Robin D. Meier: 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: MundeleinWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Mundelein Village boardAge: Candidate did not respond.Family: One child, one grandchildOccupation: TelecommunicationsEducation: Candidate did not respond.Civic involvement: CERT - Community Emergency Response Team 2009- presentWIMG - Women in Municipal Government- 2010 presentMundelein Plan Commission Appointment 2007-2008FCC Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council (CSRIC) Working Group 2010-presentElected offices held: Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS):Moderator, Assistant Moderator, Co-Chair, Co-Convener in various forums and committees 1996- present. Winner of the 2010 ATIS Award for Outstanding Contributions to an ATIS Forum or Committee.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: Candidate did not respond.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Mundelein needs to take a more proactive position on how we deal with vacancies and abandoned properties. As a result of the challenging economy the numbers of vacant and/or abandoned homes, businesses, and properties have increased in our village. Some of the vacancies and abandoned properties are poorly maintained, may be safety hazards, and reduce property values. This issue has to be dealt with as one of the top priorities.Key Issue 2 Development and redevelopment of the Mundelein Downtown needs to be another top priority. Residents have identified that they are frustrated with the downtown development delays and lack of progress. Residents want a friendly safe environment, with a variety of venues (shops, restaurants, cultural etc.) where they can take their families and support their local businesses. It is a priority to support and bring in new business into Mundelein.Key Issue 3 Mundelein needs to improve the current infrastructure (roads, sewer, water facilities etc.) and excel at village services. There has to be a plan for the future maintenance, growth, and development of the village services and infrastructures. In order to do that the village needs to have a strong financial base, sensible budgets and spending plans, and plans to increase revenues while keeping taxes reasonable.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?The desire to continually strive to learn how to improve and better serve the municipal government via official government training programs such as the one offered by the National League of Cities, training or informative seminars by Illinois Municipal League, Lake County Municipal League and others. The following leadership skills practiced for over 39 years are transferrable to the municipal government environment. The ability to provide proven leadership within the telecommunications industry with a focus on identifying problems, researching and developing innovative solutions, implementing those solutions to meet the needs of the customer base, and provide excellent customer service. These are needed business skills which are becoming more important and applicable for successful municipal governments to survive. Governments are becoming more competitive in order to attract business and residents to their communities. Learned competitive business skills are going to be an important part of the government process going forward. Finally, but not least or all; the ability to look innovatively toward planning for the future and deal effectively with the day to day operations of government. 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 Mundelein sales tax is higher than surrounding communities. This puts Mundelein at a competitive disadvantage with those other communities. We need to work at lowering the current sales tax to encourage consumers to shop within Mundelein.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.Residents are concerned with the dereliction of abandoned and vacant properties bringing down the appearance and property values within Mundelein which creates an unsafe environment. Vacant properties may not meet safety, building codes and standards; may be attractive to squatters; illegal activities; and habitation of feral animals. Mundelein needs to make owners or title holders responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of vacant and abandoned property via an ordinance as other communities have or are considering.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?Budgets need to be continually prioritized and well managed no matter how good or bad the economy is. Prioritizing, trimming, and balancing the budget is an on-going activity. The village has to constantly innovate and look for opportunities to maximize the available dollars and utilize our financial resources as responsibly as possible.What#146;s one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?Implement a strong vacant and abandoned property ordinance making owners responsible for their properties with a goal of successfully rehabilitating and reoccupying those vacancies.