Two to face off for Carol Stream president

Carol Stream Village President Frank Saverino says he has unfinished business in town and hopes voters will let him complete it.

But to do so, he'll have to fight off a challenge from Rick Gieser, a longtime resident who is finishing his second term as trustee in April.

“I've proven myself in my 14 years as an elected official,” said Saverino, who served as trustee for the Carol Stream Fire Protection District and the village for a combined 10 years before being elected to his post in 2007.

“I have made a lot of culture changes since I've become mayor,” he said. “What we do, these are our customers. We can never forget that.”

Both Saverino and Gieser submitted nominating petitions for village president on Monday the first day to file for municipal races.

Saverino said he continues to work toward filling vacancies in the industrial park off Gary Avenue. He said he has worked closely with Choose DuPage as well as village staff to attract new businesses.

“The industrial park, to me, is what it is all about,” he said. “We have a lot of housing stock; the housing stock here is phenomenal.”

Both Saverino and Gieser showed up to file early in the morning. Gieser said doing so showed a commitment to residents.

“I think it shows my eagerness to be involved in the process,” he said. “There were people for other offices filing and I tip my hat to them. That's a testament for their desire to serve the public.”

Gieser said he wants to continue to balance the village's budget and avoid the first property tax in its 51-year history. He said the village also could move forward with technology by informing its residents through social media.

“We need to get out there and start working on things like that to help spread the word of the viability and all of the exciting things that are happening in town,” he said.

Gieser said his candidacy came from a desire to serve Carol Stream and has nothing to do with Saverino's work.

“I grew up here and I love this community,” he said. “I love the various things it has to offer. I have some things I'd like to accomplish and that's the reason I'm doing it.”