David Stolman: Candidate Profile

Back to Lake County Treasurer

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:BioQA Bio City: Buffalo GroveWebsite: www.DavidStolman.comOffice sought: Lake County Treasurer Age: 65Family: I have lived in Buffalo Grove for 39 years with my wife, Maureen, who was a teacher in Buffalo Grove for 23 years and currently teaching in Highland Park. We have two married children, Karen (Adam) and Kenneth(Shelley), and 3 grandchildren, Emma, Eli, and Ari.Occupation: Attorney businessmanEducation: Bachelor's degree in political science from University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Juris Doctor from DePaul University Law SchoolCivic involvement: Lake County Partners, Treasurer and Board of Directors University Task Force Consensus Plan Developer Affordable Housing Commission Stormwater Management Commission, Alternate Solid Waste Agency, Alternate National Association of Counties Steering Committee - Taxation and Finance American Cancer Society Jewish United Fund Northwest Suburban Lawyers and Government Agencies Division, Chairman Buffalo Grove Zoning Board of Appeals - Commissioner Stevenson High School Curriculum and Graduation Task Force Congregation Beth Judea - President Solid Waste Agency, Long Grove Representative Stevenson High School Long Range Planning Task Force Buffalo Grove School District 102 Business Partnership Buffalo Grove Economic Development Task ForceElected offices held: Lake County Board Chairman (2010 - 2012) Lake County Board Vice-Chair (2008 - 2010) Lake County Board (1992 - present) Lake County Forest Preserve (1992 - present)Questions Answers Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election for the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you? If so, what?I have always served my neighbors in an effort to improve lives of Lake County families. In addition to fulfilling the responsibilities of the Treasurer's office, and as an experienced businessman and attorney, I will continue being a strong voice for economic development in Lake County. The leaders of Lake County must work together to create and retain quality jobs so we can put our talented residents back to work. As co-chairman of the Tollway's Blue Ribbon Panel for the Route 53 extension, I will work diligently to complete this project that will bring economic development and much-needed congestion relief.If you are an incumbent, describe your main contributions. Tell us of any important initiatives you've led. If you are a challenger, what would you bring to the board and what would your priority be?I have been honored to have served Lake County in a variety of positions. The combination of my record of public service and my experience in the private sector running my own successful small business make me the right person for the job as the next Lake County Treasurer. As Treasurer, I will be an ambassador for economic development, carry on Lake County's legacy of fiscal responsibility, and work to help the public lower their property taxes (as much as possible in my limited capacity as Treasurer.)You would take over a fairly unknown office. Do you see any potential for collaboration with other local governments to get people more in tune with what the treasurer does and resources available?The treasurer's office must do everything possible to make information about our office and available resources easily accessible to the public. It is vital that we continue to provide excellent customer service to taxpayers. We must also better utilize technology and digital marketing to ensure that taxpayers know how to reach us in situations where we have resources that can be helpful to them. Finally, I will do community outreach in coordination with the Assessor's office to help homeowners work to save on their property taxes.How do you assess the success of the treasurer's office on what you see as its chief duties? Do you see areas of the operation in need of improvement?As Treasurer, I will require safety of principal to avoid any risk of loss of public funds. I will also expand the role of money managers currently utilized by the Treasurer's office to maximize return while staying within safeguards. I will build on Bob Skidmore's successes by continuing to improve technology in the office while seeking out additional efficiencies to further reduce the office's budget and save taxpayers money. I am a staunch fiscal conservative and will continue this legacy, as I did when I was County Board Chairman and we reduced spending to pre-2009 levels without negatively impacting services.Describe your position on transparency in the office and the ease of access to records by the public. How effective is the office's website and other outreach efforts in helping the public interact with the office and understand their government? If you believe improvements are needed, what are they and how would you go about achieving them?My entire career, I have been a champion for transparency, including initiating the publishing of the County checkbook online. I will increase the transparency of Lake County's property tax bills. By increasing the transparency of Lake County's property tax bills, both in print and online, taxpayers will be able to see how much they are paying to each unit of government. I will also develop a searchable, public database of all of Lake County's finances so that the public can have full and easy access to our records, reports, and analyses. More information: http://davidstolman.com/transparencyWhat other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I believe that holding elected office is a public service to be held in the highest honor. An example has been my refusal to utilize the taxpayer-funded $4500/year "p-cards" used to cover expenses for County Board Members. I pay for all county-related expenses out of my own pocket and avoid attending any out-of-town conventions. As Board Chairman,I traveled the county daily in order to talk with business leaders about critical issues to ensure that they stayed and expanded in Lake County. I will continue this record if given the opportunity to serve as Treasurer.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.I am inspired by the courage, dignity, persistence, and strength of Senator Mark Kirk as he continues to serve our state and country.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?My parents always taught me that humility was an important virtue and to do something everyday to improve the world.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would have had more children and would have invested in the initial offerings of Apple and Microsoft to support them.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?I loved socialstudies; how past events became lessons for the future. This evolved into a political science college major and my career as an attorney.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Wake up every day and be awesome. Perform acts of kindness and accomplish something that you are proud of everyday.