Wayne Woodward: 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: West ChicagoWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: West Chicago Mayor (4-year Term)Age: 69Family: Wife Sandra, 4 daughters - Holly Hays, Jill Marble, Amy Feddor, Wendy Mikson - and 12 grand kids - 8 girls and 4 boys. Brother Paul Eileen WoodwardOccupation: Retired from IBM Corp in 1996, Realtor for 15 years, Handyman 5 years, Doenge's Office Supply as repairman, US Post Office as rural carrier, District 33 as a custodian, Oakfield Ford as salesman, IKON as repairman, Home owner assn property inspEducation: One semester of college at Elgin Community College, 10 months training in the US Army, many schools for IBM, one semester as a property appraiser, real estate sales personCivic involvement: Involved with the local Masonic Lodge as Master and 7 years as secretary, early in sister city group with German cityElected offices held: Alderman in 4th ward in West Chicago,1997-2001 - Precinct committeman for northside of West Chicago - 2010-2012Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Change the West Chicago policy of buying up properties and creating a "Land Bank" for developers. This takes the properties off the real estate tax roll stops sales tax. I do not feel this is something the city should be doing with our money. The city should take care of water, sewer, streets and let developers buy and sell the land themselves except for immediate use that helps the city. I believe this is gambling with our money. We do need to speed up approval/denial for developers with quicker decisions.Key Issue 2 We need to resurface many streets, especially on the south side of town.Key Issue 3 We need to "silence" the train horns on the Canadian National (old EJE) trains like most towns around us have already done months or years ago. Aurora, Warrenville have stopped them and I see no reason that we haven't. It is very loud for the people who live close to the train tracks.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I have business experience, management experience, have been self employed, have had sales experience, I'm retired and have the time, energy and experience to help the city become a better place to live for all of us. We have a great city but we need to work to keep it that way.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.I believe the tax rate is as high as it should get and possibly could even be lowered with all the money we get from Groot and Menards, etc. Our tax rate for a $150,000 home is higher than virtually every city in DuPage County. We need to do everything possible to keep people and businesses from moving away to find lower tax rates.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 people complain about the speed and noise of vehicles in town. Plus the biggest concern is the train noise when they blow their horns.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?Stop buying property unless there is a direct need for a new highway or site for a new city hall. Properties maybe less expensive now but I don't feel the city should speculate on properties for future developers.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?More block parties. This helped all the neighbors to get to know each other. Too many people are too busy to take the time to get to know neighbors. We all have the same wants and needs, knowing neighbors opens doors to friendships.