a somewhat better place than some other mayors. But unless (the state) unfreezes the levy, we could still face some structural problems down the road.”

Aguilera said he is concerned about increases in crime and gang activity in the city.

“This needs to be attended to and we need to protect our residents,” Aguilera said.

He said the city needs to communicate better with residents about opportunities they may have to appeal their property tax bills.

“People are losing their houses because they are trying to fight but they don’t know how,” Aguilera said. “If I am elected, I would inform citizens exactly what needs to be done and update the city web site regularly. I would cut the budget from the top and not the bottom.”

Aguilera said that the new baseball field is nice, but it’s only useful three to four months of the year. He proposed an indoor sports pavilion that would be open year-round.