Phillip Mustes: 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: WinfieldWebsite: http://winfielddeservesbetter.comOffice sought: Winfield Village Board (4-year Terms)Age: 64Family: Wife, Joyce Son, GeorgeOccupation: Corporate Chief Financial OfficerEducation: Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance/ Accounting, University of Notre Dame, 1971 Masters of Business Administration in Management, Northwestern University, 1979Civic involvement: Economic Development Task Force, Village of WinfieldElected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Preserve Police Staffing Levels and Public Safety.Key Issue 2 Realistic Budget discussed with the residents with All Options on the Table for Review allowing Road Repaving and preserving Police Staffing Levels/ Public Safety.Key Issue 3 Smart Growth through a Professionally Assisted, Updated Comprehensive Zoning Plan fair to all Stakeholders answering Traffic, Storm Water, Wetland and Market Realities.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?31 years of Corporate Financial Management Experience to restore the Village to a Sound Fiscal Position through a Top Down Review of all Options available to the Village rather than a single solution focus allowing us to preserve Police Staffing Levels/ Public Safety and Repave our Roads within the Framework of a Realistic Budget discussed with the Residents.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.Winfield Sales Tax Rate is lower than Surrounding Communities, but any Decisions must be based upon a Total Top Down Review of all of the Options available to the Village not just Sales Tax discussed with the Residents and cast in a Realistic Budget based upon an analysis of the Total Tax Burden placed upon both business and residents.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.1 Police Officer per shift covering the entire Village; Under Staffing Village Police risking Public Safety with the proposed cut from 17 to 16 Officers. Solution lies in 2-3 Officers per shift as part of a realistic all Options on the Table Top Down Budget Review rather than promoting only Favored Solutions discussed with Residents.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?Any decisions must be based upon a Total Top Down Review of all of the Options available to the Village discussed with the Residents and cast in a Realistic Budget. An All Inclusive Review will yield a better plan than a single minded focus on only one solution.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?#1 3, 5 and 10 year Realistic Longer Term Budgets establishing Village Priorities, Costs and Revenues discussed with the Residents. #2 Routine Professionally Assisted Surveying of Residents opinions to increase communication with Residents to clearly follow their wishes.