Bradley Phillips: Candidate Profile

Back to Villa Park Village Board, 4-year terms

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: Villa ParkWebsite: Not yet availableOffice sought: Villa Park Village Board, 4-year terms Age: 51Family: Lisa Marie Phillips-wife Paige-daughter Michael Geary-stepsonOccupation: Sr.Toll Collector and CIC "Collector In Charge"Education: -Former Certified FirefighterII. -Former Certified EMT-A. -Permanent Employee Registration with the State of Illinois under the private detective, private alarm, private security and locksmith Act of 2004, for 20 plus years. -Graduated at Northern Illinois University in 1988 with a BA, majored in Sociology with a Emphasis in Health and Aging. -Several classes transferred from the College of DuPage.Civic involvement: -SEIU Local 73 Union Steward and Committeeperson. Bargaining Team member for SEIU Local 73 Bargaining Unit at the Illinois State Tollway Highway Authority. -Villa Park VFW Post 2801 -Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks 1993 to present. -Brookfield Elks Lodge # 1510 -Past Exalted Ruler -Lombard Masonic lodge #1098 1993 to present. Life Member. -Scottish Rite, Valley of Chicago 1995 to present. -Medinah Shriners 1995 to presentElected offices held: NoneQuestions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I am someone who enjoys working for "The people" and always enjoy challenges. I want what is right for people and do not turn the other way when something is not right. I am determined to do what is right. I listen to all sides of a situation before making any conclusion. I plan to work with a Board of Trustees to accomplish as much as possible for the residents of Villa Park in the next four years. I am a dedicated, experienced and concerned worker at my last three workplaces ISTHA, DuPage County and Darien-Woodridge FPD. The three jobs total 33yrs of public service. I have become a union steward, committee person and bargaining team member for SEIU local 73 Bargaining unit at ISTHA. I don't hold back and won't sugar coat anything in negations or on the road. I am for the people. I would like the opportunity to work for the people of Villa Park. I'm against big government, more taxes, big brother and anything that would hurt the working man that he can not control. I have core values. I care about people, and committed to the people of Villa Park, I believe in excellence in everything I do. Integrity,honesty and loyalty. I was proudly brought up with all three values, told not to walk off this path or I would tarnish the Phillips name. I would like the opportunity to work proudly with the board and the residents of Villa Park.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.Sales tax in my opinion is "just right" and I have heard no complaints from the residents about sales tax. Property taxes are high in Villa Park. One of several reasons is because in York Township there is Oak Brook and Elmhurst (not to point) that have a lot of property values which are higher than Villa Park. The economics involved range from local, county, state and federal levels. Finding a solution to lowering the cost for the Village of Villa Park would have to start with the board working together as one, brainstorming every idea from every property tax line item, contacting people they know at every level (giving the circumstance) to give their ideas to lower the taxes for the residents. The referendum for the streets are also a jump in taxes roughly $100.00 this year. The people have spoken and the streets will be resurfaced.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?Efficiency rating for police and fire coverage are good,as far as response time to calls. There can always be more equipment for both departments. The fire department can never have enough manpower. One multiple vehicle accident or during a working structure fire, manpower is crucial. Mutual Aid response is an excellent source for extra manpower and equipment when needed on the scene and at the stations when they are empty. The police have the same basic support system to my knowledge. I don't believe either department are well prepared for the next decade. Threats from foreign countries exist here in the US today. We have no clue to what is to come here or around Villa Park. Our police officers will need to keep updating equipment as days, weeks, months and years go on. This too affects our fire department personal. Hazardous waste, poisons or other threats (so many possibilities) that can hit Villa Park, these personal (police fire) deserve the best so they can go home when their shift is over,safe to their families. We are only as safe as our protectors. Pubic Safety issues would be only that when I grew up I remember know the police officers by name because they were out and spoke with the people. People concerned about the safety of their kids, it would be nice to see them out more patrolling and getting to know the residents. Kids feel safer when they know they can go to the police without hesitation.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?Interesting enough I had my wife go into Village Hall to obtain a "hardcopy" of the budget for Villa Park. I thought I'd be able to research a actual copy instead of a computer copy. After a review of the budget the Village of Villa Park "online" contractual projects can be contracted for less after the old contract is up. I have listened to several residents speak concerns about Lufkin swimming pool being closed. This is a community project. Some more money could be spent there for repairs. I have great concerns for our safety and believe the police and fire need to be prepared with all up to date equipment for our safety. The funds watched to stretch every dollar as much as possible. I'm sure there is more to see and hope for more light in this area should I become a trustee.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?I have always thought highly of our senior citizens. In college I had a Recreation Center I designed just for them so they could have some place to go and meet up with others. There they could keep in shape or at least kept the muscles stretched. As time has past, I see the need for the Veterans as much as for the seniors. Maybe a Senior and Veteran Recreation Center which would have cost for both in town and out of town residents, just enough to off set some cost to the village. Planning of this would be crucial, there would need to be enough attraction to bring in a large crowd of both seniors and veterans. This of course would bring dollars to the businesses in Villa Park and the Villa Park VFW I'm sure would grow as well. We are all getting older and I sure don't want to be forgotten as a members of society, let alone a veteran who has put his life on the line for us. We owe them our freedom. This is one good idea I have not heard of yet. It was created in 1986 at Northern Illinois University and modified in Villa Park 2015.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?The streets are a big concern for several people in the village. They are concerned where the money will be spent and all monies may not go towards streets. As a trustee of the village of Villa Park I would see that all monies are spent towards streets as well as streets that will last. A lot of residents have been waiting almost 30 years for their street to get resurfaced to my knowledge. I am one concerned for the employees of the village of Villa Park. They are the back bone of the community. The plow your roads, clean you streets, treat your water and clean the graffiti off the walls. They are important to making the village run. Their heath and safety is my concern too. As long as they are happy and healthy, they should be model employees doing their best for us.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Peter Roskam U.S. Representative. I met him in Springfield while lobbying for SEIU and I have always been impressed by his willingness to listen.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Economics- How to get projects done for less and saving money. My mother's major was Home Economics. My father's BS- Industrial Arts, Masters- Engineering.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Taking the two upper level classes in psychology to get my minor. Instead I didn't finish up after I graduated. Classes are now very expensive.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Psychology- Every days social and work environment. Learning how to deal with each particular situation better. Each scenario is unique in its own way.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Complete your homework/studies and know the answers to the questions before you go out to play, go to a movie or go on a date.