Wayne Wnek: 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: Hawthorn WoodsWebsite: http://www.elareform.orgOffice sought: Ela Township Assessor (4-year Term)Age: 63Family: Divorced, one son, one daughterOccupation: Owner of a real estate valuation firm - providing real estate appraisal and consulting services throughout the United States.Education: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration University of New Mexico 1973 Real Estate designations: 1) General Accredited Appraiser (GAA), 2) MAI, Appraisal Institute, 3) Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) and 4) MRICS.Civic involvement: None.Elected offices held: None.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: No.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 I will ensure that assessments are fair and equitable and that no property owner in the township is paying more than their fair share of the overall tax burden.Key Issue 2 As your township Assessor we will use the same three approaches to value as single property appraisers. The Cost, Market and Income approaches will be used to develop the most accurate analysis of a property. Also, I will require the use of statistical verification of the values that are developed to create uniformity across the entire Township. These actions will ensure that all properties are assessed in the same manner, so that the tax burden is apportioned in a fair and equitable manner.Key Issue 3 To always be prepared to provide the taxpayers with a clear and logical explanation of their individual assessment, assessment process and support transparency of the taxing process. Since, real estate taxes are based on the spending of local taxing bodies it is important that the Ela Township Board is made up of dedicated experienced individuals that want to control spending resulting in stable tax rates and lower taxes. It is my opinion that the only way to keep taxes down is to keep the taxpayer in mind and control the budget limit spending.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 most important goals the Ela Tax Reform Party will tackle are: 1. The preparation of need based budgets and controlled spending. 2. To meet the needs of residents utilizing Current Township programs and determine if there is demand for new programs. 3. Enhance the office of the social worker providing more assistance and create more programs for seniors. It is our duty to create budgets based on existing and as needed community services. It will not be our practice to bank extraordinary high reserves. Our plans will be focused on ways to reduce real estate taxes.In the 21st Century, with municipalities gobbling up vacant land, why are townships needed? Should they be serving a new role? If so, what?Townships being an administrative division of the county still play a role within Illinois county structure. Although currently under fire townships still provide useful services for seniors, public health services, youth programs, and rent support for needy people. Many advocates like me see how townships provide a link between the citizen and their government. An example would be if you have a question about your property taxes, you can easily call the local township assessor's office and someone knowledgeable will immediately assist you. If you don't believe that having a township assessor is worth having try contacting someone in the Lake County assessor's office. Also, the next time there is a blizzard or a heavy snow fall, call a friend in the county and see whose roads are plowed and whose aren?t. I believe the township structure serves a purpose for its residents and provides an ease of services that just can't be duplicated by the larger counties.What should be the primary responsibility of township government?In general the primary functions of townships in Illinois should be general assistance for those in need, property assessment, and road and bridge maintenance in unincorporated areas. Additional assistance is left to the discretion of the township government. Currently, Ela Township currently provides activities for seniors, and younger people, which are good programs that could be expanded.In these hard economic times, can you identify some township expenses/programs that could be trimmed or eliminated to reduce the tax burden?I believe that the budget of the township assessor can be trimmed significantly. Like all Ela Township departments, the assessor's office has a budget that contains a planned surplus. While it is not a bad idea to budget for emergencies, the assessor's office is unlikely to face very many unforseen crises. I believe is better management to spend only the money necessary to make the office run well for taxpayers, in terms of transparency and fairness.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 accumulated over thirty eight years of real estate appraisal and consulting experience primarily throughout the Midwest. My career began in the property tax appeal field representing Texaco and American Hospital Supply Corp (currently Baxter Laboratories) for six years. In 1984, Wayne L. Wnek Associates, Inc. was opened. As sole proprietor the firm grew to 25 appraisers and in the fall of 2003, I closed the firm to join Cushman Wakefield, Inc a global appraisal firm as Associates Director, Valuation Services Advisory Group in the Chicago office. It was here that I gained high volume portfolio appraising experience. In 2005, I was recruited by Marshall Stevens, Inc. a California based valuation firm. As Senior Vice President and Real Estate Valuation Practice Leader, I was responsible for managing each appraisal office within the Midwest and West Regions. In 2008, I joined American Appraisal Associates Inc.; a Wisconsin based International Appraisal Company, as Director, Real Estate Advisory Group in Chicago. In 2010, I reopened Wayne L. Wnek Associates as sole proprietor and owner. Working with the brightest and best real estate appraisers over my career as both an appraiser and manager has provided the skills necessary to be the Ela Township Assessor.