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Lucy Santorsola: Candidate Profile

Itasca Village Board

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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: ItascaWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Itasca Village Board Age: 50Family: Married, 2 SonsOccupation: Customer Service ManagerEducation: BA Degree from DePaul University Post Graduate CourseworkCivic involvement: Intergovernmental Committee Member Western Access Planning Sessions Served as Treasurer for Saint Viator Hockey Club as well as a Rules and Ethics committee member. Youth travel hockey manager Community Service Coordinator for youth sports. Parent volunteer for Itasca School District 10,swim team, soccer and travel baseball teams.Elected offices held: Itasca Village Trustee since 2009Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I have extensive professional experience that includes nineteen years of public service in senior management for the Housing Authority of the County of Cook, leadership and management experience in the private sector and six years on the Village Board. I have collaborated with neighboring communities, library, park district, fire department and affiliated government and mayoral committees as well as public agency officials from the Tollway and IDOT to ensure the views and needs of the Itasca residents and businesses are at the forefront.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 Board has been able to keep Itasca in a strong financial position and meet the needs of the community with responsible spending, delaying capital improvements and through attrition in staffing. We have always been diligent in spending tax dollars by pursuing other funding sources if available. We are cognizant about relying too heavily on sales tax as our biggest source of revenue due to the unpredictable state of the economy.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 Itasca Police Department is a progressive department that has collaborated with the Itasca Fire Department, local schools, library park district, residents and volunteers to earn the designation as a Safe Community. The Fire and Police departments recognize that public safety involves the community working together to maintain this status at public events and festivals. The departments are proactive in participating in regional training and workshops for being prepared in emergency situations. They both actively participate in the Western Access strategic planning sessions to ensure the Village's issues and concerns are addressed.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?The Village has been able to sustain a high level of service utilizing the present level of sales tax. The Village Board must continue to look to diversify the revenue base. A strong balance between business and other sources is imperative to continue with capital improvements, tollway concerns and maintaining staffing levels. A way to minimize or trim the budget is to review and scale back on discretionary spending on some of the events we currently sponsor.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?Enhance and maximize growth opportunities as a result of the widening of Rohlwing Road and the expansion of the Elgin/O'hare Western Access tollway. Increase intergovernmental agencies and communities working together to pool resources as it relates to the Elgin/O'Hare corridor.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Candidate did not respond.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Candidate did not respond.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?My Father taught me at a young age to be respectful, go to school and work hard.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Candidate did not respond.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?My management classes taught me about communication, leadership, and team building.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Value your education, be respectful and give back to your community.