Tom Cullerton wants to take Villa Park in a new direction

Spend just a little time talking with Tom Cullerton, and you've got to wonder: When does the guy sleep?

Villa Park's village president-elect starts his sales route for Interstate Brands - purveyors of Hostess bakery goods - at 4 a.m. every day. Afternoons, he's watching his boys play soccer or T-ball. Then there are the chamber of commerce meetings, and the Lions Club, and the Knights of Columbus, the village board meetings and the hours he spends on Villa Park business. Weekends he's on the ballfield or standing in line at Dairy Queen.

"I'm everywhere," Cullerton says. "I'm all over town. If you haven't seen me in the four years I've been trustee, you weren't paying attention."

When they spot him, people regularly pull him aside to talk about their concerns, from bumpy streets to crime.

"I end up talking to people all the time," Cullerton says. "Now I can at least offer a solution or say 'I'll get back to you.'"

At 39, Villa Park's new leader is exuberantly outgoing, a born salesman - or politician. (Or maybe hog caller. The city boy took top honors in 2005 at the annual mayors' hog-calling contest at the DuPage County Fair, after practicing his yodels in the car and his backyard. And putting those paper pig snouts on his little sons was genius.)

What he's really sold on is Villa Park's future. Voters gave Cullerton, who will be sworn in May 11, a solid mandate to lead Villa Park in a new direction.

"The village is changing a lot," he says. "We're having a significant turnover in the village overall. There are a lot of young kids. - We needed to put a new face up as leader of the community."

Many of the new residents are young families like his. Cullerton and his wife, Stacey, have three "absolutely spectacular" boys, ages 8, 6 and 4.

The couple moved to Villa Park seven years ago this summer from Chicago. Yes, he's from that Cullerton family, born into a big Irish clan with deep political roots. Not political royalty on the order of the Daleys, but it's still a name that's at home on a ballot.

Illinois Senate President John Cullerton is a cousin. The legendary Parky "P.J." Cullerton was 38th Ward alderman as well as Cook County assessor during the first Mayor Daley's years in office. And Bill Cullerton Sr. hosted "The Great Outdoors" on WGN Radio at 5 a.m. for more than two decades. Family reunions are usually planned around St. Patrick's Day.

Cullerton was born in Chicago, but his family moved to Evanston when he was around 10. He graduated from Loyola Academy, attended the University of Kansas and Oakton Community College and served in the Army from 1990 to 1993. He was stationed in Fort Carson, Colo.

Cullerton was elected to the village board in 2005. In April, he defeated incumbent Village President Joyce Stupegia and fellow trustee Albert Bulthuis in a three-way race that focused on moving the village forward.

As a trustee, Cullerton pushed aggressively to bring development into Villa Park, including the Salerno's restaurant/off-track betting parlor that will generate much-needed revenue. (The restaurant is slated to open this fall.) He favors a fast-track process so developers can get an early indication of whether a project will be approved before investing thousands in more detailed plans. He'd like to work with a "shortlist" of builders willing to demolish some old housing stock and replace it with upscale homes.

As soon as he takes office, he wants to get the parks and recreation commission - proposed 11/2 years ago, but never filled - off the ground. And he wants to appoint board members to serve as liaisons on all the village commissions.

A plan to repair the village's streets is also at the top of his list.

"A lot of streets are in major disrepair; they've not been touched for 25 years," he said. "We need to put (the repairs) on a schedule that's accountable."

The village was just awarded $1.6 million in federal stimulus money for two projects - resurfacing Addison Road from North Avenue to St. Charles Road and a sidewalk project.

Cullerton says he'll be able to hit the ground running May 11.

"The good thing is I've had four years as a trustee and I've been able to build solid relationships with most of the staff and the village manager," he said. "I'm going through a pretty smooth transition so far."

Cullerton's bloodlines have led some to speculate that his political ambitions probably don't end with the village presidency of Villa Park. But, he says, "people have been saying that since before I ran for trustee."

They could be right: He tried to run for the Illinois Senate as a Democrat last fall, but was thrown off the ballot by the DuPage Electoral Board because he had voted as a Republican in the primary. In light of all the brouhaha, he now calls himself "an independent - that's what I am."

Whatever the future holds, he has an obvious passion for the job of village president. He describes himself as a family man who wants to build a better future for his kids.

And he says he will listen to any and all ideas for improvement.

"We're going to try everything," he said. "If you've got ideas, bring them - let's go see what we can do. Everything can be done. You've just got to find a way to do it, that's all."

<p class="factboxheadblack">Tom Cullerton's Top 3</p> <p class="News">The new village president's favorite places in Villa Park:</p> <p class="News"><b>Sugar Creek Golf Course:</b> Residents can play a quick nine holes for just $14 on weekdays on this pretty public course, one of Villa Park's best-kept secrets. How's Cullerton's golf game? "I like it but I'm not very good at it," he says sheepishly. For nine holes, "I'm probably kicking about a 50."</p> <p class="News"><b>The Dairy Queen: </b>Especially on summer evenings after the youth baseball games when it's all kids in their team uniforms. "It's only three blocks from my house, so we can walk there after dinner."</p> <p class="News"><b>The Illinois Prairie Path:</b> A great place for a walk or biking with his kids. "We (the village) actually just got an award for the way we maintain the Prairie Path. The Prairie Path is really a lot of pride for our town and we keep it up extremely well."</p>