Patrick Whalen: 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: Pingree GroveWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Pingree Grove Village Board (4-year Terms)Age: 57Family: Divorced, three children, one grandchild.Occupation: Heavy equiptment operator for the Illinois Dept. of Trans., State of Illinois.Education: High School, some collegeCivic involvement: Paid on call Pingree Grove and Countryside Fire Department. Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus.Elected offices held: Rutland Township Trustee.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Tax releif is the main issue, at the State, County, and Village level. Reduction of Real Estate Taxes needs to be reviewed to bring relief to the residents of Pingree Grove.Key Issue 2 We need to continue and develope ideas to unite the entire village.Key Issue 3 I need to look at new ideas to attract both large and small business to the Pingree Grove area.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I have the ability to listen to new ideas and learn from them; and to involve the community in decision making processes, to make Pingree Grove a Place to Grow.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.My goal as trustee is to decrease real estate and reatail taxes.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.As trustee I am concerned with the lack of communication between the village and the Pingree Grove and Countryside Fire Department. Resuming building inspections and the safety of the residents of Pingree Grove and our firefighters is the main issue.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?In these tight economic times, as trustee the municipal budget of Pingree Grove would need to be studied and revaluated.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?As trustee I would ask that we develope a new "Economic Development Committee," to presue small business and commercial development for the Village of Pingree Grove.