Al Larson: 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: SchaumburgWebsite: villageofschaumburg.comOffice sought: Schaumburg Village President Age: 76Family: Wife Nancy-Five children-twelve grandchildrenOccupation: Village PresidentEducation: Associate in Science-Harper CollegeCivic involvement: Pace Board Director, CMAP Board Member, NWMC Past President and current Board member, IML Past President and current Board member, Steering Committee for Transporation of the National League of Cities, Editor Spring Valley Newsleaf, Meet Chicago Northwest Convention Bureau Board member, Arts Alliance Illinois Board member, Council of Mayors representing northwest Cook County, Joint Action Water Agency Chair, Schaumburg School District 54 Foundation Board memberElected offices held: Public Relations Director for Schaumburg, Member of Zoning Board of Appeals, Chair of the Environmental Committee, 12 years Village Trustee, Village President since 1987Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?Years of experience, knowledge, and commitment.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?Balanced budget, a commitment to lower the tax levy as we have for the past five years. Revenues are in good shape. Continue to invest in the town's infrastructure particularly neighborhood streets. Strong emphasis on planning and community development. Maintain a philosophy of progress through thoughtful planning.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?You can always spend more money than necessary. The challenge is ensuring tight control over expenditures without sacrificing essential services.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.I strongly believe in concensus building. I share my concerns, ideas, and suggestions with my fellow board members. No Mayor can get things done alone. Listening to and heeding the advice of my fellow board members is essential to achieving our common goals.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?I have more than one good idea.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Increase cooperation with outside agencies; Cook County, the Toll Highway Authority, and my fellow Mayors and Village Presidents. Maintaining good working relationships can help resolve issues that are regional in nature.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Joseph Riley, Jr. Mayor of Charleston, SC-founder of the Mayors' Institute on City Design. Quoted, "Don't be afraid to bring beauty into the public realm."What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?The importance of maintaining friendships that will last a lifetime.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Becoming an astrophysicist.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Speech class at Harper College helped me overcome my fear of public speaking.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Don't fall into the trap of comparing what you have with what others have. If you do you, will never be happy.