Dolores 'Dolly' Vole: Candidate Profile

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:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: Prospect HeightsWebsite: Office sought: Age: 43Family: SingleOccupation: Small business owner/realtor/broker Education: Bachelor of Arts, Loyola University Civic involvement: Friends of McDonald Creek; Northwest Municipal Conference; Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County; Levee 37 meetings Elected offices held: Prospect Heights Alderman 1st Ward, May 1993-December 1996; Alderman 3rd Ward, May 2007-May 2009; Mayor, May 2009-present Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Restoring residents' trust in our city government ="briefhead">Key Issue 2Fiscal responsibility - Running our city like a business; Cutting wasteful spending and using common sense to identify needs versus wants Key Issue 3 Open, honest, accountable, and accessible city government for all residents Questions AnswersWhere do you stand on Prospect Heights water ? Should all the city be on lake water; if so, how quickly and by what process? If not, explain your reasoning. Due to the cost, the City cannot afford to bring #8220;Lake Water#8221; to the single family homes and west side businesses of Prospect Heights.State statutes provide for SSAs to be established. Residents have the right to bring forward requests to create SSAs, as with SSA6. All costs associated with an SSA are paid for through property taxes by all property owners within the SSA.I maintain my position that at no time should any homeowner be required to connect to the municipal water system and that the homeowner shall have the right to drill a new well. I worked diligently to place this decision where it belongs - in the hands of the homeowner. Should Prospect Heights actively try to raise more revenue to run the city, and if so, how? Could the current budget be cut? Where? Due to our non home-rule status, we are limited as to fees and taxes we can implement. Only as a last resort have I asked the residents to pay an additional tax (designated for a specific purpose), through the referendum process. It is my priority to limit the impact on the residents of Prospect Heights and keep the city afloat.The newly formed EDBC (Economic/Business Development Committee) is actively working on a #8220;Shop Prospect Heights#8221; promotional campaign. Increasing sales tax revenue is imperative as the City depends greatly on sales tax revenue, which accounts for 14.3% of our budgeted revenue, to run its day-to-day operations.I have actively and diligently worked to continue to receive the LGDF (Local Government Distributive Fund) which provides for approximately 21% of our revenue. This is our share of the income tax received by the State of Illinois. While the State raised the income tax rate, the share received by municipalities was reduced.We have cut the current budget. We have implemented a spending freeze and a purchase order system. We are currently exploring ways to reduce our health insurance premiums. We continue to look for all possible ways to reduce costs by reviewing equipment and maintenance contracts, billing overages, etc. Since elected Mayor, it was necessary to initiate drastic cuts across the board, due to the fact that previous administrations failed to address our dwindling revenues and lack of reserves. Are you satisfied with the level of staffing in the police department? If not, describe what level of staffing the city should work toward. No, I am not satisfied with the level of staffing in the Police Department. The staffing levels should be in accordance with the FBI standards.Unfortunately, the City's lack of revenue is dictating our current staffing level. In 2009, the voters of Prospect Heights defeated a referendum to establish a Police Protection Tax by 317 votes. Due to this and the declining economy, the City had no choice but to close the Police Department to the public and implement furloughs for all City staff, including the Police Department. The political culture in Prospect Hts. is poisonous. How do you, as an elected official, balance the needs and desires of people whose point of view is opposite your own? Or is that impossible? There are two ways in which a political culture becomes poisonous: 1) When City leaders are not open to listening to all opinions with respect and civility; 2) When individuals persist in disseminating mistruths, rumors, and misrepresentations of the facts in order to promote their own agendas.Everybody deserves respect regardless of their points of view, needs and desires, or whom they voted for. Unlike previous City leaders, I maintain an open door policy. As Mayor, I have worked very hard to create a new climate in which residents are encouraged to participate in our local government. I have appointed many residents whose points of view differ substantially from mine to various boards and committees. Both in the City Council chambers and out, I am receptive to and respond to the concerns and opinions of everyone. I always welcome and listen to differing opinions and points of view with civility and respect.Nothing is impossible. What should the city do for economic development? Should it focus on commercial or industrial? What is the best use of the land formerly meant to hold the arena? I refuse to make promises I cannot keep. Promises should not be made which lead voters to believe that economic development is a cure all for our financial situation.Revenue from both commercial and industrial economic development within the City is limited by several important factors: 1) Lack of available sites; 2) Property owners pay no property tax to the City of Prospect Heights for police services, snow removal, and the day-to-day operations of running our city; 3) Cost versus benefit (cost of providing services vs. potential income to the City).The newly formed EBDC (Economic/Business Development Committee) is working toward providing a data base of all current commercial properties and businesses and available space for sale and/or lease within our city. They, along with the Plan/Zoning Board of Appeals are beginning review of the 1996 Comprehensive Plan.The majority of the land formerly designated for the arena had been sold to Chicago Executive Airport by the previous administration. Approximately fifteen acres remain to be developed. Due to the amount of money the City owes on this property and the declining property values, it is not in the City's best interest to sell this property at a loss. The best used would be a mixed use conforming with the existing multi family, commercial, and light industrial.