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Steve Solarz: Candidate Profile

Aurora City Council Ward 5

Back to Aurora City Council Ward 5

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: AuroraWebsite: www.solarzforalderman.comOffice sought: Aurora City Council Ward 5 Age: 59Family: Wife Janet Solarz One adult son, Adam SolarzOccupation: Human Resources ConsultantEducation: MBA, Northern Illinois U BA, Communications, Northern Illinois UCivic involvement: * Aurora Historical Society board member and Treasurer, 2012-2015 * active supporter of West Aurora District 129, including five years on the Blackhawk Sports Booster Board 2000-2004, active member of the Citizens for Excellent Schools Committee, 2002, member of the Blackhawks High School Cube webcast team 2012-present webcasts for the past three seasons; * over 15 years as a successful youth baseball, basketball and soccer coach in Aurora; * author of Aurora's East-West Football Rivalry: The Longest-Running Series in Illinois.Elected offices held: noneQuestions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?My family and I have owned three west side homes since 1980, which has provided me with an understanding of local issues and demonstrates my commitment to Aurora. But it is my business experience and education that distinguishes me from the field and has prepared me to serve as Alderman. After earning my MBA from Northern Illinois University, I embarked on a career as a human resources leader and consultant. The practical approaches to problem solving, personal relationships, service and accountability I have learned during my career are directly transferable to a role in City government. I have managed budgets worth tens of millions of dollars. I have been responsible for pension and health benefit programs. I have served as an employee advocate and delivered communication programs to help people understand and adapt to change. I have experience with site searches and commercial real estate associated with office and warehouse expansions. In addition, I have served the community as a member of the Aurora Historical Society Board of Trustees, as an active participant and contributor to West Aurora School District 129 initiatives, and with my many seasons as a coach in Aurora's various youth sports programs. And my recent book, Aurora's East-West Football Rivalry, has touched the hearts of many current and former City residents. As Alderman, I will serve as an independent voice by asking probing questions and challenging the status quo. I will do so in an upbeat and constructive manner that reflects positively on my home town.What is your opinion of your community's present level of local sales and property taxes? Is the tax just right, too low or too high? Explain.From the perspective of the taxpayer, taxes are, of course, too high. Meanwhile the state of Aurora's financial condition would indicate that taxes are about right. An equally important follow up question would be to ask whether the City is funding the right programs? I will work in the short term to eliminate redundant and ineffective programs and to ensure that meaningful and necessary programs can be adequately funded. For the long term, I will push the City to redouble efforts to attract businesses to town. Beyond retail stores and restaurants, we need businesses that provide real jobs with good wages while generating tax revenues that could fund improvements to infrastructure and services and potentially relieve some individual taxpayer burden. I will work to ensure the city lives within its means and uses tax dollars wisely.Rate the efficiency of your town's police and fire coverage. Are the departments well prepared for the next decade? What, if anything, should be changed? Do you have specific public safety concerns?My number one concern is crime. From 2008 to 2014, spending on police and fire protection increased 26 percent, and now represents over one-third of the total city budget. That emphasis on public safety produced outstanding results, as crime rates fell dramatically for a time. As a resident, I feel safe and am proud of these accomplishments. However, recent criminal activity has shown that we must keep our eye on the ball by continuing, or even increasing, our crime fighting efforts. I will always support public safety initiatives, as I believe our police and fire departments must be top notch. As far as the next decade is concerned, our new state-of-the-art police station should carry us through with minimal upgrades, but we'll likely need to build or replace a firehouse or two as the City grows and some older structures become outdated. One additional public safety issue that concerns me is that too often City streets are not restriped until the lines have almost completely disappeared and it becomes difficult for drivers to identify lanes or know where to park. This can be dangerous. Signage approaching major intersections could also be improved. City streets should be better maintained.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?To me, every City department should go through a zero-based budgeting process that rationalizes every activity and builds a budget from the ground up. For example, the City's Public Art Commission has seen its budget fall from $400,000 in 2006 to about $125,000 today. On the surface, that may seem like responsible money management, but the current funding level provides for just one part-time employee, no weekend hours and very limited programming. Essentially, the City is spending $125,000 on an activity that provides little benefit. While I personally support the arts, I do not support half-baked programs that waste money. If the Council truly wants a Public Art Commission, it should be adequately funded. If not, suspend operations and divert the $125,000 to a department that will put it to good use. Or return it to the taxpayers. A complete rationalization like this would result in a realignment of spending that eliminates waste and improves necessary services.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?Since the City has expanded in size and scope significantly over the past two decades, I propose a celebration of the diversity of our neighborhoods through a weekend "Open House Aurora" event scheduled during the summer. Shuttle bus tours could be conducted by community members, with drop-off/pick up points at schools, downtown museums, and branch libraries. Planning and economic development staff could provide highlights and overviews of existing and proposed projects. Neighborhood history and architecture could be detailed and spotlighted. This could be a potential collaborative effort among City staff, Seize the Future, Ward committees, the Aurora Historical Society, the Aurora Preservation Commission, the Aurora Sustainability Commission, school districts and the Aurora Public Library.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?My four primary issues are public safety, commercial development that creates jobs and builds a stronger tax base, holding the line on spending, and improved property standards. The first three have been covered in my answers to the earlier questions. I am also concerned that the City's property standards code is significantly out of date and has proven to ineffective in addressing issues specific to gentrifying neighborhoods, increasing rental properties, and absentee landlords. I will work with the City's Property Standards office to ensure that City codes are updated to reflect today's needs and that enforcement becomes a top priority.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Candidate did not respond.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?My parents taught me to keep always keep committments and tell the truth.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would go to a college in a state more interesting state -- California, Colorado, Washington and studied architecture.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?I always enjoyed writing, social sciences, history, and drafting classes. I used the first three through my career.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?As my parents taught me, keep your commitments and tell the truth. I'd add that people should never stop contributing to the community.