Robert B. Weitzel: 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: Hoffman EstatesWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Hoffman Estates Village boardAge: 48Family: SingleOccupation: High School CustodianEducation: Associates at William Rainey Harper CollegeCivic involvement: Volunteer at Harvest Bible ChurchElected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: noCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Contrary to Hoffman Estates village officials, I am not in favor of red light cameras. The village will argue that this is a safety issue. Nonsence. This is not a safety issue. Red light cameras have two ultimate goals. Shake down drivers to create revenue for the village and make money for the red light camera contractor company. Moreover,red light cameras presume that you are guilty not innocent. I would much rather be questioned by a police officer than to receive a picture ticket in the mail. Police officers use discretion where as red light cameras do not. Red light cameras create ""panic stops"" for the drivers. When the yellow light appears,the driver panics and brakes too fast creating accidents. My goal is to stop the five new red light cameras from being installed later this year.Key Issue 2 Residents feel that their voices are not being heard. I will make sure that residents voices will be represented at the board level.Key Issue 3 The village needs to attract new business and be more business friendly. Our business reputation needs to be drastically improved. There is too much red tape interfering with new business opportunities.Questions Answers Are you satisfied with the village's progress in luring business development? Has the village's willingness to offer incentives set a bad precedent, or is that just the cost of doing business?Residents are not satified.There has been too many missed opportunities.Costco, Menards, Meijers and a funeral home all wanted to do business in Hoffman Estates in recent years,however the village failed to close the deal. The village failed to make them feel welcome. Why did we let these businesses go elsewhere?Assess the number of village employees: just right; too many; too few? If some departments are over- or under-staffed, which ones? What should be done? How did the village handle its latest negotiations with police, fire and public works unions?A forensic study needs to be done to see what positions should be eliminated. There are over 500 employees in the village. Do we really need this many? Negotiations assumes that both parties have dialogue. It does not appear to be the case with union negotiations.Is the village doing the right thing with the Sears Centre? Evaluate the changes the board made in the past year and tell us what still needs to happen.The Village is stuck between a rock and a hard place with the Sears Centre.The entertainment business is a very difficult nut to crack. To make money in it, is always a big gamble especially in a bad economy. Show business is very trendy. In the 1980s when Poplar Creek Music Theater was in operation,it was a very unique time.Poplar Creek had many sources to choose from. Bands were plentiful. Poplar Creek had a great run of entertainment. Today is not the case.The trend has changed. Very few choices to pick from to make a profit.My advise is to do more studies.Find out what is hot and what is not in entertainment.How should the village develop its west side? Are the complaints that some residents living in that area feel neglected legitimate?Primary grocery stores should be developed along with gas stations and cleaners.The village has placed employee salaries online, but is the village doing enough to be transparent? If not, what else should be available online for public viewing?Transparency is only skin deep. What happens behind closed doors is what most residents are concerned about. How many special deals can this town afford?