Mark Boyle: 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: LisleWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Lisle Village Board Age: 57Family: Lori, wife Patrick, son Sarah, daughterOccupation: Business consultant specializing in market research and real estate development, Adjunct lecturerEducation: PhD Student- Human Geography (Economic), St Leonard's College, University of St Andrews, Fife, Scotland Master of Science, Marketing, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois Bachelor of Science, Marketing and Economic Geography, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois Fenwick High School, Oak Park, Illinois Registered State of Illinois Real Estate Broker FAA Private Pilot CertificationCivic involvement: Village of Lisle Trustee 2007-present Past Commissioner, Economic Development Commission Past Commissioner, Zoning Board of Appeals DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference Past Member, Board of Directors Past Director, Planning Committee Member, Transportation Policy Committee Member, Intergovernmental - Planning Committee Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development, DePaul University Contributing Research Associate Three Fires Council, Boy Scouts of America Vice Chairman, Executive Board Past Committee Chair, Pack 89, St Joan of Arc Silver Beaver Award for distinguished service to youthElected offices held: Village of Lisle - Trustee 2007 - presentQuestions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?You cannot be in this position and only have an interest and knowledge in just a single issue: a multifaceted (budget, economic development, safety, environmental, etc.) understanding of issues is needed to successful serve the citizens of Lisle. I am the best candidate for the job because of the following: I understand economic development - from what drives successful small and large businesses to what economic growth can do for a community; I am committed to fiscal prudence while keeping a full range of services to the citizens; and I have a dedication to serve the people of Lisle. I have the â#128;~hands on experience' of being an elected Trustee for the last eight years. I have the experience of being a member of Lisle's Economic Development Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals. Since 2008 I have participated in the DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference which includes being on their Board of Directors as well as being the Director of the Planning Committee and a member on the Transportation Policy Committee and the Intergovernmental - Planning CommitteeWhat 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.Our local sales tax revenue is driven from our share of taxes that is given to us from Springfield. We do not have any additional sales taxes levied in Lisle. We have one of the lowest sales taxes of any community in DuPage County. The best thing that the citizens of Lisle can do is to spend their â#128;~hard earned' dollars in Lisle as part of the sales tax then flows back to Lisle. Every â#128;~little bit' helps with the budget.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 Village of Lisle's Police Department can be described in one word: exemplary. From the quality of its management to the professionalism of its patrol officers, the department allows for the citizens of Lisle to have a high comfort level of security. Excellence costs but a fiscally responsible management team keeps the Department well prepared while minimizing waste and overhead. The short term and long term strategic goals of the Department position it well for the coming decade.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?Almost all of my tenure on Village of Lisle Board of Trustees has been during tight economic times. It has been my challenge and commitment, along with the rest of the board, to continue to provide the full range of services to our citizens. Revenues have shrunk but by creatively reviewing budgetary line items we have been successful in keeping Lisle in very good financial health. We now need to proactively work to create revenue generators: economic development is the key to that generation.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?Simple put: I believe that we need more "LISLE PRIDE". I'm not sure we are completely there yet but we are headed in the right direction. Remember that we are all 60532, no matter if we have lived here one year or fifty years.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?What I said four years ago, I repeat today. My number one campaign commitment is the continued fiscal responsibility of the Village budget. We have a responsibility to our citizens and our taxpayers. Services such as police protection, road maintenance and repair, water distribution, etc. all need to be provided to our residents in a timely and professional manner. Budgetary constraints cannot compromise these services. Being an incumbent Trustee has allowed me to understand the complexity and challenges we face. The best way to help foster a healthy balance sheet in Lisle is to help foster a healthy economic climate. My professional and academic background has allowed me to help Lisle in the economic development and urban planning arenas. A healthy local economy is a priority of the Board now and in the future. My number 2 campaign commitment is to continue with an open and transparent government in Lisle. My number 3 campaign goal is to promote the work of â#128;~community'. Lisle is more than just another suburb. The elected official's responsibility is to work with all the groups in Lisle (from the Chamber of Commerce to the Historical Society and everything in between) to help foster a sense of community. From the Eyes to the Skies to Depot Days, we are a single community made up of a menagerie of peoples. We are all 60532.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.I don't look at just one individual but rather many. Different political ideologies, philosophical approaches, genders, races, ages, sociologies all influence my ideas and attitudes.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?As my father use to say: "don't take any wooden nickels" meaning there are those out there that are not as they would seem.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I don't believe that a single â#128;~do-over' can be chosen but I will state: "Do it now, don't wait".What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Geography: I have used geography and spatial analysis all my life from business applications to currently where I am teaching geography at the university level.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Put everything into perspective and then you will not have to â#128;~sweat the small stuff'.