Fernando "Fred" Arenas: 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: Arlington Hts.Website: http://Dems4LowerTaxes.comOffice sought: Wheeling Township Supervisor (4-year Term)Age: 75Family: Married, 42 years. Two adult childrenOccupation: Retired airline pilot. Air Force and Air Force Reserve veteran.Education: Bachelor of Science Industrial Education, U of I, 1963Civic involvement: Wheeling Township Democrats. American Legion.Elected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: No.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Reduce property taxes.Key Issue 2 Ensure efficient delivery of services to Wheeling Township taxpayers and residents by reducing and eliminating unnecessary spending.Key Issue 3 Improving the transparency and openness of township government to make Wheeling Township more responsive and accountable to the taxpayers.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.#1 -- Reduce property taxes by drawing down the excessive reserves, cutting unnecessary spending and drawing up responsible plans to consolidate township functions where possible. Reducing property taxes will help every single taxpayer in the Township not just immediately but for the long term on a cumulative basis. The long-time incumbents have simply been accumulating reserve funds and they now sit at nearly 200% of operating needs -- more than $4.5 million. The State Comptroller's office recommends only 25% to 50% (3- to 6-months of reserves). The incumbents are proud of the notion that Wheeling Township accounts for what they believe is a small portion of the residents' tax bills. But even at that amount, the residents are clearly being overtaxed. #2 -- Ensure efficient delivery of services to Wheeling Township taxpayers and residents by reducing and eliminating unnecessary spending using a Budgeting for Results model. We need to review elected officials' salaries and benefits to bring them in line with hours worked and duties performed. We will run a cost-benefit analysis on planned projects and activities. And we will reduce whatever projects, elected official salaries. etc. are superfluous. We will work to share resources with neighboring municipalities in order to reduce expenses where possible. It is time for a fresh perspective from new elected officials that will be better stewards of taxpayer funds by conducting a comprehensive cost/benefit analysis of the Township's internal workings with the goal of using the resulting cost savings to improve services. #3 -- Improving the transparency and openness of township government to make Wheeling Township more responsive and accountable to the taxpayers. We will be actively advocating on behalf of taxpayers and residents by creating a Township Economic Council, consistently advising residents of difficult-to-navigate tax exemptions, and more. We will expand online services through use of new Internet capabilities, alerts and apps to make sure residents are able to find timely, accurate info instead of screens that sayComing Soon? like the township has now. We will work toward changing the Township's work hours to make times more convenient for residents. Right now the Township offices are only open 9am to 4:30pm during the week. Other agencies from the County Clerk to local Park Districts have been offering resident-friendly office schedules like this for years and it's time to bring Wheeling Township up to speed. Moreover, the Township can dramatically increase its usefulness for residents by making simple changes such as creating an area-wide Township Economic Council to assist local business and job-seekers or shifting office hours to accommodate people who work or who are seeking work during the day.In the 21st Century, with municipalities gobbling up vacant land, why are townships needed? Should they be serving a new role? If so, what?The primary focus of modern Cook County townships should be on service delivery to advocate for local residents and taxpayers and cover those needs which are not currently met by any other government bodies. That said, many of the functions of Wheeling Township in particular should be evaluated with a fresh perspective to determine whether or not they are even needed. For instance, the Highway Commission currently oversees just 5 miles of road, just barely over the state-required minimum. A Roosevelt University study found that Wheeling Township had among the highest costs per mile of all Cook County townships. If any elements, such as the Highway Commission, are to be eliminated then a responsible plan should be developed to transfer that work efficiently and economically so that Township roads are still maintained even as layers of government are consolidated. Any cost savings should then be directed toward either reducing taxes or improving services for seniors, the disable, veterans and the most vulnerable.What should be the primary responsibility of township government?Maintain and protect the local social safety net by focusing on services that are not provided by any other local government agencies. That includes being taxpayer advocates, stocking the food pantry, being a connection point for veterans, job-seekers, the disabled and others as well as continuing to offer a wide range of helpful senior services.In these hard economic times, can you identify some township expenses/programs that could be trimmed or eliminated to reduce the tax burden?- Responsibly work with the Highway Commissioner to eliminate that position and reduce layers of bureaucracy by consolidating township road functions.- Review elected officials' salaries based on actual performance and duties. Bring them in line with actual hours worked.- Bring a fresh perspective to the incumbents past decisions and use Budgeting for Results to eliminate out unnecessary spending and maximize programs that are working.On the other hand, I will also work to ensure the Township is a complete taxpayer advocate by seeking to bring business development and jobs to the area, helping the assessor assist taxpayers to reduce their property taxesand more.What specific background or experience do you bring that makes you the best qualified candidate to serve as an elected official in the township?From 1980 to 1997, I was the office manager for the Chicago branch of the Airline Pilots Association supervising from one to three full time employees Principal among the required duties was the formulation of the annual office budget as well as assisting various pilot representatives.I was elected to the pilot's union governing board of ALPA at TWA for six years as well as a negotiator for four years. Such duties included contract negotiations, contract analysis and enforcement, grievance procedures, pension and benefits matters, and work rule development as well as FAA regulatory compliance.In sum, as a veteran of the Air Force and Air Force Reserve and as a retired airline pilot and elected member of the Airline Pilots Association governing board at TWA, I have a lifetime of experience in ensuring the safety of thousands upon thousands of people as well as responsibility for various business and personnel matters all of which is directly applicable to fulfilling the duties and responsibilities required of an active and engaged Wheeling Township Supervisor.