Gary J. Ledvora: 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: LisleWebsite: http://www.electledvora.comOffice sought: Lisle Village boardAge: 52Family: I#146;ve been happily married to Colleen Kenney for 23 years. I am the father of five children: Patrick age 22; Kathleen age 20; Brenna age 17; Barrett age 15; Tim age 13. I know how important it is to encourage a family friendly Village.Occupation: I am the Chief Financial Officer of a privately owned company. As an officer of a successful business, I understand what it takes to run an organization and lure businesses to Lisle.Education: I have a Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree from Northern Illinois University, 1981; Masters in Business Administration degree from Northern Illinois University, 1983; Certified Public Accountant since 1981.Civic involvement: I ran for Mayor in 2009 gaining almost half the votes and have actively monitored and provided input at Village Council meetings. I was deeply involved in the neighborhood negotiations with the Lisle Park District for the renovation of the Woodglenn Park.I am actively involved in several Lisle organizations and other civic groups: Lisle Baseball Manager for over 17 years; Lisle Park District Basketball Coach for over 17 years; SJA Volleyball and Basketball Head coach for various Boys and Girls teams for over 15 years. YMCA Adventure Guide Circle Leader; Past Cub Scout Den Leader; Participant in Lisle Teens with Character; Member of Northwestern University Parents Club and University of Iowa Parents Club; Member of the St. Joan of Arc Prayer Network. Elected offices held: NoneHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 The greatest issue facing Lisle is higher taxes brought on by excessive spending. If I am elected Trustee, I will immediately work to balance our budget and assure our taxes are stabilized or reduced.Since 2006 when the incumbent Trustees took over our Village, the government reserve fund balances at fiscal year-end decreased from $27,980,483 to $15,330,889 at April 30, 2010, a decrease of 45%. This decrease in our reserves is due primarily to discretionary capital spending on the Downtown Main Street development, the Garfield Pond Park development, Ogden Corridor development and a variety of other capital projects. Spending for capital projects aggregated $19 million during fiscal years 2006 through 2010 as reported in the Village of Lisle#146;s audited financial statements.In 2008, these same Village Trustees passed a 5.00% municipality utility tax on our ComEd and NICOR bills. Our real estate taxes continue to increase because of value increases and most recently rate increases.Our unfunded pension obligations continue to grow and fiscal year 2010 was the first year the Trustees failed to pay the full pension contribution.In addition, the Village projects a $1.210 million deficit for the next fiscal year. This Trustee philosophy of continued deficit spending leads to higher taxes. We must stop this out of control spending and taxing of citizens. Key Issue 2 The second most serious issue facing Lisle is the lack of leadership and transparency by the Trustees and Village. If I am elected Trustee, I will immediately begin an open the flow of communication with ALL of Lisle.While campaigning through out the Village of Lisle, I constantly hear how frustrated citizens are by the apathy of the Trustees and the Mayor toward their concerns. The recent Navistar relocation project was a clear example of the lack leadership and transparency in the Village. The move by Navistar and underlying TIF were significant events for Lisle because these transactions affected every family in the Village. Immediate communication by the Trustees to its citizens should have occurred because there were strong opinions for and against Navistar. The role of the Trustee was to ensure an open debate to clearly explain the issues and represent the entire Village. Several organizations hired attorneys to represent their views and ultimately the Governor and Attorney General stepped in to close the deal. Significant Village decisions, much like the Navistar one, are done behind closed doors or in private Executive Sessions. Leadership and open communication are missing from the Trustees.The Villages#146; quarterly Newsletter tells a one sided financial story. It tells the citizens about the revenue side, but provides little or no information about the expense side. Where are the Trustees spending our money? How are the Trustees spending our money? With whom who are the Trustees spending our money? How much of our money are the Trustees spending? What are the future plans of the Trustees to spend our money? The Trustees need to open the flow of communication.Key Issue 3 The Meijer development continues to be a concern for many of us. I live in Green Trials near the proposed development and I am against the Meijer development. Again, I state: I AM AGAINST THE MIEJER DEVELOPMENT!While the issue is dormant at this time, Meijer still owns the property and could act on the development at any time. If I am elected, I will actively seek to understand how we can make Meijer sell the land and establish a community appropriate development.With over $30,000,000 spent on the Sports Complex (next door to the Meijer development), the Garfield Pond/Park and the beautification of Downtown Main Street, it would certainly seem that a financial alternative augmented by action from state and county government agencies and an acceptable real estate developer could have motivated Meijer to sell land. The current Trustees have done nothing to end this development, and it still lingers todayQuestions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I have strong character and a passion to succeed. I seek a public office not to build a political kingdom, but to stop irresponsibly government behavior.I am a CPA and as a CFO with almost 30 years of financial and business experience, I worked first hand to change business practices to meet the many challenges of the U. S. and Global economy. I work with numbers every day. I know what it takes to make a successful budget and how to follow up to ensure the fiscal goals are being achieved. I have learned to quickly react to changes in the economic environment. I have been very successful doing this in the private sector and can bring this skill set to the Village. I know how to communicate with people. Most importantly, I have no ties to the current Village Trustees, Mayor or Administrators. I can bring a fresh perspective to the Trustees.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.According to the Village of Lisle#146;s Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2010, the Village direct sales tax rate has been 1% since 2000. I would not change the rate. This long standing rate has been built into family budgets and business models for many years. Moreover, raising taxes in this economic climate is counterproductive. Families and small businesses are seeing their costs increase and face enough challenges. Increasing the Village sales tax would further burden them.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.There are several public safety concerns in Lisle that need to be addressed:1. During road construction, the Village does a poor job informing the public what will be closed and displaying signs for the changed traffic patterns. Over the summer, the roads in Green Trails were torn up and had gravel dirt for over 3 months. There were many days when road construction crews closed the road down, but the Village did not post appropriate signs. Citizens did not know that a road was closed until they actually reached the closed intersection. Drivers had to make a U-turn to find another way through the neighborhood. Fortunately if you lived in the area you know how to exit to the main road. If you didn#146;t #133; good luck. Road closure and detour signs were needed. My complaints to the Village Hall did result in some added signage, but nothing for closed roads. Our Public Works Department should ensure proper signage for safety exists. 2. Over $7.3 million has been #147;borrowed#148; from the Water and Sewer Fund for the Capital Additions Fund to finance the Downtown Redevelopment. There appears to be no plan to repay this money. Moreover, for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2010, the Sewer and Water Fund lost $400,201 and $488,902 respectively. There is an area of Lisle that is in desperate need of sewer and water repairs. Many citizens are concern that money will not be available to pay for these repairs. Transferring money between funds is a public safety concern and this financial practice should not be allowed. A refunding program to reimburse the Water and Sewer Fund should be instituted. 3. There are two photo light enforcement intersections. The equipment at these intersections works sporadically. And when they are working, the intermittent bright flash of light is distractive to drivers. There are many young drivers in the Village, including two of my own children. When the photo lights flash, there is an increased potential for panic, particularly for young drivers. Under this additional stress, drivers tend to #147;slam on the brakes#148; to avoid the photo. In poor weather this is a very unsafe reaction and contrary to public safety. The Trustees should work with the Police Department to ascertain the safety needs at these photo light enforcement intersections and take appropriate action.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?First and foremost, we need to cut our capital spending. Secondly, we need to adapt a #147;Zero Based Budget#148; approach to fiscal planning.The current Trustees evaluated, approved, and spent over $20 million dollars for the Downtown Renovation Project. This is a huge amount of money and these capital outlays have not added any significant additional revenue to the Village.Since the U.S. recession began in 2007, the Trustees have not slowed down spending on capital additions. The Trustees#146; continued to spend on discretionary capital additions rather than save the money to help weather this economic hurricane. The Trustees are turning their attention to the Ogden Corridor to spend more money to aesthetically improve Ogden Avenue.I believe we should hold off on discretionary capital spending, build up our financial position and reduce the taxes on our citizens.As a newcomer and outsider, I do not have access to the detail books and records of the Village; nor the opportunity to hear first hand of where our money is being spent and why. It#146;s tough to offer specific budget recommendations when there is limited transparency about how our money is spent.None the less, I reviewed the Village#146;s recently published 2011/12 plan that forecasts a deficit of $1,209,980 in the General Fund for 2011/12. In spite of revenues projected downward many of the programs and expenses appear carried over from the prior year. Under a Zero Based Budget approach each program or expense would be justified. Intuitively, if revenues are decreasing because of usage, certain program costs should be decreasing or eliminated.Finally, I would examine every incidental cost from phone usage, lawn mowing, landscaping maintenance, expense reports, professional dues and travel to analyze and determine the appropriate level of spending.What#146;s one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?Get back to the basics of running the Village of Lisle. In the past four years, the Village has spent millions of dollars in one small area of the Village. None of this money has improved public safety, relieved road congestion, enhanced our schools, paid our pension obligations, improved communication, increased revenues, published understandable financial information, increased our quality of life, nor lowered our taxes. I want to make certain that our Police and Public Works Departments are cared for and exceed citizen#146;s expectations. I want to concentrate on the basics to ensure we build a strong financial future without increasing taxes.