Anti-tax advocate will run for Geneva mayor
By Linda Girardi For The Beacon-News November 30, 2012 1:42PM
Updated: January 3, 2013 6:26AM
Bob McQuillan, the co-founder of the grassroots group Geneva TaxFACTS, says he’s ready to run for mayor in Geneva.
“I started a few years ago watching the finances of the school district and encouraged them to control costs as much as possible and it seems as though they have taken that turn,” McQuillan said.
Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns has already announced he will seek a fourth term in office in April.
“I look forward to hearing more about Mr. Quillan’s plan to raise revenues and having a spirited discussion throughout the campaign,” Burns said.
McQuillan, 56, said Geneva residents are primarily concerned, and likely will be for the next four years, about the impact declining assessed values of their homes will have on property taxes.
“The way assessments work on homes, with a three-year rolling average, it will be at least until 2015 or 2016 before we see any increase in our assessed values and that will directly affect where the tax base will be,” he said. “They need someone who will go in and take a thorough look at where the money is being spent, cut expenses and generate revenue for the city other than property tax revenue.”
McQuillan, who has worked in sales and marketing, said he is organizing his campaign. He said in the first part of the year will announce goals and ideas for generating local revenues.
McQuillan and his wife, Karen, moved to Geneva in 1997, where they raised their three children. He has a bachelor’s degree in food marketing and a master’s degree in business administration. He is currently a regional sales manager for a New Jersey healthcare marketing firm.
