Donald Kathan: 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: Vernon HillsWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Vernon Hills Mayor Age: 58Family: I'm the oldest son of a divorced mother of 5 and I have family members scattered throughout the Chicagoland area.Occupation: Economic DeveloperEducation: I hold a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Wright State University.Civic involvement: Former Deacon and currently active church member with involvement in ministries serving socio-economically disadvantage populations (e.g. homeless, single mothers, etc). Former involvement with local Habitat for Humanity and Special Olympics organizations.Elected offices held: President of the largest Homeowners Association in Lake County; Gregg's Landing North HOA.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?Quite simply, I (and the rest of my Fresh Start slate of candidates) have a better vision for the future of Vernon Hills! As an economic developer, I know the importance of diversifying the village's tax base to guard against an over-reliance on big box retail (which is declining in some sectors due to online retailers). I have a vision that rightly discerns the impact that residential development has on our schools and will ensure that impact fees fairly compensate for it. A vision of how to stop wasteful spending of village tax dollars on contracts that are not competitively bid. The experience to build a better village budget that meets our obligations while also reflecting residents' priorities (for example, traffic congestion on Aspen Drive even before school expansion). Some have said the incumbent village board has grown "tone deaf" to the residents' concerns over the last 20+ years. Residents tell me that what they want most from the next village president is a leader that will prioritize their needs over the desires of developers and those with established relationships to village leaders. As a former commissioned officer and government employee for nearly 30 years, I know what it means to serve and how to prioritize the needs of others over my own self interests. I'll bring a focus on hearing and acting on (not just listening to) the concerns of village residents and prioritizing their needs.How would you describe the condition of your community's budget, and what are the most important specific actions the town should take to assure providing the level of services that people want?As the president of the largest homeowner's association in Lake County (Gregg's Landing North HOA) I've developed and overseen large scale budgets for the last 13 years. During that time, I've interfaced with the current village management on a number of budget related issues and worked with the village through its budget planning process. My examination of the village's budget reveals that it fails to properly plan for and adequately invest in areas of future need (e.g. municipal infrastructure). At the same time it spends wastefully in areas where significant cost savings could be realized, e.g. professional services contracts (otherwise referred to as "consultants"), which have not always been competitively procured. In addition, the village's over reliance on retail sales revenue (which according to some recent studies is "softening" in some sectors due to increased sales from online retailers) may place the village in danger of having to levy a local property tax. Diversification from big box retailers can help. Finally, the village's budget planning process (currently ongoing) needs to better anticipate future requirements and allocate resources accordingly. As Hawthorn District 73 implements its Educational Facilities Master Plan, roadways around the existing as well as planned campus will become untenable.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?As previously mentioned, the current Village of Vernon Hills' budget allocates too much for "Professional Contractual Services" which could be secured through competitive procurement (i.e. sealed bidding) without reducing or eliminating the scope of work or level of services provided. This has been the case in previous budgets as well and demonstrates a pattern that doesn't benefit Vernon Hills taxpayers. As an example, the village recently presented a plaque and a "Proclamation" to a government contractor celebrating 30 years of continued "service" to the village. Local government should not be in the business of singling out and recognizing one private business over any other for contractual work to the village. Residents can and should rightfully question relationships like that and ask how has that relationship been in the best interest of local taxpayers? Other areas of the budget such as municipal infrastructure are simply "bills coming due" which must be planned for accordingly.Describe your leadership style and explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your village board or city council.My leadership style is "participatory" in nature meaning that I value and actively seek the input of wise counsel as well as a diversity of opinions. In my current position as president of the Gregg's Landing North Homeowner's Association, I've honed the practice of actively soliciting and then hearing (and not just listening to) residents' concerns so as to be able to discern people's true interests underlying their position. This has helped me in countless negotiations to get to "win-win" easier and quicker than many others, and it's a skill set I'll bring to the village president position in order to make decisions that truly solve the residents concerns.What is one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?The village should work with regional leaders to create a comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS), which is different from a strategic plan. A comprehensive economic development strategy is designed to bring together the public and private sectors in the creation of an economic roadmap to diversify and strengthen the Village's and the region's economy. It should analyze the local and regional economy and serve as a guide for establishing local and regional goals and objectives, developing and implementing a regional plan of action, and identifying investment priorities and funding sources. A CEDS integrates a region's human and physical capital planning in the service of economic development. Integrated economic development planning provides the flexibility to adapt to global economic conditions and fully utilize the region's unique advantages to maximize economic opportunity for its residents by attracting the private investment that creates jobs for the region's residents. A CEDS must be the result of a continuing economic development planning process developed with broad-based and diverse public and private sector participation, and must set forth the goals and objectives necessary to solve the economic development problems of the region and clearly define the metrics of success. The time for that planning is now and I have the experience and leadership to make it happen.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I'm extremely concerned about the impact that the village's over development is having, and will continue to have, on both the elementary and high school Districts (73 and 128, respectively). Impact fees from developers are not commensurate with the impact they're having on enrollment and the village must do a better job of negotiating on behalf of the school districts in order to secure greater levels of funding to reduce the property tax burden on residents.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.One of my favorite sources of inspiration is life coach Tony Robbins who has helped motivate me to always be the best I can be.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?As the oldest son of a divorced mother of 5, I learned to take responsibility for my actions and always serve causes bigger than yourself.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Becoming a serial entrepreneur; a desire I inherited from my father and grandfather who started their (first of many) businesses when I was a child.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Math and science; which is why I earned my undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering. My MBA in Management has opened several executive leadership doors.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Your life is the result of choices that you make along the way so consider your choices wisely, act decisively and live regret free.