Suzanne Fitch: 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: WheatonWebsite: www.SuzanneMFitch.comOffice sought: Wheaton City Council Age: Candidate did not respond.Family: Husband, Kevin, and 3 KidsOccupation: AttorneyEducation: Law Degree, Northern Illinois University College of Law, Magna Cum Laude Bachelor of Arts and Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignCivic involvement: 6-Year Member of City of Wheaton's Planning and Zoning Board. Volunteer position appointed by Mayor and City Council. Currently serving a second five-year term. Member of Wheaton Chamber of Commerce. Active in Elementary School PTA and appointed Council Delegate WWPTA.Elected offices held: Elected Precinct Committeeman, MTRCC.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?My husband and I chose to raise our family in Wheaton and get involved in our community, church and schools. As an attorney, my practice has included real estate, zoning, municipal and other areas of law. My past experience representing cities and villages prompted me to volunteer on the City's Planning and Zoning Board. I was appointed to the Board by the Mayor and City Council in 2009 and was reappointed for a second term in 2014. My service on the Planning and Zoning Board has prepared me for work on the City Council. The Board conducts public hearings (in a similar manner as the City Council) on zoning applications including Planned Unit Developments, Variances and Subdivisions. I have reviewed and voted in favor of many of the new developments in the downtown such as Wheaton 121 and the DuPage Medical Group building. The Board also analyzes and makes recommendations regarding text amendments to the Wheaton Zoning Code. I have worked on a variety of text amendments including permitted uses for the downtown district and rezoning of properties along Roosevelt Road. The most important aspect of serving on the Planning and Zoning Board has been hearing the concerns of residents. The public comments have been on a range of topics including public safety, flooding, and concerns with proposed developments. Serving on the Board has been a valuable experience in building group consensus, following rules of procedure, and abiding by the Open Meetings Act.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.Wheaton's local sales and property taxes should not increase. The way to achieve this is to take steps toward a high level of financial stability. The City should maintain adequate reserves to cover a possible future loss in revenue from the State. We should also look at increases in annual operating costs and identify efficiencies and cost-cutting measures. Maintaining the City's current fiscal discipline and its "AAA" bond rating is a top priority for me.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?Wheaton's current police and fire coverage is appropriate for our community. Our police and fire personnel work hard every day protecting and serving our residents. We need to continue to honor those individuals who save lives in the line of duty. One significant public safety concern for Wheaton is in the area surrounding the downtown train station. This is one reason why I opposed changing the Liquor Code to allow 7-11 to obtain a liquor license. Prior to that change, the law prohibited this type of liquor license in close proximity to a school. That law was designed to protect residents and our children, so it never should have been amended by the City Council. We also still have the problem of drivers speeding through School Zones and in residential neighborhoods. Wheaton is a community that many non-residents commute through during the week. Unfortunately, some people drive with careless disregard for the safety of our children. We need stricter enforcement of traffic laws in our neighborhoods and School Zones.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?I will scrutinize all new spending to ensure that the costs do not outweigh the benefits. With input from City staff, we can find ways to save money and trim the budget. We should look to other municipalities to compare costs and consider cost-sharing options. I will strive for a high level of service but be cautious about the costs involved.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?In its 2011 Strategic Priorities, the City had a goal of reducing the number of homes experiencing overland flooding damage due to 100-year storm event by 20% from 2011 to 2015. It's unclear how this goal has been measured and if it has been met. Nevertheless, the City needs to increase resident awareness of stormwater management. Many residents do not know about all the stormwater management projects that the City has completed or has planned for the future. When the City identifies more opportunities for better stormwater management, we should analyze the costs and benefits and move forward with projects that are feasible.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?In November of 2011, the City adopted four strategic priorities: Financial Stability, Quality Infrastructure, Efficient and Effective Services, and Economic Development. Each strategic priority has key performance indicators to measure the City's success in meeting its goals. Many of these performance indicators expire by the end of this fiscal year (April 30, 2015). We should focus on the priorities which have not yet been met, set new goals, and identify ways to achieve those goals.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Any leader who gives his or her time and effort to help the community inspires me.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?The lesson I learned growing up is the benefit of hard work. I had part-time jobs as a kid, and I worked hard in school.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?You can't re-do life. You can only take responsibility for and learn from mistakes.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?My favorite subject in college was Constitutional Law. It inspired me to go to law school and interests me to this day.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?The advice is to be kind and compassionate toward others. Recognize that other people have struggles in life and lend a hand when possible.