Ellen Lilly Leahy: 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: ItascaWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Itasca Village boardAge: 52Family: Married, 5 childrenOccupation: Industrial sales representativeEducation: Bachelor of Art Quicy College Quicy, Il 1980Civic involvement: Volunteer P.A.D.S. Itasca 1990 to presentVolunteer Walk In Ministry 1996 to presentRun Itasca's Art Wine Festival 2009 to present Ran Itasca's Chili Fest 2010Ran Itasca's BBQ 2010Ran Itasca's Farmers' Market 2010, Volunteer St Peter the Apostle 1990 to presentElected offices held: Village of Itasca Trustee 1994 to presentHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NOCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 My number 1 campaign issue is to keep a seat at the table for Itasca regarding the building of the Western Access into O'Hare International Airport. We need to be proactive paticipants in the planning process getting the interchanges that are vital to our economic growth.Key Issue 2 My second greatest concern for the Village of Itasca is to be able to continue to give the same level of service to our residents and businesses while maintaining a balanced budget knowing that sales tax revenue is down.Key Issue 3 It is imperative that the Elgin O'Hare corridor is developed properly through Itasca. We have an opportunity to attract buisnesses that will bring additional revenue to our community and therefore allow us to offer the high level of service that we have always been able to provide.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I have 16 years of experience as a Village Trustee in Itasca as well as a vested interest in the town. Having lived there all of my life, raised my family and been a part of a successful business in Itasca makes me a perfect candidate for the position of Village Trustee. I have been able to balance the needs of the businesses in town as well as the needs of the residents. I want to see families continue to live in a great safe town with a very high quality of life.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.I believe Itasca has been very fair in it's allocation of taxes. The Village has enjoyed a high level of service without instituting a utility tax, garbage fee, vehicle sticker fee, food and beverage tax nor a sales tax as high as some of our surrounding communities. I am hesitant to over tax any group of people whether it is businesses or residents in Itasca. The Village Board will have to make some tough decisions within the next couple of months, but I feel that the burden must be shared equally by everyone without over taxing any one group.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.Itasca is a very safe town with a healthy, active community oriented police force. The Village Booard realizes and supports that concept. As a Village trustee and resident, maintaining that high level of safety is always a concern of mine.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?All of the village departments have cut spending, but I think the current budget could be trimmed by scaling back some of the festivals we currently sponsor. We have had to defer some road construction projects and as revenue increases over time, I would like to see those projects completed.What#146;s one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?Since Rohlwing Rd. is going to be widened, I would like to look at that area for enhanced economic developement. It will have direct ingress and egress to the Elgin O'Hare expressway making it perfect to attract developers.