Bio
Office sought: Arlington Heights village board (Vote for 4)
City: Arlington Heights
Age: 58
Occupation: Chief Operations Officer
Previous offices held: Trustee — Arlington Heights Memorial Library
What is the most serious issue your community will face in the coming years and how should the village board respond to it?
The biggest issue coming up has to do with Arlington Park. What happens there can reshape our village. If the Bears decide that they do want to build here, as a board we have to determine if it is good for all. There are three main areas we have to consider: 1. The incoming property and sales taxes have to compensate for any additional village expenses, 2. Any nonfootball developments cannot negatively affect the current businesses in the downtown and 3. There will be more traffic along the main routes, such as on 53, Euclid, Northwest Highway, Wilke, and others. How will that be handled and mitigated. If any of these are not good for the village, as a board, we need determine the next course of action to make sure they are all in a positive direction.
How would you describe the state of your community's finances? What should be the top priorities for spending during the next few years? Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed?
Financially, Arlington Heights is in a comfortable position. The fact that we went five years without increasing the tax levy, yet still continued to offer all necessary services and eliminated the village sticker, is a demonstration of where we are. Top areas for spending always need to be on public safety and to keep our infrastructure secure, as we are doing in regards to the lead line replacement program. I would not say that there are necessarily areas to curtail, but we have to be financially responsible. Up until this last budget we had five years with zero levy increase. For the 12 years I have spent on the Library Board, I am proud that 10 of them we also did not increase the tax levy. That is done by always asking the question on a new project “Do we need absolutely need it?” If the answer is “Yes,” then the next question is “Is this the most cost effective way to achieve it?” Simple questions, but financially they can make a difference. Then once a budget is set, we need to make sure that we keep to it, with no overruns.
What do you see as the most important infrastructure project the community must address? Why and how should it be paid for? Conversely, during these uncertain economic times, what project(s) can be put on the back burner?
The lead line replacement program is a hot topic right now and needs to be continued. As I have talked to many residents, there are concerns throughout the village of the conditions of the streets, such as Hintz. Also, there is much conversation about better bicycle paths to connect the ends of town and provide for safer commutes. Paying for anything has to be done within our budgets, though. The goal is always to have a zero tax levy. All infrastructure projects are important to our village and how it affects those that live here. At this point, I have not targeted any that I feel need to be put on a back burner. What we have done on the Library Board is to evaluate all projects and determine which are necessities and which would be nice to have done. At that point we decide which can be pushed out so as not to inflate the current operating budget. This is a discussion that needs to be had among the board, with the staff recommendations.
What economic incentives, if any, should Arlington Heights be willing to offer the Chicago Bears to attract the team's stadium project to Arlington Park? Please explain your reasoning.
Regardless of what is developed on the Arlington Park spot, there will be infrastructure costs that the developers will ask for. As a board, we need to make sure that the taxes brought in from this site, outpaces what is going to be spent on items such as roads, sewers, lighting and any potential increased costs in Police and Fire services. While the village will, and should, partner with them, as we should with any business, I do not believe we should offer any additional economic incentives for this project. This is a prime piece of property and I do wish for the Bears to come here, but it cannot be on the back of the taxpayers in our village.
If the Bears succeed in developing a new stadium in Chicago instead of Arlington Heights, what type of development would you want to see on the Arlington Park property? How would you see that benefiting the community?
That’s the big question! What do we do with that land? Do we build more homes or should it be turned into another downtown type of area or should an industrial complex be put there? First of all, it takes someone willing to develop it. The village cannot do it on their own. IF it goes in that direction, we would have to take every opportunity brought to us and evaluate with the criteria I will use for everything: Does it fit our community? How does it impact the neighbors? What are the required actions of the village and what would those costs be? My belief, though, is that it should not be a second downtown. Instead it needs to be one that compliments the other businesses in our village. As large as it is, I do not see it becoming one type of development. Adding an entertainment district, that does not adversely affect other venues in town, along with housing that would be affordable for those just starting out in their careers or those on fixed incomes would be something to look at.
Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy. What is your style in such a setting to reach an agreement and manage local government? Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your village board.
For the last 12 years, I have been a trustee on the Arlington Heights Memorial Library Board. One of our critical functions is setting policy that will enhance the library, serve our community, and help our staff. I served for four years as board president where I had to lead the effort to guide the decision making into policies that make sense and were fiscally responsible. My style is collaborative. While I come into every discussion with an idea of what should be done, I want to hear everyone’s thoughts before coming to a conclusion. I also want to encourage all to voice their opinions. A board needs to work as a team. We may not always agree, but we have to come from the same point that we want what is best for the village and for the staff. The fact that all six of the additional Library Board Trustees are endorsing me, is proof that I am effective in working as a team in this environment.
What makes you the best candidate for the job?
There is going to be quite a lot of change on the Village Board after this election with a minimum of three new trustees and a new mayor. While change is nothing to be scared of, I am the only candidate of the seven new prospective trustees that has the experience in working in this environment. The citizens in Arlington Heights have already seen me in action and know that I make decisions based on what is best for all. I am not doing this for further political gain or a particular agenda. It is simply because I want to keep our village strong for all that live here, bring the diverse communities together, offer the staff a great place to work, while being fiscally responsible in our spending. While being on the Board at AHML, I have already proven I can work with a team and show that I make decisions that are good for the community, but are fiscally responsible. The voters already know what they are getting and that I am always there for them.
What’s one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?
This village is already doing many good things. Yes, there will always be issues such as infrastructure, the hiring of police officers, rising costs, and developing the open parcels of land. My biggest concern, though, has to be with the overall dialogue and bringing everyone together. We have a slogan of “Village of Good Neighbors.” And we are! At the same time we have diverse communities within our village and three distinct regions: North, Central, and South. I know that there are people on the two opposite ends of town that do not feel they have a voice or are represented in what is decided. Also, there are many nationalities that are represented within our borders that are not heard from. While I know the Village Board has put together groups to help determine direction as they develop new strategic initiatives, I feel we need to make these more permanent and given more of a seat at the table.