Michael Hovde, Jr.: 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: BloomingdaleWebsite: bloomingdaleunity.comOffice sought: Bloomingdale Village Board Age: 45Family: Married to Jackie, 3 step children, 2 grandchildrenOccupation: AttorneyEducation: Lake Park High School B.A. English, Southern Illinois University Carbondale Juris Doctor, Southern Illinois University School of LawCivic involvement: Chairman of Bloomingdale School District 13 Education Foundation. Member of Bloomingdale Chamber of Commerce. President, Clare Oaks, Bartlett, Secretary, Hank Gianvecchio Natural Habitat Area Foundation, Board Member, Bloomingdale Parks Foundation. Lake Park Student to Business Partnership. Fifty Men Who Cook. Chair Qualified Arbitrator, DuPage County 18th Judicial CircuitElected offices held: Bloomingdale Village TrusteeQuestions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I am the best candidate for the job, because of my experience and independence. I grew up in Bloomingdale, attended school in Bloomingdale, and have my home and business here. I have deep roots in the Village, and have a passion for improving the Village, as well as maintaining our Village's high quality of life. I have a strong grasp of local issues, having owned and operated a small business in Bloomingdale, as well as having represented a number of local residents and businesses. As an incumbent Trustee, I have dealt with a variety of issues concerning the Village, and have a good working relationship with Village staff, as well as connections to the residents. I have used my experience to make Bloomingdale more attractive to business, and improve the Village. I feel blessed to have had such a great hometown, and am a proud resident who will help Bloomingdale continue to be a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family.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.The current level of local sales taxes is acceptable when compared to other local communities. The Village of Bloomingdale relies in large part on sales taxes. I want to increase the number of local businesses in order to expand our tax base, and increase revenue through higher sales, rather than any increase in taxes. I am still in favor of reducing and eliminating the internet and phone tax as it only falls on local residents and business. While the total property tax bills in Bloomingdale and DuPage County are too high, the amount levied by the Village of Bloomingdale is reasonable, considering that the Village provides road maintenance, snow plowing, police, and village services for around $200 per year per average household.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 Bloomingdale Police are very professional and skilled, and I have a high degree of confidence in our Chief and our officers. As part of prudent fiscal planning, we have maintained and replaced our vehicles and equipment on a regular basis, so there are no budget surprises, and our police have the tools needed to efficiently perform their duties. The Village does not have a fire department, as we are in a fire protection district which is governed separately.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?The largest portion of the budget is for personnel. In order to provide services such as snow plowing, water and sewer, roads, and police, we need to have competent, quality employees, and Bloomingdale's history of having long term employees is a testament to how well the Village has been run operationally and fiscally. Our budgeting process is always conservative, and we don't deficit spend, and don't borrow money for operations. If an area of the budget needed more resources, we would allocate more of the budget to that area.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?I have a good working relationship with the Mayor, Trustees and staff, and communication is key to that relationship. There is an open dialogue of ideas from all parties, and from residents, so good ideas are discussed whenever they arise.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Economic development, which includes not only bringing new business to the Village, but keeping existing businesses here. Since sales tax is a major component of the budget, this is a top priority.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Rocky Wirtz, for his turnaround of the Blackhawks both on the ice and in business.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?The importance of personal responsibility.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I have had a few regrets, but then again, too few to mention.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?English, as reading and writing are essential to my business and in the course of being a Village Trustee.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Time heals all wounds.