Greg Clements: 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: Round LakeWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Round Lake Village boardAge: 49Family: Wife Peggy, Step-daughters Hilary (22) Nicole (10), Daughter Katie (15), Granddaughter ""Hurricane"" Emily (20 mos)Occupation: Customer Service Program Manager at Grainger, Inc.Education: Executive MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, 1999, BBA in Management Information Systems from UW - Eau Claire, 1984, College Preparatory Degree from Marine Military Academy, 1979.Civic involvement: Junior Achievement (4 yrs), Ladder Up Tax Assisstance (3 yrs) , Events Coordinator for Northern Illinois Patriots (1 yr), Active Member of the Chapel Grayslake Campus (1 yr)Elected offices held: NoneHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: 2002 - Misdemeanor conviction for Unlawful Transport of Firearms for carrying a hunting shotgun in the back seat vs the trunk.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Taxes - Our opponent's have voted to raise the village portion of our property taxes for at least the last 4 years in a row. I stongly believe that it is unreasonable to expect residents to tighten their belts during a deep recession in order to give more money to a village that can't tighten its own belt.Key Issue 2 Budget Deficits - Village revenues have declined due to the recession. Village operating expenses must be reduced accordingly, to ensure that no taxes need to be raised and cash reserves do not need to be used.Key Issue 3 Wasteful Spending - Our opponents have voted to spend over a million dollars over the last 4 years on wasteful projects, including the needless renovation of the Village Hall annex and seemingly endless downtown development planning.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?My strong belief in fiscal responsibility, coupled with my experience in managing large projects department budgets, will help me ensure that our village can return to being financially healthy, without raising taxes, and despite the recession.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.All taxes should as low as absolutely necessary to maintain essential services, and that includes sales taxes. The fact that the village does not impose its own sales tax on top of the state imposed sales tax is a good thing. The real problem for our residents and businesses alike is the recently enacted 67% state income tax increase, and 45% state corporate tax increase for the purpose of supporting our extremely bloated state governement. The corporate tax increase is a real job killer, and will make it tough for our local businesses to survive, yet alone grow.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.The folks that I talk to are concerned about all of the vacant homes that exist in the village due to all of the foreclosures. Vacant homes not only reduce the value of neighboring homes, but also invite criminal activity into our neighborhoods. Outside of the best solution of new families moving into these properties, the next best solution is a combination of the village notifying HOAs or neighbors that a property has been foreclosed on, and neighbors then pitching in to ensure that the property is well maintained and appears ""lived in.""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?The entire budget needs to be examined, but some of the capital spending planned for this year that needs to be challenged are the $15,000 phone system upgrade, $81,000 for new police vehicles equipment, $35,000 for parkway tree replacements, and $22,000 for furnishing the unused village hall annex. One of the projects that has not been adequately addressed is the persistent flooding in the downtown area. This problem needs a holistic solution, as opposed to the piecemeal study approach that has been taken so far that has yielded no actual improvements.What#146;s one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?While I do not have any radically new ideas for the village, I do see an opportunity for more neighborhood and community efforts, especially in some of the newer developments. Neighborhood watch programs, block parties and garage sales are a good way to strengthen the bond between residents, and should be encouraged with the cooperation of the village.