Richard R. Furstenau: 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.Furst4Council.comOffice sought: Naperville City councilAge: 66Family: Married 45 years to Connie 5 children and 12 grand-childrenOccupation: ATT/Western Electric/Lucent 1967-2000 Held various positions of management in six locations throughout the United States during the 33 years of employment. Furst Homes, LLC 1991-present Owner and Managing Partner D#146;Oro Suites 1989-present OwnerEducation: B.S. Business (1966), M.B.A Finance (1967) University of UtahCivic involvement: DuPage Water Commission, District 5 Representative, May 2010 to presentPension Fairness for Illinois Communities Coalition, 2010-presentNaperville Special Events Planning Committee, Member, 2008-presentIMEA (Illinois Municipal Electrical Agency) Developed Electrical Production Facility, Member, 2006-currentDPIC/DAC (Naperville Downtown Advisory Commission), Member, 2004-presentNaperville Chamber of Commerce Legislative Committee, Member, 2003-presentNCTV-17(Naperville Community Television), Director, 1999 to presentKids Matter, Director, 1999 to 2010Carillon Foundation, Member, 2006-2008Naperville Solid Waste Committee, Refuge Contract Council Representative, 2006-2007DuPage Mayor and Managers Conference, Legislative Committee, Member, 2005-2009Goldman/Sachs Naperville Electrical Purchase Contract Committee, Member, 2005-2006DuPage Mayor and Managers Conference, Regulatory Committee, Member, 2004-2009Naperville Financial Advisory Board, Member, 2004-2006Naperville Fleet Economic Commission, Member, 2003-2008Selection Committee for Naperville#146;s Springfield Legislative Lobbyist, 2007Selection Committee Member for City Manager, City Attorney and Finance Director, 2005-currentEmpowering youth by coaching youth football and baseball for years 1975-1989Junior Achievement Advisor and Area Director for years 1967-1983Elected offices held: Naperville City Council, 1999-present Naperville Township Republican Organization, 1996 -present>Precinct 10 Committeeman, 1996-present>Precinct 61 #147;LOOP#148; Committeeman, 2008-presentHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: Yes; I was exonerated in a court of law in a DuPage County courtroom and found not guilty. All arrest records have been expunged.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 The budget; simply stated the City#146;s expense to revenue ratio is out of balance. As the tax payers are expected to balance their needs to their income, the City should be held to the same expectation. Everyone is aware of the state of the finances, not only in Naperville, but across the county, and as everyone has had to make adjustments, so should the City. At this time, team work and compromise between all parties must happen. Achieving a balanced city budget that enables the delivery of services to the tax payers and accomplishes the missions of the city is my number one issue.Key Issue 2 Pension reform is my number two issue. This topic is a key component in the City#146;s financial picture, and is a topic I have dedicated my time to addressing with our State elected officials. Working with Springfield, local constituents and the tax payers, a change to the #147;new hire#148; pension system was achieved; it is my goal to achieve a reform to the current employee#146;s pension. The current system is failing; overly rich programs and low returns on investment require more tax dollars to fund the program. To assure current employees#146; and the tax payers a solvent program, reform must happen #8211; sooner than later.Key Issue 3 Interest arbitration is an issue that the City has not directly participated in when negotiating with the police and fire departments in our city. That being said, the City was close to exercising this option to achieve a collective bargaining agreement recently. The fact of the matter is entering into an interest arbitration process indicates that both sides of the table will not compromise on one or more issues during negotiations. This process is available only to the police and fire departments as they are not permitted to strike under state law. As with my positions on the budget and pension reform, this issue requires balance and compromise; an arbitrator is a third party that should be neutral and review, process and decide a matter as balanced as possible. Interest arbitration, as it is structured today, is being viewed by many that there is not a balance between the parties. I will pursue conversations with our state elected representatives to achieve a bill addressing interest arbitration, which results in a balance between the municipalities (tax payers) and our public servants to resolve non-agreed items during negotiations. 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?The current review of the budget, number of employees, span of control, directed and voluntary employee separations from the city are just some of the factors that will impact the decision to reduce the current number of employees at the city. Considering these factors along with the goal of providing city services to the tax payers, there is some question of further lay-offs. Recently another component to the employee equation took place; 16 employees retired from the city this past December, which had not only an impact on the budget but on city services as well. To maintain services, approximately half of these positions may be back filled. Therefore I expect the hiring freeze will continue and our overall full time employee head count will continue to decline.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?As my number one issue is balancing the budget while providing the city services to the tax payers, there may be the need to reform the procedures of some of the programs available today. I would first suggest the out-sourcing or open bidding of leaf collection, brush pick-up, snow removal, and vehicle maintenance. Utilizing an out-sourcing or open bidding process to secure providers for these programs would allow the city to provide and not do away with. If out-sourcing or open bidding cannot achieve a savings to the city, then the need to eliminate additional programs would be a reasonable expectation.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?During the 5th Ave study, I expressed my strong support for a bus depot located at our 5th Ave train station as I recognize the need for commuter options. Unfortunately, it is my belief that the community is not ready to implement a #147;shuttle service to and from downtown/popular locations#148; for seniors, or any member of the community. The financial times that we all are facing is the reason that I believe that the cost to the tax payers is the main reason we are not ready for this program.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?A lease agreement with the DuPage Children#146;s Museum was recently approved by the council and is in place. This lease assures the DuPage Children#146;s Museum (DCM) and their patrons that as long as the museum pays their bills, the Museum will be there for their enjoyment. Please know that as long as the rent is paid by the DCM there is nothing that the city can legally do to seize this property; in the event the DCM is in default, the discussion of #147;freeing up#148; property for any type of development now becomes realistic. As a result of the city and DCM relationship, the city was able to secure 57 parking spots for the commuters at a rate of $5 per day. This will generate $313,500.00 per year in revenue for the Burlington Fund. These funds can be used for projects such as a bus depot at the 5th Ave. train station or for any other railway transportation project. The 20 year lease for the Museum and the use of 57 parking spots is truly a win-win for the community; our youth have use of an educational and fun facility and our commuters have an additional place to park!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?Every action taken by the city has an impact that all of us should learn from; the recent police contract is no exception. The furor over the result of the lay-offs indicates that there is need for more willingness to work together and hear each other during these tough economic times. Working with unions, or any other employee of the city, should be a focus of the city; in return, the unions and employees should extend the same efforts with the city. First, please know that an agreement between the police union and the city was made on a contract that contained raises for three years and did NOT contain a #147;no-lay-off#148; clause. Both parties had, in writing, the terms of the full collective bargaining agreement, and had the opportunity to review the collective bargaining agreement prior to stating that they agree. The city has stated that the monies are not available for raises, proven that the monies are not available as other employees have not received raises, and did NOT include a #147;no-lay-off#148; clause in the contract. The other party (police department) requested a multi year raise and did know that there would not be protection against lay-offs in their department. As I have stated in writing and publicly, I was one of the three votes to not enter into this agreement. If the agreement had not been passed, the next step would have been by action of an interest arbitration process to resolve the issue. It is unfortunate that four councilmen and the Mayor voted to support the agreement which resulted in a reduction in police department staffing. The fact of the matter is I supported a #147;no raise equals a no lay-off#148; option for the department, voted to utilize the arbitration process, and voted against the contract.