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Herman Zelk: Candidate Profile

Des Plaines City Council Ward 6

Back to Des Plaines City Council Ward 6

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: Des PlainesWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Des Plaines City Council Ward 6 Age: 68Family: Wife Margaret Zelk Daughter/Son in law Megan Eric Palm Son/Daughter in Law Kevin Kelly Zelk Five Grand ChildrenOccupation: Partner in an IT FirmEducation: Control Data Institute, Oakton Community CollegeCivic involvement: Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce and Industry. 10 Year chamber member, 8 years on the Board Of Directors, 3 years on the Executive Board and 1 year as President (2010).Elected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I am a business owner and lifelong resident of the Sixth Ward. During my time here, I've seen the struggles of the city, as well as the recent progress that has been made. We need to continue this forward momentum. I believe that my experience on the Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has prepared me for a position on the Council. As a Chamber BOD member, I am committed to working with the businesses of Des Plaines. BOD members serve on committee; attend after hour's events, multi Chamber events, legislative functions and referral business groups. We do this each month, which allows us to work closely with business owners and helps us to understand their needs. I have been in business for forty years and have learned to work professionally with everyone, no matter their point of view. In the business board room there is no "them and us." There are just options and ideas. When everyone works together, better decisions can be made. This is a professional business approach, but one, we need to adopt and rely on to move forward.Do you approve of the direction in which Mayor Bogusz is taking the city? Why or why not?During my eight years on the Chamber Board of Directors, I have worked with the Mayor's Office to bring the city and the Chamber closer together. I feel that Mayor Bogusz, after two years, is moving Des Plaines in the right direction. We are on the same page when it comes to protecting our Casino revenues from gaming expansion. I want to energize the Board of Economic Development and, based on the Mayor's Address to the Chamber last week, Mayor Bogusz is restructuring that board to be more effective. I imagine we will disagree on some points, but I have confidence we can work out our differences and move forward.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?I would like to see more funds directed towards flood control. Many residents suffer from street and back yard flooding, as well as sewer overflow. This threatens the security of their homes and we need to fix this problem on a more accelerated timetable.What is the single biggest problem in your ward not getting enough attention right now and what do you propose to do about it?The biggest single threat to - not only the Sixth Ward, but to the entire city - is gaming expansion. I stated earlier that there has been significant progress in Des Plaines and the city staff has done an amazing job in stabilizing our debt. However, this progress will slow if gaming expansion happens. Gaming expansion will reduce Rivers Casino revenues which in turn, lowers the revenues the city receives. These revenues are important for debt reduction and infrastructure improvements. Improvements like repairing our streets, sidewalks, alleys and sewers. We must insist on renegotiating our agreement with the state and gaming board so that if expansion occurs, we can keep more of the tax revenues.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?I want to bring larger and more diversified business into the Sixth Ward and the city. This would allow the next generation to start their careers in Des Plaines. Young people would no longer need to move away to find a job. I believe the O'Hare Lake (Peterson Lake) development project should be used for this purpose.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I will fight to protect property values, this means tackling the flooding and noise pollution issues that plague the homes in the Sixth Ward. These are tough issues that need practical solutions that will protect our homeowners' investments.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Pope FrancisWhat's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Work EthicIf life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?More EducationWhat was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Science -- Forty year career in IT, computer sciencesIf you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?If your going to do a job, do it well