Humpfer, Marks discuss plans for Carpentersville

Now that Paul Humpfer and Doug Marks have rolled to victory in Carpentersville, the duo, who ran together in the five-way race for village trustee, are making plans for the village’s financial future.

To that end, both men propose floating an ordinance that would place future fee and tax increases on the ballot for voter approval — something that is not required at the moment, as Carpentersville is a home-rule community with a board that decides those matters.

Humpfer, a fiscal conservative, has been on the board since 2005, chairs its audit and finance commission and supports the tea party’s focus on lower taxes and limited government interference. Marks is a member of the Fox Valley Libertarian Party who ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2010 and belongs to three tea parties, including the Dundee tea party.

“Our stand on taxes and smaller government brought us together,” said Marks, a software consultant.

Both speak of a need to listen to the people.

Humpfer, an accountant, sided with angry residents last year by voting against issuing $20 million in bonds for a new public works facility. He also resisted the recent tax levy increase that helped pay for a portion of its construction, but he lost out to the board majority.

“If ... trustees are going to choose to ignore what the residents want, then I think the home-rule issue becomes a problem,” Humpfer said.

The pair also intend to push for a two-year freeze on all taxes and fees to “stop adding more burden to the local people,” Marks said.

Next, the duo hopes to resurrect a codes committee to review all village ordinances. The committee, which Marks hopes to lead, would be responsible for recommending which ordinances get tossed out, which ones get modified and which are left alone. As well, ordinances not reviewed after three years would disappear from the books. The idea is to help the village run more efficiently.

“Some ordinances have been on the books that may be put in place to get a particular result, Humpfer said, but no longer are necessary. He pointed to an ordinance that fines people $75 for spitting on public property.

Humpfer was the lone incumbent in the race, as trustees Judy Sigwalt and Keith Hinz did not seek re-election. Marks and Humpfer were the top vote-getters in the race in which only 6.1 percent of registered voters cast ballots Tuesday. Challenger Don Burroway also won a seat in Tuesday’s race. They start their four-year terms in May.