Frank Saverino: 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: Carol StreamWebsite: http://www.Saverino4Mayor.comOffice sought: Carol Stream Village presidentAge: 66Family: Wife Bobbie #8211; married 49 years 4 CHILDREN: Mark,Jennifer,Frank Saverino, Jr., our youngest son Dominic Saverino who we lost in September 2010 at age 36 7 GRANDCHILDREN: 3 Granddaughters 4 GrandsonsOccupation: President of Saverino Associates, Inc. Carol Stream, ILEducation: Attended Triton College, becoming certified in Labor RelationsCivic involvement: Very involved in fundraising for the private sectorElected offices held: Trustee Treasurer of the Carol Stream Fire District for 4 years Carol Stream Village Trustee for 6 yearsServed on the DuPage Water Commission since 2007Current Precinct Committeeman for Wayne Township District 2Mayor of Carol Stream for 4 yearsHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NOCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 To continue to work with county and other taxing bodies to combine resources to control flooding.Key Issue 2 I am adamantly opposed to a Village of Carol Stream Property Tax.Key Issue 3 I will continue to hold and cut spending in Carol Stream while maintaining a high quality of life for all residents.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I am running for re-election for my second term because I believe I have shown how to bring this Village together. As Carol Stream continues to grow, I feel my proven successful business background and past record as Mayor speaks experience and leadership along with my integrity and dedication to continue to do the job. I have a great passion for Carol Stream and all of the people who live here. As Mayor for the past 4 years I am truly proud and pleased to be part of past accomplishments, and I want to continue to do as much as possible for all the residents.Many buildings in the industrial park on Gary Avenue remain vacant and could provide a large revenue stream. How could the village best promote that park to bring businesses in?The economy has adversely affected our efforts but I continue to work hard to promote our village. I feel that Technology plays a very important part. The Carol Stream Village website today promotes over 100 buildings and vacant land all over our village in addition to the Gary Avenue Industrial Park. I find this a great business advantage. Our website strives to provide as much information as we have available including downloading brochures, aerial maps and photos. As potential tenants or buyers look at these sites I personally make it a point to meet with them to answer any questions and concerns they may have in order to bring the buyer and seller together. I make it very clear early on that we are anxious to work together with all the agencies in our village to make their move here a reality. I know that the Village of Carol Stream with all of its stores, large and small along with the wonderful restaurants and people make it easy to promote.Red-light cameras have been controversial almost since they first were installed in Carol Stream. Where do you stand on that issue?We are fortunate that our Red Light system was installed and operated correctly from the beginning. We have officers viewing the film to monitor questionable traffic violations just as you would if they were on site. If a citizen feels a ticket was unfair they can view the violation on line and attend a hearing at the Carol Stream Village to protest. If the outcome is not to their liking they can take it a step further and adjudicate it at Traffic Court. As long as the cameras are allowed in Illinois I feel that our village should benefit along with other municipalities. I contend that our roads are safer because of the cameras. Another benefit is that this allows our police to handle other important duties. All money resulting from the Red Light cameras goes directly to the Carol Stream General fund.The park district will build a huge recreation center just south of Town Center in the near future. What should the village do to get involved in that and how much of an impact can, and should, the village have on that project?The residents of Carol Stream elected the officials of the park district knowing that this was a project on the table sometime in the near future. The park district owns the land and has the funds available to build this recreation facility. The village will be involved only with the regulatory building code portion just as in any building project. Before construction begins I will make it known to them that I will be happy to help with any advice that they may require from the village.How would you fix the flooding issues that have plagued Carol Stream in the last several years? What, specifically, would you do to both fix the problem and put residents at ease that they won't have to worry about this in the future?This is a heartbreaking problem that originally began a long time ago with houses that were allowed to be built in a flood plain. When the unusually heavy amount of rain fell in July, it quickly became a major problem for many towns including Carol Stream. I continue to tell residents that the flooding issue is a #1 priority for me. I am working to make Armstrong Park a reservoir to help hold the water table. The problems are not completely resolved but just recently 3 houses in the flooded area were purchased. They will be torn down and the land will become green space. I am working daily with all county and state agencies to get everything possible done for these residents.