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DOUGLAS WARLICK: Candidate Profile

Geneva City Council Ward 5

Back to Geneva City Council Ward 5

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: GENEVAWebsite: GenevaAlderman.comTwitter: WarlickLawFacebook: Doug WarlickOffice sought: Geneva City Council Ward 5 Age: 60Family: Married to the love of my life, Colleen Thomas. Two daughters are married and son just started at Nebraska (UNL) in a 3 plus 3 program so that he can complete law school within 6 years of H.S. graduation and join my law firm.Occupation: Family Law AttorneyEducation: J.D.: Chicago-Kent College of Law (1981)B.A.: Lake Forest College (1978)Civic involvement: Chairman: Geneva Lions "We Serve" Foundation (7/15 - 6/18)President: Geneva Lions Club (2012-13); ongoing financail assistance and volunteer work for community organizations and projects that we serveChancellor (attorney): St. Marks Church, GenevaVolunteer attorney representing children and/or indigent clientsElected offices held: Elected position: Precinct Committeeman(other positions noted above)Questions Answers Do you support what the Downtown/Station Area Master Plan's suggests for redevelopment of several opportunity sites, including the Cetron factory site and the Mill Race Inn site, including calls for higher-density housing than currently allowed? Discuss in light of recent decisions against an apartment building at the Cetron site and townhouses/duplexes at the former Geneva Greenhouse site.Yes, I love the master plan but as with any development, we need to assess the impact on the local residents/businesses each time a project is proposed. As with the Cetron factory site, density must be considered due to the impact on local residents, schools and services. Thus rejecting the high density project was appropriate. Likewise, the Geneva Greenhouse site on Western Ave. is a good proposal if we can limit the project to duplex, not 3 flat or greater, residential structures. Perhaps aside from a zoning change for the site, a zoning ordinance amendment would be appropriate. If not, the developer must understand our parameters. The Mill Race Inn property is important to me as it is literally near and dear to my office building (the former Hansen Baking Co. building), and there are plans that not only affect my 5th Ward, but also my property. The problem is that a bank owned it for years and did nothing, and now it is owned by our local developer. Let's wait and see what is proposed. I suspect that it will be fabulous. The bottom line is that I have disdain for taxes and I do not appreciate how government spends "other people's money". Development is great for the City but we need to proceed in a manner that benefits the City at large and not some finite group.Should a city employee (the administrator or her designee) negotiate city union contracts, given that they, like other employees, will receive the same benefits as union members?No, however, his/her input and insight is critical. The question is what is right for the community as a whole.Mayoral candidate Tom Simonian has said he won't take the salary of mayor/liquor commissioner, or would donate it to charity. Is that a good idea? Why or why not?That is simply a personal decision, it is not good or bad.Should the city do something to increase the amount of affordable housing in Geneva, as the Chicago Metropolitan Agency on Planning study calls for? If so, what?No, we should do what is right for our constituents, not a Chicago Metro agency on anything. We are not Elgin, not Aurora, and certainly not Chicago. As a recent past president of the Geneva Lions Club and the current chairman of the "We Serve" Foundation of the Club, I am sensitive to our societal and moral obligations. Nevertheless, our first duty as a City Council is to serve our constituents. Indeed, we must be compliant with any applicable laws that may affect grants or block funding, but any decision must be based upon what is appropriate for our community.What is one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?Approximately 3 years ago I went to the Geneva Police Dept. with the following idea: I wanted to institute a voluntary program whereby families could register with the P.D. so that if one of our minor children received a traffic citation or even a warning ticket, the police would contact the parents. They thought it was a good idea because I contacted them after I discovered that my son received a warning ticket for speeding and naturally he didn't tell me.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Settler's Hill is very important to me, the City and my 5th Ward. There is an opportunity to transform the City of Geneva yet it could be a catastrophe if the Forest Preserve District ignores the impact on our community.Taxes, taxes, taxes! Even as a family law attorney, I don't know of any family that just continues to incessantly spend more than it takes in. Eventually, that leads to bankruptcy. Why is government allowed to do so? My preference would be to require a balanced budget and also to reorganize the multitude of taxing bodies.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.John G. Roberts, Jr., Chief Justice of the United States Supreme CourtWhat is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Respect everyone (treat others as you would want to be treated)If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Meeting my wife earlier in my life.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?American History: great background for my legal career and enjoying politics.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Nothing is worth doing unless you're gonna do it right!