Doug Marks: 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: CarpentersvilleWebsite: http://marks4trustee.webs.com/Office sought: Carpentersville Village boardAge: 50Family: Married, two childrenOccupation: Sr Software Developer/Software ArchitectEducation: DePaul University - couple credits short of BA in Computer ScienceCivic involvement: Boy ScoutsElected offices held: NoneHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Reducing the budget and stopping the expansion of the local government. Our economy is barely hanging on, unemployment is over 10% and more than 10% of the homes in this village stand vacant yet over the last couple of years we have been handed property tax increases, water fee increases, increases in vehicle registration and many other fees as well.It is beyond time to bring the needs of the people and their financial outlay in balance with the needs of operating this village.Key Issue 2 Rolling back the 2010 property tax increase and enacting a freeze on all taxes and fees for a minimum of two years.Key Issue 3 Enacting constraints on ""home rule"" and if constraints do not pass then repealing ""home rule"". The constraints would be an ordinance forcing all increases of fees or taxes to be placed in a ballot referendum so the voter can decide on the increased costs not the village management.Secondly, an ordinance that will sunset all codification within the village after three years so every provision will be forced into being reviewed.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?One of the main functions I have as a software architect is to reduce waste and increase efficiency. Though the waste I target in software is time efficiency and work flow these same principles can readily be applied local government. Finding and correcting inefficiencies is what I do so by taking my logic abilities combined with my lifelong knowledge of the area I know I can have a positive impact on the lives of the people in this village.Given the delicate balance between the need for revenue and over-taxing local businesses, what is your opinion of your community's present level of local sales taxes? Is the tax just right, too low or too high? Explain.Right now I'd have to say it is about right but that opinion may change as I participate in the budget meetings of the finance committee during the months of February and March. I am concerned that the village doesn't seem to leverage the local chambers of commerce and has tried to expand the local government to perform tasks the chamber already performs. In order to attract businesses we have to keep our fees and sales taxes competitive with the surrounding communities as well as make our local government hospitable to new business.Talking with your friends and neighbors, what seems to be their biggest public safety concern? Explain the concern as you see it, and discuss how you think it should be addressed.I don't hear nor see of any safety concerns. - I do hear concerns about the police roadblocks. - I do hear concerns about snow removal where some sections of town being over-plowed while others not plowed enough. - I do hear concerns of over-taxation and no citizenry representation at the village level.In these tight economic times, municipal budgets have to be prioritized. Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?The taxpayers are on the hook for a $12M public works building that was originally described as a necessity to house vehicles so these costly assets could be protected and their usable lifespan increased. Seems to me for $12M the wants overtook needs in this instance and the citizens of Carpentersville were not properly represented. A pole barn could have been erected for a lot less than $12M and the intended purpose would have been served.Another example, our village spends over $40k/yr on cellular services. Are these services required to run the village or are they just a convenience for the office folks. I believe they are just a convenience and this is yet another example of placing the wants of the bureaucracy over the requirements to run the village and placing another unwarranted financial burden upon of the citizens.In the recent past, our village purchased a bunch of road resurfacing equipment on the premise that they would recoup the cost by contracting out those services to neighboring communities but that has not happened. I do not believe the village should be in the business of competing with the private sector so these hard assets should be sold and any staff hired for the operations of this equipment should be removed.I think we need to look at our staffing and their roles. As an example, it may be possible to contract building inspections from another municipality and remove that staff from our budget.We need to look really hard at how the village is spending taxpayer funds because the time for raising fees and taxes has come to an end. It is beyond time to bring a in new perspective with thoughtful efficiencies into the business of running Carpentersville. The village manager has the task of running the day-to-day operations of the village but it is the village board that has the task to bring the leadership of the village. The board has to bring a balance between the requirements of the village and the needs of the people so they are met in a fiscally responsible manner.What#146;s one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?Creating a regional fire fighting and rescue services group with the two Dundees to consolidate and reduce the costs of performing these services. There are many more opportunities other than this one so nothing is off the table for improvement.