Andrew Stein: 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: Buffalo GroveWebsite: http://www.citizensforandrewstein.comOffice sought: Buffalo Grove Village Board (4-year Terms)Age: 53Family: Married with two ChildrenOccupation: Field Compliance Principal for Allstate Financial Services, LLC.Education: Bachelor of Arts in Communications, Northeastern Illinois University, 1983 and Juris Doctor, Illinois Institute of Technology-Chicago Kent College of Law, 1999.Civic involvement: Village Trustee, Village of Buffalo Grove, Village of Buffalo Grove Commissioner, Zoning Board of Appeals; Village of Buffalo Grove Appearance Review Team Member; Village of Buffalo Grove Committee Member to re-write the Sign Code; Village of Buffalo Grove Chairman Citizens Ad Hoc Committee for Off Track Betting; Cubmaster, Cub Scout Pack 36; Events Volunteer for School District 102, Special Events Volunteer, Wheeling Park District (The Wheeling Park District covers about 700 households in Buffalo Grove, mine included); Volunteer for Buddy Baseball; Citizens Police Academy; Buffalo Grove Days Charity Softball Game, Friend of the Vernon Township Food Pantry to collect food, money and overall raise awareness for those in need.Elected offices held: Village Trustee, Village of Buffalo Grove, Illinois (elected April, 2011 - Current); Park Commissioner, Ridgeville Park District, Evanston, Illinois, 1981-1984.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: No.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 My number 1 campaign issue is to attract businesses to Buffalo Grove. There are several parcels of land in Buffalo Grove that are ready for development. Add to that the three car dealerships that sit vacant and over $1 million in annual sales tax revenue that we are losing. We need to focus on development of the vacant parcels and on bringing new car sales back to Buffalo Grove. The revenue generated will give the Village the buffer necessary to continue to provide a high level of services to the residents of the Village without increasing taxes. This should be a top priority for the coming years.Key Issue 2 My number 2 campaign issue is streamlining the process, from start to finish, to approve new businesses in Buffalo Grove. During the first eighteen months of my term, we modified the Sign Code in Buffalo Grove to permit a wider variety of signs. We also modified the review process so that a new business can have their sign package reviewed at the same time as the balance of their proposal was being reviewed. This probably cut thirty days off of the approval cycle. We now need to work to see what other parts of the process can be condensed in order to make the process be "more business friendly" and cut the time down even further.Key Issue 3 My number 3 campaign issue is to take a closer look at the Weiland Road/Prairie Road improvement project. The Village of Buffalo Grove is cooperating with the Lake County Division of Transportation and the Illinois Department of Transportation to perform Engineering Studies for Weiland Road/Prairie Road from Lake Cook Road to Illinois Route 22 in Lake County. Residents near the project have voiced objections to the project, citing a decrease in traffic from several years ago when the project was conceived. They do not want the project to encroach on their enjoyment of their property. We need to make sure that the project, as proposed, still makes sense. Can the project still receive Federal money without the bypass of Aptakisic Road? We need to continue to monitor this proposal. Additional information and hearings are still to come.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I am the best candidate for Village Trustee for many reasons; While I have served for less than two years, I continue to be an independent voice and bring dedication, service and experience to the Village of Buffalo Grove. It takes a special person to be a Village Trustee. Trustees are elected "at large" and not from districts or wards. A trustee needs to represent ALL of Buffalo Grove. No matter where you live, if you bring a concern to my attention, I will work to see it resolved. I am dedicated to serving all residents in the community. As a former Commissioner on the Zoning Board of Appeals, I brought a unique perspective to the commission and continue in the same way as a Trustee. I see shades of gray in a world that is not always black and white. A different view promotes debate. More importantly, when the discussion is concluded and the vote is taken, I am able to move on. As the Cubmaster of Cub Scout Pack 36 in Buffalo Grove, I have made it a priority to provide excellent programs for not only the boys, but their families as well. We have developed programs for the entire family and have almost doubled the size of our Pack during my tenure. In Scouting, we teach the importance of serving the community and I, along with our Leaders, instill that in our youth. We have taken on service projects to collect food for the food pantry, spruced up the parks, helped make blankets for Project Linus and collected toiletries for a local woman's shelter and have been recognized by the Buffalo Grove Area Chamber of Commerce with the Heart of Buffalo Grove Award for Youth Volunteerism. We still believe in having fun and provide a balanced program for the scout families. Additionally, I often volunteer to help out with activities in my children's School District. Scouting and Volunteering in the School District keep me engaged in the community, making me easily accessible to receive input from residents. I am a Liaison to the Commission for Residents with Disabilities. Even before becoming one of the Liaisons, I volunteered to help the commission in many ways. I participated in the Buddy Baseball game, have written a guest essay supporting the Commission and have secured grant money earmarked for use for the Buffalo Grove Days Monday "Fun and Food" for persons with disabilities. I have also helped the Vernon Township Food Pantry by raising donations of food and money in excess of $2,000 and have helped to coordinate the collection of more than 2,000 pounds of food. If elected to a full term, I will dedicate the next four years to encourage even greater participation of volunteers in our community, making Buffalo Grove an even better place to live.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.There is a delicate balance between the need for revenue and over-taxing local businesses. My opinion of Buffalo Grove's present level of local sales taxes is that the taxes are just about right. Buffalo Grove continues to provide a high level of service while keeping a close eye on expenses and waste. I am proud of our community and the top level rating that it has received from the rating services. I had hoped that growth in the economy would have led to growth in business and sales tax revenue. The economy is rebounding at a slower rate. As the economy improves and sales taxes generated increase, I would like to look at a possible phase out of the 1% Restaurant Tax. I am hoping that this can soon be a thing of the past. When an appropriate time arises, I would also like to consider cancelling the taxes on utilities that were added a few years ago.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.I have reviewed and discussed public safety concerns with residents in Buffalo Grove and find that the vast majority of residents feel safe in Buffalo Grove. They also feel that the Buffalo Grove Police Department does an excellent job. However, two areas of concern emerged: 1. The enforcement of drunk driving laws and 2. Drug education and the investigation of local drug sales and drug dealers. The Buffalo Grove Police Department is stellar in its enforcement of drunk driving laws. Under the leadership of Chief Balinski, the Police Department has been recognized for being one of the best Police Departments in the State of Illinois and one of the best in the nation for taking drunk drivers off the road. I will continue to support our Police Department in continuing their education and enforcement efforts to keep drunk drivers off the road. Drug education, drug dealers and drug sales come under the jurisdiction of many governmental bodies and agencies: Buffalo Grove Police, Cook County Sheriff, Lake County Sheriff, Illinois State Police, The DEA, the FBI, MEG, the School Districts and Homeland Security, to name a few. We, as a village, must continue to assist with and promote awareness of programs available to our residents and children. The first step to preventing abuse of illegal drugs is timely education of both children and parents. The schools have established drug awareness programs such as D.A.R.E. We can assist the schools with communication about the programs. We can use all avenues available to us, including: the Village E-News, Police Blotter and the Municipal Channel. It is important that parents are aware because drug use has changed over the years. Parents need to know what to look for, how to address the issues before they become a problem, how to address the problem once it arises. The drug of choice has changed over the years from marijuana to stronger substances such as heroine and ecstacy. Smelling your children's clothing for the tell tale odor of marijuana doesn't work with these potent drugs. Additionally, teens have begun a dangerous practice. They have been taking leftover prescription drugs from home and misusing them to get high. The danger of this practice needs to be brought to the attention of children and parents as well. Greater diligence in communicating when and where forums will be held can make sure that both parents and their children get the necessary education to fight the war on drugs. I pledge to work with the Village and the Police Department to support awareness and efforts to combat drug use. Our community deserves everyone's support in the fight against drugs.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?Economic times are tough, but the Village of Buffalo Grove has been very careful with budget planning, keeping a balanced budget with minimal need for tax increases. I do not feel that the current budget needs to be trimmed further. In the event that the economy provides additional sales tax revenue, I would like to see those resources used to provide money for youth and senior services and to focus on business in the Village.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?The idea that I have to better the community, that nobody is talking about, is to forge a more efficient partnership with the Buffalo Grove Area Chamber of Commerce to promote business growth in Buffalo Grove. We need to take advantage of the appointment of a new Deputy Village Manager to promote and spotlight the Village and the opportunity for growth. Buffalo Grove is economically strong with a higher than average income base amongst its residents. There are several parcels that are now available for development and the time has come to promote first class development. We have a great core to work with and it's time to let the rest of the area know what Buffalo Grove has to offer.