John Maier: 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: MettawaWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Mettawa Village Board Age: 55Family: Beverly- wifeErik - sonKatarina - daughterOccupation: ControllerEducation: Bachelor of Science, Biology, ChemistryMBA, Finance and MISCivic involvement: One of the founders Rondout Community FoundationFreemason Past Master, 32nd Degree Scottish Rite mason, Shriner.Trustee, Village of MettawaElected offices held: Trustee, Finance ChairpersonQuestions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I really love my village. I am an incumbent -8 years- and hold the Finance Committee Chair. In that time I brought the credit of the village from a Moody's Aa3 to Aa2 saving tens of thousands of dollars in interest payments for the village on a bond issuance, drove financial excellence on the board.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 village has not raised its village real estate tax for 18 years. So it's safe to say it's about right.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 county provides the police coverage and the village enjoys multiple coverage from other fire departments. My major concern which I have expressed to the Sheriff and his representatives is their inability to share the radio transmission codes to our private hire security. This could cause our security team unnecessary danger since they cannot properly respond in the event an emergency.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?Our village requirements are simple. Much of our budget is allocated to legal and engineering. We do not have employees and hence, no pension or benefit liabilities. We have addressed currently the legal and engineering costs for this year. Once again we realized going forward savings that will be passed along to the bottom line of the budget. Make no mistake. These items and that of outside contractors will always require constant review and analysis so that we-in the finance committee-provide the best bang to our residents for the buck. Lastly, I would like to see attention given to providing more resources in maintaining the rural nature of our village. This may include grants to landowners to maintain healthy land management and open space.What is one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?Grants to maintain open land and encourage healthy land management and open space.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Always to maintain the best possible financial health of the village. We are blessed with good resources and very smart residents. So, to keep my village in the best possible financial health is most important to me.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.King Abdullah II of Jordan. He must balance the old, the future and cultures to be successful. Think about it, it is difficult.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Own your mistakes.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Find my wife and marry her 12 years earlier.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?History. Understand it and you can predict and understand the future.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?From the smallest acorn grows the mightiest of Oaks. Build your foundation to be the best you can be....and have fun.