John Bielenda: 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: LombardWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Lombard Park Board (6-year Terms)Age: 60Family: Married to Susan, 2 children Jacquline and John, 3 grandchildrenOccupation: President -WESTMORE SUPPLY CO.Education: BS Management MBA NIUCivic involvement: Lombard Park District Board Friends of The Library Lombard BaseballElected offices held: Lombard Park DistrictHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Continue to insure the financial stabilty of the Lombard Park DistrictKey Issue 2 Implement the long term Master PlanKey Issue 3 Insure the continued growth in senior and teen programmingQuestions Answers What programs aren't paying for themselves? Would you keep, eliminate or change them? How and why?Usually senior and teen programs don't pay for themselves. This being said the need still exists and should be funded from other sources within the district.Is there any additional open space the park district needs to acquire? Please describe.The Ken Loch property is for sale and the master plan should tell us if the tax payers want the park district to pursue it. If the taxpayers are not interested we should not pursue it.Are there any unmet recreational needs? If yes, what are they and how would you propose paying for them? Or, should they wait until the economy improves?As of now the Park District seems to be meeting the needs of the Lombard residents. At the board level we hear few request for additional programming. The staff seems to be doing a good job of creating programming.Would you support sharing/pooling resources (i.e. printing, vehicles) with other local governments (school districts, village, etc.)? If so, what areas would you consider combining or merging to save money or improve efficiency?If the park distict could pool with other taxing bodies on purchasing groups to bring down the cost of product used , I would be all for it. Also, sharing specialty vechicles (cost and upkeep).If you are a newcomer, what prompted you to run for the park board? If you're an incumbent, list your accomplishments or key initiatives in which you played a leadership role.Helped guide the Lombard Park Distict thru tough times financially (non refurendum bonding authority). Helped get Paradise Bay funded and continue to be the areas top pool. Helped to insure we will have another Master Plan done.