Round Lake candidates discuss their key issues

Two incumbents are squaring off against three challengers in the April 5 contest for three seats on the Round Lake village board.

Trustees Dale Multerer, seeking his third term of office, and Michael Blum, just finishing his first term, face newcomers Greg Clements, Douglas Rowley and Dawn Simoncelli.

Blum, 37, is a benefits service manager at Aon Hewitt and a veteran of the village planning commission and zoning board of appeals.

He said he wants to see the village move forward by acting on a downtown plan that has been a long time in the making.

“Over the last eight years, the village has invested time and resources in the development of a downtown shopping area,” Blum said. “As the economy pulls out of the recession, the village needs to be ready to move from the planning stages to actual implementation.”

A 49-year-old customer service program manager at Grainger Inc., Clements said he believes the board must find a way to cut expenses.

“Village revenues have declined due to the recession,” he said. “Village operating expenses must be reduced accordingly to ensure that no taxes need to be raised and cash reserves do not need to be used.”

Multerer, 50 and a stay-at-home dad who serves as the chairman of the village police and fire commission, said a sharper focus on increasing sales tax revenue will benefit all village revenues.

“While over the last few years, the village has benefited by not depending on sales tax revenues it is essential that the village continue to look at expanding this revenue,” Multerer said. “This can help reduce the residents’ property tax burden.”

Rowley, 63 and retired, said he wants to be on the board to encourage a balance between residential and commercial growth.

“During the past few years, the village has had a great deal of residential growth, however, commercial growth has lagged behind,” Rowley said. “Round Lake should be prepared to encourage business investment as the economy recovers over the next few years.”

Simoncelli, 27, the assistant manger for the American Family Insurance Agents of Lake County, said she wants to perform the watchdog role for the taxpayers.

“Reviewing and tightening internal controls and structure (for village spending) will provide for more accountability for taxpayer dollars,” she said.

Also in the race is newcomer Vickie Wicinski, who did not fill out the Daily Herald survey.