Small and Midsize Manufacturers Query 2025 Municipal Candidates

Results from TMA’s 2025 Municipal Candidate Questionnaires

SCHAUMBURG – It’s been two years since the Technology & Manufacturing Association (TMA) shared with their members the results of their 2023 Municipal Questionnaires for mayoral candidates. This year, another batch of municipalities will be electing their local government leadership. 

The 2025 election will be held April 1, and in total, 29 candidates responded to TMA’s query this year. 

TMA started asking mayoral candidates their views on issues of importance to their businesses as more and more of their members expressed concerns about how local officials and their political philosophies directly affect business decisions.

“TMA has been working with members to open their shops to elected officials in order to acquaint elected officials with the challenges and rewards they face as business owners in their villages and districts,” said Dennis G. LaComb, TMA’s Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff.  “The more comfortable our members are with elected officials, the more effective their voices can be on public policy decisions. That’s good for all those involved.” 

TMA asked mayoral candidates their positions on ten key issues affecting manufacturers in their communities. They were given the opportunity to explain why they were running and what they hoped to accomplish if elected.

They were also able to list any local manufacturers supporting their candidacy and answer why all manufacturers should support them.

As a result, TMA chose to offer ratings of “highly recommended” for those mayoral candidates that scored 100% in agreement with TMA’s positions on crucial issues.  TMA also offers a “recommended” rating for candidates who scored at least 75% on their answers. 

Questions the 2025 candidates were asked included: 

Taxation

The small and midsize manufacturers TMA represents are impacted directly by the decisions local officials make on their businesses. Illinois companies pay among the highest sales, property, gasoline, and income taxes in the United States.

In a global economy, Illinois manufacturers compete nationally and internationally. Cents on the dollar can make or break prospective business deals. Tax demands, in addition to business expenses, may determine whether bids are won or lost. Losing bids risk good-paying jobs and the generous economic benefits resulting from Illinois-based manufacturing.

Taxes also impact the employees of small and midsize manufacturers. Increases in grocery, utility, and other local taxes place strain on business owners and their employees.

TMA members want to know about your positions on taxation and how those positions would impact their ability to compete on a worldwide basis and allow them to keep up with the rising cost-of-living:

• • Do you support/oppose allowing local governments to abate all or a portion of their property tax for small and midsize manufacturers? (Support/Oppose)
  • Do you support/oppose freezing the municipal tax levy so the tax rate can start to come down and property owners can begin to see much-needed tax relief? (Support/Oppose)
  • Do you support/oppose creating and/or maintaining a tax exemption for energy used in the manufacturing process? (Support/Oppose)
  • Do you support/oppose allowing an exemption from local sales tax on the purchases of production-related, tangible personal property as well as manufacturing machinery and equipment? (Support/Oppose)
  • Illinois eliminated the state’s grocery tax starting in 2026, which will mean a significant loss of revenue to municipalities if it is not re-established. Do you support/oppose increasing local taxes or fees on businesses to make up that loss in revenue? (Support/Oppose)

Regulations

Manufacturing in the United States has changed, becoming more precise and higher value thanks to improved technology and cloud-based manufacturing. TMA members are leading the way with performance and technological advances resulting in higher-paying, top-notch performance jobs for skilled American workers.

Overly burdensome regulations at the federal, state and local levels stifle innovation, invade a company’s culture, impact its productivity and thwart its bottom line. Employers already understand their employees’ safety and happiness are crucial to their company’s success and reason enough for investment. That’s why nearly all TMA employers already offer vacation and sick days, employee training, and commonly offer entry-level salaries at 25 percent above the current minimum wage.

TMA members want to know about your positions on regulations and how they would impact their ability to compete on a worldwide basis:

• • Manufacturing operations often require special needs that don’t fit perfectly into municipal zoning classifications. Do you support/oppose providing flexibility through variances to allow manufacturing companies to locate or expand in your community? (Support/Oppose)
  • Would you support/oppose waiving or reducing tap-on fees and/or providing other incentives to encourage manufacturers to build new facilities in your municipality? (Support/Oppose)
  • The bureaucracy of permitting and licensing varies from municipality to municipality and excessive regulations significantly hamper manufacturing productivity and job growth. Would you support/oppose minimizing excessive permitting and licensing requirements that are not crucial for health or safety? (Support/Oppose)

And, finally, 

Manufacturing Outreach

Traditionally, manufacturing organizations focus their advocacy efforts on state and federal officials where the impact of taxes, regulations and healthcare is more direct on manufacturing. TMA has determined it is beneficial for our members to reach out to local government leaders, as well.

Consider the following questions that TMA believes would be helpful in nurturing and building manufacturers’ relationships with their local officials:

• • Would you be interested in visiting an area manufacturer to gain insight into the issues that concern them the most? (I’m interested/No thanks)
  • Would be interested in initiating an advisory council of local manufacturers to whom you’d look for counsel on how considered measures would affect their businesses? (I’m interested/No thanks)
  • Would you be interested in hearing from other officials in your area how they are taking positive steps to encourage manufacturing growth? (I’m interested/No thanks)

TMA will share its results with members at TMANews.com/vote25 leading up to the April 1st election. 

Based on the candidates’ responses to TMA’s questionniare, the Technology & Manufacturing Association makes the following assessments for their members: “Highly Recommended” for those that answered TMA’s questions with a 100% score and “Recommended” for those whose answers were less than 100% but at least 75%. 

For more details on voting, see TMANews.com/vote25, as well.