Jeffery Schielke: 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: BataviaWebsite: http://NoneOffice sought: Batavia Mayor (4-year Term)Age: 64Family: Married, Wife, Linda L. SchielkeOccupation: Realtor -- Licensed Broker -- Allen Land Co. BataviaEducation: Associate Degree -- Waubonsee Community College Bachelor's of Arts in social science, Aurora UniversityCivic involvement: Batavia Auxiliary Police 1969-1978, Batavia Volunteer Firefighter 1972-1981, Batavia Fire Dept. Photographer 1981 to present; President, Batavia Historical Society 1980; Co-author of "John Gustafson's Historic Batavia" 1980 and 1997;First Chairman of Metro West Council of Governments;Batavia Citizen of the Year 2005Elected offices held: Mayor -- City of Batavia 1981 to PresentHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Continuing on with downtown redevelopment program including additional streetscape work, continued development and clean up of the Fox River in downtown Batavia and approving construction of a new Walgreen's Drug Store at the Batavia Shopping Plaze site.Key Issue 2 Continue to support improving the transportation network in the community including enhanced bus service, continue quest to build a second bridge at the approved corridor at First and Webster Street, enhance railroad crossing safety on the east side of town, and further safety options along Kirk Road, Randall Road and Fabyan Parkway.Key Issue 3 Continue to work on economic development throughout the community including attracting new commercial business in downtown and along the Randall Road corridor. Commence development of the recently annexed Mooseheart property and work on the expansion of our industrial inventory within areas of town properly zoned for such expansions.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I have 32 years of daily experience on the job. I believe that my record reflects my lifelong committment of public service to the community of Batavia. I also have a strong understanding of the city's history which has served me very well in previous decisions of public policy that I have helped to bring about.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.Batavia has seen a dynamic growth of sales tax dollars during my time as Mayor. When I was first elected, our community sales tax revenue was around a half million dollars a year. We now experience sales tax revenues in the six million dollar a year range which has helped us to keep our municipal property tax rate one of the lowest in the area.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.Maintaining a high profile of local police patrols and keeping our public safety departments at the high standards of service and response that they have a long time reputation for providing. Continue our current programs and funding levels that insure this service stays as it now exists on a daily basis.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?I believe that the city maintains one of the tightest budget programs in the area. Our municipal tax rate is one of the lowest of any city or village in the Chicagoland area and it would be my goal to keep Batavia in this taxing position.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?Enhancement of public transit opportunities in town. The Randall Road Pace Bus route within a few years will offer a direct connection to the I-90 bus route now being planned from Elgin to Rosemont/Chicago and thus Batavians will be able to take public transit from Batavia to Chicago within a few years.