George S. Dunham Jr.: 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: SchaumburgWebsite: http://under constructionOffice sought: Schaumburg Village boardAge: 62Family: Married since 4/15/72, one adult daughter.Occupation: Executive Recruiter, Human Resources Consultant, self-employedEducation: Public Administration major, Political Science minor, University of TulsaCivic involvement: Lexington Fields South Homeowners Assn #8211; one of three founders, past President, Vice President, and DirectorVillage of SchaumburgAd Hoc Committee on Residential Development #8211; 1983, 2002Schaumburg Business Development Commission #8211; 1986 to 1989Schaumburg Plan Commission #8211; 1989 to 1991Schaumburg Regional Airport Advisory Commission #8211; 1995 to PresentMember, Conant H.S. Booster Club Band Parents ClubTreasurer, St. Hubert#146;s Band Parents ClubElected offices held: Village Trustee #8211; Elected 1991, re-elected 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007; Village President Pro-Tem since 2009Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: No arrests or convictionsCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 I will work to reduce and ultimately eliminate the village property tax when it is economically feasible to do so. I will support tight controls over expenditures and personnel costs.Key Issue 2 I will work to replace expended reserve funds so in future times of hardship there will be reduced need to rely on property taxes or to cut village services to unacceptable levels.Key Issue 3 I will work to maintain and improve village infrastructure through judicious use of capital funds and equipment replacement funds, and available grants to eliminate the need to tap into general funds for these expenditures.Questions Answers What is your opinion of Schaumburg's municipal property tax? Do you support immediate repeal, an increase in the tax or something in between?Voting to enact the tax was my single most-difficult decision in 20 years. And given the amount of angst that decision generated, it would be easy to say I support an immediate repeal however doing so would be disingenuous and would pander to special interests. I will closely evaluate current and future village expenditures, and will work to reduce and ultimately eliminate the property tax when it is fiscally responsible to do so.We have reduced village staff by 20% as retirements and resignations have taken place, and these positions have been permanently eliminated from the payroll. The Communication Center was outsourced to NorthWest Central Dispatch saving $1.5 million in personnel costs. Staff wages were frozen in 2009-2010 and are proposed to be frozen in 2011-2012 pending the outcome of an in-process Wage and Salary Study that will determine parity between village administrative and clerical staff, other municipalities, and the private sector. Firefighters agreed to a zero-percent wage increase for fiscal 2010-2011. Village employees are paying more for fringe benefits and insurance, and funds available for non-essential training have been reduced. Some capital improvements have been deferred until economic times improve.How is the village's decades-old model of reliance on commercial development and retail sales taxes for revenue weathering the current economic downturn? Do the vulnerabilities revealed by the recession justify a major overhaul of that model?Schaumburg#146;s traditional reliance on commercial development and retail sales taxes did not carry the Village through the unexpected and deepest recession since the Great Depression. Add to that Cook County increasing its retail sales tax and property taxes, and the State of Illinois#146; inability to pay agreed-upon obligations to municipalities in a timely manner from the Distributive Fund, sales tax fund, and other funds, caused revision to the model such as implementation of a local property tax and cuts in expenses.What is your attitude towards the village's ownership of the Schaumburg Renaissance Hotel Convention Center, Alexian Field and the Schaumburg Regional Airport? Should these properties be privatized? Why or why not?I supported and continue to support these projects. Funding for the hotel and convention center has been and continues to be generated from sources outside the village#146;s general fund. A portion of the revenue from the Convention Center, taxes from the hotel, and a portion of taxes from other hotels in Schaumburg, are earmarked to retire the bonds used to finance the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center. Construction of Alexian Field was a partnership between the Village of Schaumburg and the Schaumburg Park District, as was the acquisition of Schaumburg Regional Airport. Neither of these projects were or are supported by the general fund. The hotel and convention center are considered to be generators of Schaumburg#146;s future revenue, and the airport and ballpark are part of that which makes Schaumburg a unique and different place to live, play, and work.I would not favor privatization of these projects unless a compelling financial advantage became available.Should Schaumburg continue to run Septemberfest and other special events? Do you support the work of the cultural services department and the village#146;s continued operation of the Prairie Center for the Arts and the Trickster Gallery?I support village efforts to operate the Prairie Center for the Arts and the Department of Cultural Services, Septemberfest, and other special events such as the Summer Breeze Concerts, summer outdoor movies, the Prairie Art Festival, and concerts, storytelling, and other events held at Towne Square. The Prairie Center provides musical, dramatic, comedic, and theatrical entertainment to its patrons at bargain prices and if frequently sold out. Prairie Center events held on village hall grounds are heavily attended, as are events at Towne Square. The Prairie Arts Festival brings hundreds of patrons annually, and Septemberfest draws tens of thousands of Schaumburg residents and others from outside the village. These and other amenities contribute to making Schaumburg the unique community it is today. They bring in revenue from those who attend from outside the village who shop in our stores, stay in our hotels, and eat in our restaurants.The Trickster Gallery is housed in a village-owned structure, but is managed by the American Indian Center, the organization to which the building is leased.What significant infrastructure improvements, if any, should the village be pursuing? Why?I support efforts to improve village streets in the upcoming construction season, using $2.2 million in MFT funding and $1.1 million in CIP funding for a total of $3.3 million. In addition, TIF funds are available and should be used for street and sewer improvements in the Pleasant Square area. Street improvements should be made to Salem Road and Walnut Lane, and signal improvements to the Schaumburg Road / Salem Road intersection. Improvements to Springinsguth Lane will be partially funded by a $750 thousand federal grant and $330 thousand in village CIP funds. Various other projects, mostly lighting, will remain on hold until funds become available.These and other improvements would be impossible without the revenues brought in by those things that are under attack by other candidates in the upcoming election.