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RJ "Sonny" Sorrentino: Candidate Profile

Wood Dale City Council Ward 3

Back to Wood Dale City Council Ward 3

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: Wood DaleWebsite: NoneOffice sought: Wood Dale City Council Ward 3 Age: 64Family: My significant other Janice Molinaro Eppelheimer of 10 + years, my oldest son Ralph his two beautiful boys my grandsons Sonny and Anthony and my youngest son Salvatore or Sam as he prefers.Occupation: Clinical CounselorEducation: I graduate DePaul University this winter with a BA in Human Services and I've been accepted to The Chicago School of Professional Psychology to begin my MA in Counseling Psychology in September 2015.Civic involvement: Alexian Brothers Center for Mental Health Senior Home Sharing Tau Upsilon Alpha National Honor Society National Society of Leadership and Success Golden Key International Honour Society Phi Sigma PI National Honor Fraternity Sleep Out Saturday Night (New Face of the Homeless) Take Back the Night (Domestic Violence and Child Abuse)Elected offices held: First Time Running For Public OfficeQuestions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?My maturity, my education, my life experiences, my compassion, my team spirit, my energy, my communications skills, my ability to listen, my caring attitude, my empathy are what make me the best candidate for the job.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.Are taxes ever just right? I believe our Mayor and City Council members have worked diligently over the years in everyone's best interest to minimize expenses while providing the highest level of services.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?Wood Dales police and fire coverage personnel should be commended for the fine work they do on a daily basis, protecting and serving the City of Wood Dale. It's my understanding both departments are technically above par with equipment and personnel monitored closely.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?Our budget has been and remains one of the most well thought out budgets in the County. Kudos to the Mayor, City Manager and City Council members for their constant monitoring of our income and expenses. Our City has consistently remained in the black while maintaining a cash reserve.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?I would like to increase awareness of Human Services in the 3rd Ward and the City of Wood Dale by Chairing a committee of concerned citizens for the well being of their neighbors. I want our seniors, veterans, mentally ill, addicted and financially impoverished to be able to access services and support in order to have a fulfilling life.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?The City's flooding issues, O'Hare airport runway and noise pollution, water rates, additional lighting and education for prevention are all issues that are important to me as a candidate for this office.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.John Kasich who states To me good politics is not winning, it's doing. More than that is doing the right thing-doing right by your constituents.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?I grew up in a Military Academy called Bishop Quarter where I learned leadership, team building and respect.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would have begun my life long learning at an earlier age.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Social Responsibility, it taught me to Stand for Something, go ahead and do what you can, where you can , whenever you can-because that's leadership.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Live, laugh and love always.