Scott Saewert: 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: Prospect HeightsWebsite: http://www.rowtgop.org/Office sought: Wheeling Township Highway Commissioner (4-year Term)Age: 59Family: Married, two childrenOccupation: After Sales Manager, Audi of AmericaEducation: Undergraduate Work, Colorado School of Mines B.S. Business, University of ColoradoCivic involvement: Volunteer, Prospect Heights Police Department Pastoral Council, St. Alphonsus Church, Prospect Heights Automotive Advisory Board Member, College of Lake County and Lake County Technical CenterElected offices held: Wheeling Township Highway Commissioner Wheeling Township CommitteemanHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Perform the duties and responsibilities of Highway Commissioner with the philosophy ofNeighbors helping neighbors.? The Highway Commissioner has the state mandated responsibility to maintain the unincorporated roads in Wheeling Township. These roads are in areas where there have historically been problems with road drainage and storm water flooding to an extent that it has been cost-prohibitive for neighboring villages to incorporate them and correct their drainage issues. The unincorporated subdivisions where these roads are located are also of a size where Illinois State law prohibits them from being involuntarily annexed and for whatever reasons, the residents do not choose to be annexed at this time. My overall goal is to restore the unincorporated road drainage systems and to resurface the unincorporated roads under my jurisdiction, in addition to doing the usual annual road maintenance, such as road patching, snow plowing and street sign maintenance. Devoting resources to correcting these problems will not only improve the lives of the residents living in them, but will also improve the storm water drainage from the surrounding villages that flow through these areas, which are the Villages of Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Des Plaines, Mount Prospect and Wheeling. Furthermore, I strongly believe these improvements will make these areas more attractive for the neighboring villages and may entice them to work with the unincorporated residents to annex these subdivisions.Key Issue 2 Spend taxpayer dollars wisely with minimum tax levies. In performing all my duties, I diligently work to spend taxpayer dollars in a cost efficient manner and keep the Wheeling Township Road District in sound financial condition. The tax levy for the Road District is shared with the neighboring villages in Wheeling Township. Of the remaining amount, the vast majority goes towards road maintenance and improvements, not administration and salaries. We prioritize and budget for only projects that can feasibly be completed each year plus normal maintenance, administrative costs and contingencies. Through careful planning and spending, I have kept Road District tax levies low and maintain a budget surplus each year. In this manner, I have worked year-by-year to correct local drainage issues and maintain the unincorporated roads at a minimal cost to all the Wheeling Township taxpayers.Key Issue 3 The Township Board has made senior/disabilities transportation a priority and I have entered into an intergovernmental agreement in support of this collective vision. Over the last five years I have worked cooperatively with the Township Board to replace the oldest vehicle in the fleet thereby ensuring the safety and well being of our most vulnerable population.Questions Answers Name the three most important goals or objectives this board should tackle in the coming term. Prioritize them, and briefly discuss why you believe each to be critical, and how the board should go about addressing them.The Highway Commissioner is a separate entity from the Township Board, so this question is not applicable to my position.In the 21st Century, with municipalities gobbling up vacant land, why are townships needed? Should they be serving a new role? If so, what?For my position, I determine the problems in the unincorporated areas and how they relate to neighboring villages. I then work with governmental partners to design solutions and to find sources of funding to correct these problems.What should be the primary responsibility of township government?Provide non-duplication of essential services to township residents, like performed by the road districts.In these hard economic times, can you identify some township expenses/programs that could be trimmed or eliminated to reduce the tax burden?Each year, we prioritize the needs and match those with tax revenues.What specific background or experience do you bring that makes you the best qualified candidate to serve as an elected official in the township?I have faithfully and efficiently served the taxpayers of Wheeling Township as Highway Commissioner for over ten years. During that time, we have completed 29 major road projects, including 15 road drainage ditch restoration projects and 14 road resurfacing projects, and have thereby improved the lives of our unincorporated residents and all motorists using these roads. This has also helped improve storm water drainage for the surrounding communities.