Rick Zirk: 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: GilbertsWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Gilberts Village President (4-year Term)Age: 52Family: Married to Judy, 4 children Andy, Tyler, Morgan and Janay, one grandson LiamOccupation: Construction ManagementEducation: Candidate did not respond.Civic involvement: Secretary, Sanctuary of Speed MinistriesElected offices held: Incumbent Village President, Village of Gilberts Village President Village of South Elgin, 1997 to 2001Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: No.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Expansion on commercial and industrial tax base.Key Issue 2 Expansion of parks and recreation, and quality of life opportunities within the Village.Key Issue 3 Complete the process of securing fiber optic data capacity to each home and business in the Village at no cost to our residentsQuestions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?My record as Village President this past four yearsGiven 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.Currently we still rely too heavily on residential taxes. The downturn in commercial industrial activity seems to be easing a bit and as a community we need to seize the opportunities we haveavailable to us to expand the industrial and commercial tax base.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.I believe the residents of Gilberts feel safe in their community. We need to be vigilant and ensure our police department grows as the community does. I believe we have solid Police Department leadership and a dedicated Police force. Our force is one of the things our community can be most proud of.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?Tthe Village of Gilberts made budget cuts early and avoided the acute financial crunch many communities felt. As predicted non-residential projects come on line, like the proposed industrial and commercial development at Tyrell Road and Route 72, I am hopeful we can infuse some capital in expanding the parks and recreation opportunities within the Village. That is one area that has been limited in growth due to the economy.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?I believe the fiber optic data lines to every house and business will be a huge benefit. As we are one of the few communities in the Country to have that capacity, the impact has not really been appreciated. As people, especially those who have home businesses, recognize the difference this can make, I beleive they will be genuinely pleased