Todd Eichholz: 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: RoselleWebsite: http://www.roselleunited.comOffice sought: Roselle Village boardAge: 29Family: Married with two children.Occupation: President, Heritage Realty DevelopmentEducation: N/ACivic involvement: Director - Roselle Chamber of Commerce IndustryDirector - AIMS (child mentoring organization)Member - National Association of RealtorsCorporate sponsor of Stepping Stones for Women of Domestic Violence, Trinity Lutheran School, and Bloomingdale-Roselle Rotary Club Fish Release at Turner Pond.Elected offices held: N/AHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: N/ACandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Collaborative Leadership: The best and most effective Village Board is made up of trustees who carefully listen to one another, engage in thoughtful discussion, and strive for consensus on issues facing the Village. One trustee acting alone will not get the job done. And no one trustee will have all the answers. I am committed to working together for Roselle.Key Issue 2 Fiscal Responsibility: Like all governments, families, and businesses, Roselle has been grappling with tight budgets for the past few years. As revenue continues to decline, trustees must ensure the efficient use of Village resources and resist the urge to raise taxes. I have the experience and discipline necessary to effectively address this challenge.Key Issue 3 Economic Development: Roselle must continue to be a place where local business can flourish Village-wide. Trustees must make economic development policies with an eye toward promoting all Roselle businesses, not just a select few. I know how to make Roselle a place where business will succeed.Questions Answers Roselle has seen a spate of new businesses come to town in the past year like including restaurants, a bowling alley and new grocery store. What can be done to keep attracting businesses and grow sales tax revenue?As an active member of the business community, I have personally been responsible for bringing multiple businesses to Roselle. Among these many businesses are Brunch Café, Tilted Kilt, and Verizon Wireless. I have also worked to keep expanding Roselle businesses in town by providing creative incentives to move them into more spacious and modern locations. As a director of the Roselle Chamber of Commerce Industry, I have firsthand knowledge of the needs and wants of the business community. I can bring my creativity, knowledge, and know-how to the village board to attract more business to our town.Now that the $3.7 million Foster Avenue project is finished, what major project should the village tackle next and how should it be funded amid Roselle's current budget crunch?The next major project the village must tackle is its budget. The village board has taken significant steps over the past couple of years to reduce its expenditures in the face of declining revenues. What the Board has yet to do, and must do, is conduct a comprehensive review of its operations and determine how best to provide municipal services with the revenues available.Do you believe the city's storm and floodwater control measures are sufficient? How could they be improved and how far should the city go in helping individual residents with chronic flooding?Storm water management is always a work in progress. Between September 2008 and July 2010, the dates of the last two 100-year rain storms, Roselle spent over a half a million dollars to upgrade its storm water systems. In 2010, the village also reconstructed the storm water system along Foster Avenue. The village must continue to improve its storm water systems to limit flooding as much as possible and should explore increasing its storm water detention capacity.The Village should continue to make its storm water management experts available to residents to offer them advice on dealing with drainage issues. With over 8,000 homes in Roselle, the Village does not have the financial resources to pay for storm water improvements on private property unless those improvements enhance the overall storm water system.What makes you the best candidate for the job?As a life-long resident and an active member of the civic and business communities, I know that Roselle#146;s strength is its residents and businesses working together to build a thriving community. Roselle needs to continue tapping into these resources to work through the challenges facing the Village. I am dedicated to the community that has blessed my family for generations.What#146;s one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?At least four trustees must agree for the village board to make progress for our community. One or two trustees acting alone cannot meet all of the challenges that lie ahead. The Roselle United Party candidates offer the residents a team of three who are committed to working together to find solutions for the issues facing our community.