Charles N. Brown: Candidate Profile

Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: GenevaWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Geneva AldermanAge: 69Family: Wife: Mary Kay Brown, Children: Chris Brown, Susan Brown Kerby Six grandchildrenOccupation: Fermilab Staff ScientistEducation: PhD, Experimental Physics, University of Rochester, 1968Civic involvement: Currently: Alderman, City of Geneva, 1987-1992, 1995-2011Chairman, Kane County Public Building CommissionBoard Member Visiting Nurse Association of Fox ValleyFermilab Educational Outreach ProgramsPreviously: Board Member Geneva Community ChestFriends of Geneva Public LibraryCoach and Referee TriCity Soccer and TriCity HockeyElected offices held: Alderman, City of Geneva, 1987-1992, 1995-2011Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 I pledge to keep the City portion of your Property Tax bill as low as possible.Key Issue 2 I will respond to the concerns and suggestions of my constituents immediately.Key Issue 3 I will work to preserve Geneva's unique downtown.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?As a resident of the 1st Ward for 37 years, as the longest serving member of the City Council, and as a Scientist, I bring a unique perspective to the City Council that compliments that of the other Council members.Given the delicate balance between the need for revenue and over-taxing local businesses, what is your opinion of your community's present level of local sales taxes? Is the tax just right, too low or too high? Explain.Recently we found it necessary to temporarily raise the local portion of the sales tax to keep the City finances solvent during this recession. The argument for this approach was that some of the sales tax is paid by visitors to Geneva. I will work to repeal the increase as soon as possible.Talking with your friends and neighbors, what seems to be their biggest public safety concern? Explain the concern as you see it, and discuss how you think it should be addressed.Many of the calls I receive concern vehicular speeding. The Geneva Police Department is very responsive if an Alderman brings particular problem locations to their attention. I have found that working with the Police Department on signage changes, and enhanced patrol, often helps.In these tight economic times, municipal budgets have to be prioritized. Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?I voted to reduce Aldermanic salaries but was outvoted by a majority of the Council. In the short run, postponing capital expenditures and leaving open positions unfilled is necessary to counter a downturn in the economy. In the long run, the Fire, Police and Public Works Departments dominate the City Budget. Looking for efficiencies or outsourcing possibilities in these areas is my goal.What#146;s one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?I have suggested time-of-day metering of electricity usage as a way to keep our electrical rates as low as possible. I also plan on investigating whether billing utlity usage only bimonthly will reduce meter reading and billing costs.