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Rob Banger,Jr: Candidate Profile

Rolling Meadows City Council Ward 5

Back to Rolling Meadows 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: Rolling MeadowsWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Rolling Meadows City Council Ward 5 Age: 44Family: Wife of 22yrs Laura Bailey 19yrs sophomore at Iowa State Jackson 18yrs senior at RMHSOccupation: warehouse receiving clerkEducation: MBA Kellstadt (DePaul) BS DepaulCivic involvement: Deacon at First Baptist Church of Arlington Heights Founder Rolling Meadows Community GardenElected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I've demonstrated the ability to do my homework each week (as far as reading the material) which is half the job. I'm as prepared as I can be and will continue to voice my opinion on those issues I feel matter to residents.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.Taxes are always too high. However, a lot of the reason for this is due to the fact that we live in Illinois and are burdened with costs that the state has placed on us- this is beyond my power as an alderman to change. I pay attention to spending and try to think of unintended consequences (costs) that we place on residents due to proposals in front of us. Thankfully, with an improving economy, we are feeling less pressure to burden residents with tax increases and will hopefully be able to undertake some large public projects over the next few years without saddling the residents with tax increases.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?The personnel in place are the best. The leadership in both departments is the best. I look forward to the coming discussion regarding the fire stations and the opportunity we'll have to rebuild one or both of the stations, giving both the firefighters and the residents a purposeful building that they can all be proud of.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?Even a small suburb like Rolling Meadows is a lumbering giant financially and costs cannot simply be trimmed overnight. Most costs are in place for a reason or are contractual in nature. We've cut around the edges and are on high alert for unnecessary spending. In the near future we're going to be challenged to spend a lot of money on structures that we've neglected in the past decade, but that conversation has not been finalized yet.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?Senior citizen services and the issues that will face us as our residents try to age in place. I will try to solicit ideas from staff and colleagues on council as well as research what others are doing.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?It goes without saying that job #1 is to continue in the direction we're going- financial stability, growing fund balances to allow us -and the taxpayers- some breathing room. For me personally, we're starting year two of our RM Community Garden that debuted last season. Both that and the farmer and food trucks events in the spring and summer are maturing and I'd like to "grow" both of them into something larger and more widespread as I'm certain that is a trend that will continue to appeal to residents. I'd also like to explore leveraging renewable power such as solar/wind to help alleviate utility costs for the city.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.The pastor at my church in Arlington Heights, Bryan Augsburger.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?People appreciate a hard worker.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Good grief! I've been blessed with a loving wife and good kids. I wouldn't take any chances-I would sell the do-over on ebay.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?History. The payoff comes from applying lessons learned in the past to current issues facing us locally and nationally.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?People appreciate a hard worker.