The day after winning election as the new Mayor of Sycamore, Steve Braser appeared before the Sycamore Rotary Club. Braser is no stranger to city government having served as Ward 3 Alderman for twelve years. A local businessman, he operated Downtown Shoes in Sycamore for 30 years and currently manages the insurance division of Resource Bank. Braser said he came back to the area after college in 1980 for what he thought would be a temporary stay and never left, raising a family of four children with his wife, Beth. Braser also has a history of giving back to the community by volunteering with area business and human services organizations.
Braser pledged to retain the quality-of-life attributes that make Sycamore a special place to live and do business while adapting to changes that benefit the community. He noted how safe it was to walk through all parts of the city while campaigning and that the city has been growing responsibly while other towns in Illinois have been losing population. He said Sycamore is financially stable, including being one of the few communities in the state to meet fire and police pension obligations. But he acknowledged the downtown area is going through a transition as retail shopping patterns change. And he pointed out opportunities to reinforce collaborations because of new leaders at the Park District, School District, and choosing a new city manager.
Braser said he would like to come back to Rotary in six to nine months with a progress report on his tenure in office. He hinted there could be some significant development announcements coming soon. He also encouraged residents to call him with feedback on his job performance and with suggestions on how to maintain a vibrant City of Sycamore going forward.
Braser pledged to retain the quality-of-life attributes that make Sycamore a special place to live and do business while adapting to changes that benefit the community. He noted how safe it was to walk through all parts of the city while campaigning and that the city has been growing responsibly while other towns in Illinois have been losing population. He said Sycamore is financially stable, including being one of the few communities in the state to meet fire and police pension obligations. But he acknowledged the downtown area is going through a transition as retail shopping patterns change. And he pointed out opportunities to reinforce collaborations because of new leaders at the Park District, School District, and choosing a new city manager.
Braser said he would like to come back to Rotary in six to nine months with a progress report on his tenure in office. He hinted there could be some significant development announcements coming soon. He also encouraged residents to call him with feedback on his job performance and with suggestions on how to maintain a vibrant City of Sycamore going forward.