Mark Moy: Candidate Profile

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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: Oak BrookWebsite: www.markmmoy.comOffice sought: Oak Brook Village President Age: 65Family: wife: Wingyee Moy Children: Tony, Abigail, Philip, MatthewOccupation: PhysicianEducation: Bachelor of Science, Doctor of Medicine, Masters JurisprudenceCivic involvement: Trustee Village of Oak Brook 2009 to presentElected offices held: Trustee Village of Oak Brook 2009 to presentQuestions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?In my six years serving as village trustee, I have shown consistent fiscal responsibility and voted on issues and policies that helped strengthen Oak Brook's economic and municipal stability. I have demonstrated dedication, commitment and focus in serving as trustee. I will bring the same dedication as well as all the knowledge and experience gained as trustee to the office of president.How would you describe the condition of your community's budget, and what are the most important specific actions the town should take to assure providing the level of services that people want?Oak Brook is ending the 2014 fiscal year with a balanced budget and cash reserves over $12 million. This looks good on the surface but the biggest threat to Oak Brook's economic health is the continued escalation of the police/fire pension obligations. Ten years ago, Oak Brook paid $980,000 into the public safety pension plan. In 2015, Oak Brook is paying $2,800,000 into the pensions. This is almost a triple increase in funding that comes directly out of our general fund. We had to delay important budgeted capital projects and equipment purchases in order to meet this pension obligation. This continued escalation of pension obligations is unsustainable. As president, I will make it a top priority to join with the DuPage Mayors and Managers on their trips to Springfield to try to talk some sense into our legislators whose overly generous legislation is a major cause of pension escalations.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?The important question is not what we want to cut but rather what does the village want to keep. I believe in priority based budgeting where the board engages in discussions to decide what areas are most important to the citizens of Oak Brook. I believe that the top priority is public safety where the citizens know that they are secure in having a top police department to respond to crimes, a top fire department to respond to fires and medical emergencies and a top public works department to plow and salt the roads after a heavy snowfall. After safety concerns are met, then next comes maintaining and enhancing village services to residents in the areas of code enforcement, utilities, and capital improvements. Once top priorities are met, then the village can look to remaining revenues and spend it in a very conservative fiscal manner.Describe your leadership style and explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your village board or city council.My style of leadership is that of a facilitator rather than a chief. As a facilitator, I look to build better and proper relationships among the board members so that they can function as an effective team. As president, I see my main duty as that of assistance and support for the trustees by providing them with all of the necessary data, clear definition of the issues and clear defined goals that they need to properly do their job. By maintaining interpersonal respect and integrity, I will seek to contribute to an atmosphere where the board can operate in an environment of respect and trust that improves positive interpersonal relations and flourish.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?In recent years, many governments have worked to increase openness and transparency. Using social media technologies can be a cost effective and convenient means to promote openness and transparency and to reduce corruption. In terms of anti-corruption, social media has four major potential strengths: collaboration, participation, empowerment, and time. Social media is collaborative and participatory by its very nature as it is defined by social interaction. It provides the ability for users to connect with each and form communities to socialize, share information, or to achieve a common goal or interest. Social media can be empowering to its users as it gives them a platform to speak. It allows anyone with access to the Internet the ability to inexpensively publish or broadcast information, effectively democratizing media. While Oak Brook already has an excellent web site to disseminate information to the citizens, this web site can be enhanced by incorporating social media technologies.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?It is very important to me that the village nurture and strengthen the relationship with the business community. The village levies no property tax on its citizens because of the sales tax revenues collected from the business community. Unfortunately, some individuals in the community see the business community as a separate entity that is merely a source of revenue. I see the business community as an integral part of the Oak Brook community just as important as the churches, schools, and parks. We should function as a unified family, not divided entities. Paul Butler formed Oak Brook as a unity of three main elements: the residential community, the business community and the recreation area with open space. We need to honor that vision.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Pope FrancisWhat's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Work hard, study hard, achieveIf life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Instead of emergency medicine, I think I would have enjoyed being a plastic surgeon.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?A literature history course in college opened up a whole new world of books for me which continues to enrich my thinking to this dayIf you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Stay patient and trust your journey