Island Lake candidates have different economic ideas

With the nation's economy in shambles and many local governments cutting staff to save money, Island Lake's three mayoral candidates have different plans for finding new revenue.

They include offering financial incentives to attract businesses, eliminating some village services and pursuing state grants.

Trustee Deborah Herrmann, Trustee John Ponio and former trustee Sally Fleissner are running for mayor. Incumbent Tom Hyde is not seeking re-election.

Only Ponio and Herrmann will appear on the April 7 ballot. Fleissner is running as a write-in candidate.

The seat carries a 4-year term.

The candidates spoke about the economy and other issues, in questionnaires for the Daily Herald and interviews.

Herrmann, a trustee since 2001, said village leaders should work with state agencies to obtain grants and other funding.

She also said officials need to manage the budget to prevent staff or service cuts.

Some jobs, such as lawn maintenance, could be outsourced, Herrmann said.

Ponio believes officials should look at cutting programs first.

"We should eliminate any service that does not provide a benefit to the residents," he said. "We should then review, in order, other services that do not provide a return on our investment."

Ponio, a trustee since 2007, opposes staff cuts. He repeated his call for the village to hire an administrator, a post he believes would improve efficiency and be cost effective in the long run.

Fleissner, a trustee from 2001 to 2005, doesn't expect the economy will recover soon.

Offering incentives to business owners considering opening in Island Lake will help them save money and increase the village's tax base, she said.

That approach also would bring new products and services to local consumers and could create new jobs, she said.

Fleissner opposes municipal layoffs and program cuts, but said officials must go through the next budget line by line and decide what really is needed.

"We're pretty much going back to basics," she said. "No frivolous spending. No fluff."