Grant Wehrli: 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: NapervilleWebsite: http://www.wehrli4council.comOffice sought: Naperville City councilAge: 42Family: Married to Sharon for almost 19 years. Two sons, Jake and Luke.Occupation: Account Executive for UL-DQS.Education: Attended Florida Institute of Technology and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale majoring in Aviation Management.Civic involvement: St. Rapheal Football coachYMCA Basketball coachNaperville Park District baseball coachNaperville Plan commission-Former ChairmanNaperville Development Partnership - BoardmemberNaper Settlement - BoardmemberRiverwalk Commission - BoardmemberNaperville Education Foundation - former BoardmemberElected offices held: Appointed to the Naperville city Council in 2005.Elected for full term 2007-2011Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NO.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 To balance the budget while maintaining service levels without raising taxes.Key Issue 2 Job attraction and retention.Key Issue 3 Prudent investment in our infrastucture.Questions Answers The city has slashed dozens of jobs in the last year in an attempt to balance the budget. Do you see more of this in the future?I do not foresee any additional reduction in force being required provided the economy does not get worse.My goal has been to manage our way thru this fiscal crisis, without increasing revenue streams, in a manner that continues to provide taxpayers with a high level of service while making government smaller, more efficient and fiscally sustainable. By restructuring our workforce during this great recession, we have placed ourselves in a position to springboard into greater prosperity as the economy improves. Based on your experience as council member or mayor, are there any programs that you already know you would seek to eliminate if you were to be elected mayor?I believe this question is for those running for Mayor only.What are your thoughts/concerns regarding the city creating a shuttle bus service to help seniors and others commute to and from the downtown and other popular locations?We currently offer commuter bus service and a senior ride program to various points around town via Pace, Metra and Ride DuPage. I would favor expansion of these bus routes as long as an outside funding source was found that would cover all associated costs. Right now is not the time to increase costs to Naperville taxpayers by expanding these services. Once we emerge from this great recession this is an issue that we should revisit however to see if there is a demand for an increase in service levels.The city recently purchased the site of the DuPage Children's Museum on the city's north side. Do you support leaving the museum in place or freeing up the potentially valuable real estate at the city's northern border for economic development?I did not support the Purchase of this parcel of real estate but now that the City owns it, the Museum should remain as long as the Museum can meet its financial obligations. The Museum now finds itself free of debt and holding a lease with very favorable terms. The intent of using taxpayer dollars to get the Museum in this position was to insure its success moving forward and that should now be allowed to happen. I would not support the elimination of the Museum in order to provide for a different economic development opportunity on that parcel. What can be learned from the furor over the city giving police officers 3 percent raises then enacting layoffs? How should the city deal with its unions? Should it agree to raises when it knows layoffs will be a result?The recent Fraternal Order of Police contract negotiation process once again highlighted the unfair and unsustainable process as outlined by our state statutes that clearly favor public safety unions over taxpayers. Public safety employees should be compensated for the great service they provide in a manner that is fair and sustainable for both the public sector employee and the taxpayer.The demand for a wage increase by the union with their disregard for the financially stressed taxpayer exposed two faults with the public safety binding arbitration state statutes. By law any arbitrator must consider comparable community data in their decision process and a municipality#146;s ability to afford these increases must NOT be considered. With these rules in place we find ourselves having to follow the unsustainable practices of Joliet, Elgin and Aurora while the taxpayers are completely disregarded. We are forced to duplicate the unsound fiscal policies of other communities by law! Moving forward the City and all unions should look for ways to provide for fair compensation and benefits with a vision for the long-term sustainability of those contracts. Without this forward looking vision the system will fail us all in the very near future. Data pertaining to the financial heath of the taxpayers must be a factor in determining these agreements. We are working to make changes to the public safety collective bargaining laws thru our 2011 State Legislative Priorities in order to address these issues.The police reduction in force was not a result of the police union contract wage increases. The reduction in force was a direct result of a review of how we deliver services. The review of service levels and delivery methods has been undertaken in each department and efficiencies gained have resulted in the reduction of personnel over the past few years in many departments, including the police department. This review is a critical part of implementing a sound and sustainable fiscal policy.