Michael D. Hovde 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: BloomingdaleWebsite: http://www.bloomingdaleunity.comOffice sought: Bloomingdale village boardAge: 41Family: Married to Jackie and have three step children.Occupation: AttorneyEducation: Bachelor of Arts English, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, 1991J.D. Law, Southern Illinois University School of Law, 1994Lake Park High School 1987Civic involvement: Chairman of Bloomingdale School District 13 Education Foundation since 1998. Member of Bloomingdale Chamber of Commerce since 1995.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 My number 1 campaign issue is to bring more business to Bloomingdale, to expand our tax base, and lower the burden on homeowners. I would like to see vacant commercial properties developed and occupied to improve the quality of life in Bloomingdale.Key Issue 2 My number 2 campaign issue is to streamline the Village, reducing costs by eliminating wasteful spending. I want to make the Village's website more useful by allowing electronic filing of permits, licenses, and forms, as well as electronic billing to reduce postage, labor and material costs. This will make the Village more efficient.Key Issue 3 My number 3 campaign issue is to maintain the quality of life in Bloomingdale. This includes keeping the crime rate low, maintaining our infrastructure responsibly, and spending public funds prudently while providing services.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I am the best candidate for the job, because of my experience, independence, and education. I grew up in Bloomingdale, attended school here, and have my home and business here. My parents still live here in the home where I grew up, and my brother and his wife and children live in town as well. I have deep roots here and I have a passion for improving the Village, as well as maintaining the high quality of life here. I have a strong grasp of local issues, having owned and operated a small business here in town as well as having represented a number of local residents and businesses. I will use my experience to make Bloomingdale more attractive to business, and improve the Village. I feel blessed to have had such a great hometown, and am a proud resident who will help Bloomingdale continue to be a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family.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.The current level of local sales taxes is acceptable, when compared to other local communities. The Village of Bloomingdale relies in large part on sales taxes, and any increase in sales taxes may discourage people from shopping here. I want to increase the number of local businesses in order to expand our tax base, and increase revenue through higher sales, rather than any increase in taxes. I would like to see the internet and phone tax eliminated, as it only falls on local residents and business.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 Bloomingdale Police are very professional and skilled, and we live in a safe community for the most part. The biggest concern that exists is the flow of information to the public. When residents see activity with police and fire vehicles, they are concerned, and want to know what is happening. I would like to see a place on the village's website where residents could look for updates on police activity, or perhaps a Twitter feed.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?I would like to reduce the budget by reducing postage, printing, and labor costs by moving licenses, forms, and permits to the Village website, and by electronic billing and payment for Village services. I would prefer to use budget savings to reduce the budget rather than spending the money elsewhere.What#146;s one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?I would like to see Bloomingdale place more information on the internet, and accept payments and filings via the internet, to reduce costs, and make it easier to live here. The Village currently mails water bills with a return envelope enclosed, which costs postage, materials, and labor. I would like to see electronic billing to reduce those costs.