Kristy Grau: 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: LisleWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Kristy Grau for Lisle Village TrusteeOffice sought: Lisle Village Board Age: 39Family: I have been married to my husband Jason for 10 years and we have a 9 year old daughter and a 7 year old son.Occupation: Long term substitute teacher for Lisle School District 202Education: I hold a Masters Degree in Elementary Education from National Louis University awarded in December of 2008. I also hold a Bachelor Degree degree in Mass Communications Media Arts with a minor in Speech Communications from Southern Illinois University awarded in May of 2000.Civic involvement: I sit on the Village of Lisle's Floodplain Information Program Committee which creates and evaluates an annual educational plan that presents helpful information pertaining to flood related issues to the community, including: prevention, safety, insurance, risk and more. I also I regularly attend the Village of Lisle Board meetings to stay up to date on the issues and procedures before the board.Elected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?My professional background is heavily research driven. I have worked as a researcher for The Oprah Winfrey Show as well as a Criminal Intelligence Analyst for the Chicago High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). I also have a Masters Degree in Elementary Education. I have worked in the private sector, for the government in law enforcement, and for the public school system. I have a very diverse background and have worked with people from all walks of life. I chose to run as an Independent Candidate because I believe we must bring a marketplace of ideas to the Village Board based on factual research, not a predetermined agenda. It is vital that board members and community members are free to openly discuss agenda items in an environment that fosters a community based outcome. I will bring an independent, factual based voice to the Village Board. I am very committed to this process and look forward to representing the citizens of Lisle. I have the drive and know how to find and analyze information. I believe in putting all the cards on the table and assessing the risk reward ratio before moving forward on any significant decisions. I believe in a fully transparent government run by the people that is community driven.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.Property taxes support our way of life within our community. The Village Board's focus should be on increasing the property value of our homes through economic development which will increase our tax base. The Ogden Avenue corridor between I355 and Naper Blvd. consists of one vacant business after another. There is no excuse for this property to be left vacant for so long. This stretch of land could attract consumers from neighboring cities and towns from every direction considering its proximity to two major highways. The absence of development puts a greater burden of taxation on individual homeowners.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 current Village Board approved Marquette Properties 201 unit apartment building on 2 Ã#130;circ;frac12; acres of land directly adjacent to the downtown Lisle fire station, eliminating access to Spencer Avenue south to Burlington Avenue. The construction of Marquette Properties in proximity to the fire station will inhibit the movement and accessibility of life saving equipment from this site. Response time will be affected as well. I believe the current Village Board's approval of this project will affect public safety.Regarding the Village of Lisle's Police Department, I believe they do an outstanding job under the leadership of Chief of Police Dave Anderson. They are present within the community, approachable and committed to public safety.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?The budget for the Village of Lisle is outlined in a 262 page document posted on the Village's website. As Village Trustee I will examine the budget line by line eliminating frivolous expenses and concentrating more on public safety and economic development, rather than rubber stamping the approval of the proposed budget.What is one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?When we look at the revitalization of downtown Main Street, all discussion is geared towards bringing businesses to the downtown area. I agree that this is a major issue, however, what is never discussed by our current Village Board is downtown's proximity to the floodplain. The current board has a do nothing approach to addressing the failing levee along the East Branch of the DuPage River. Several properties within the floodplain are being bought out with FEMA monies attaching huge restrictions to these properties. They can never be developed ever again according to FEMA regulations. This means that vacant lots and a blighted neighborhood will remain a block away from our downtown and train station. Rather than this neighborhood having increased property value due to it's proximity to downtown and the train station and a higher property tax income for the Village, we are removing property from the tax base. The Board's current approach actually discourages businesses from opening up shop in our downtown. We must address the failing levee if we want a thriving downtown. We need residents on the Village Board who will actually acknowledge the flooding issues in our town and take steps to prevent a future flood as devastating as the flood of 2013.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?There are many issues that are important to me as a candidate for Village Trustee. We need a vision for Ogden Avenue. It is unacceptable that a majority of it sits vacant and has for many years. We must address the failing levee system along the East Branch of the DuPage River in Lisle. The current approach of just letting it deteriorate will only result in homes being torn down and property tax dollars being removed. For every dollar removed from the floodplain, an additional dollar must be added to residents outside of the floodplain. This is a serious issue, and ignoring it is no solution. Fixing the levee will increase the property value in the floodplain and attract businesses to our downtown. As a parent of students in Lisle School District 202, I find it concerning that none of my opponents nor current sitting members of the Board (with the exception of one) have children that attend Lisle's school district. District 202 families are grossly underrepresented. Our children will grow up in this town rarely traveling more than a few miles to go to school, visit friends, or attend sporting events. It is vital that we remember this when planning our community. We need code compliant, retail and entertainment venues as well as family friendly restaurants and activities. The families of our village are what makes Lisle so special; we need to hear them and consider their vision for the future success of Lisle.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.I am inspired by any person who works hard to make the world a better place. We should all strive to be inspirational leaders.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?If you work hard and show respect and kindness towards others, success will follow.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I have no regrets in life, just lessons learned. Life is about taking risks, working hard, and living happily in the present.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?I learned early on that reading is the key to success. The ability to analyze and comprehend information prepares you for any endeavor in life.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?The same advice my parents gave me: work hard, show respect and kindness to everyone and success will follow.