Chuck McEwen: 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: WaucondaWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Wauconda Village Board (4-year Terms)Age: 39Family: Married to Lauren McEwen; 2 sons, Charlie (10) and Luke (8)Occupation: Sales ManagementEducation: Bachelor of Science in Marketing, Illinois State University, 1997Civic involvement: Big Brother, Big Sisters of Lake County Lake Youths Athletic Association (LYAA)Elected 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 Transparency: Following the passage of the Fire District referendum in 2010, the Fire District became an independent municipal taxing entity. In spite of the fact that the Fire District now levies the taxes for fire protection, the Village of Wauconda has continued to levy a $2MM tax originally levied for fire protection contracts. Whereby, the Village of Wauconda has collected $2MM in 2011 and $2MM in 2012 totaling a $4MM increase in taxes collected over the 2 year period. The Village administration claimed to reduce the Utility Tax in order to compensate the tax payers. There is no connection between Utility Taxes collected and property tax. Additionally, the net savings to the tax payer from the reduction in the Utility Tax is a little more the one-half million and the cost to the taxpayer in property tax is $4MM. What is the village doing with the $3.5MM increase already collected? What additional services has the village offered their residents? The county property tax levy has decreased yet the municipal levy has increased. Why haven't they offered some financial relief to their residents? Not a transparent trend. Given the lack of transparency, One Wauconda is especially concerned of what may happen if the current administration would be re-elected and left to manage the $50MM Lake Michigan Water Project. One Wauconda will develop a tax rebate program to return excess taxes to the taxpayer. One Wauconda will expressly communicate all implications of each decision in order to provide transparency and solid communication with our neighbors. When deciding to tax our neighbor's leaders are deciding for them how some of their earnings will be spent. One Wauconda will review each expense through the eyes of our neighbors by providing them with sample survey opportunities electronically, by form and through focus groups as neededKey Issue 2 Water service: The rates have increased automatically by 4% every year for the last 4 years which equates to a 16% rate increase during the current mayor's term. The late fees have doubled from 10% to 20%. The due date has been decreased to 14 days after the billing. People have been set-up for failure and almost usurious late fees. One Wauconda will immediately eliminate the percentage based late fee and replace it with a nominal flat fee which is tied to the cost to the Village. One Wauconda will develop aPay your Way? Water bill payment plan which allows our neighbors to pick quarterly or monthly billing cycles and a variety of payment options to include automatic funds transfers, debit and credit cards with no convenience fee.Key Issue 3 Economic Development: One Wauconda will work to do a better job of administering to the needs of business owners. There are many businesses who have been hindered by village policies and through the elimination of the building and zoning department. There are no building and zoning clerks to walk business owners through necessary processes to get results effectively and efficiently. Step 1: One Wauconda wants to bring more restaurant, shopping and service options to town, but we first have to work to keep the businesses we have. In Wauconda many of our current businesses are struggling to survive, which makes it difficult to attract new businesses. One Wauconda will train building and zoning clerks to walk business owners through necessary processes to get results effectively and efficiently. Customer service will be our administrative focus. We will strive to get results for our business owners. Ordinances regarding signage are too restrictive. One Wauconda will offer variances to those ordinances. There are too few parking spaces for the businesses on Main Street. We will work to make more parking available to business patrons on Main Street. Step 2: One Wauconda will work to expand our business development opportunities to bring new business opportunities to town and create a favorable business environment. One Wauconda will create Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) districts in the most troubled areas. In the most commercially viable areas we will engage the land owners and business developers to create favorable conditions to effectively and efficiently improve the area. We will expand our customer service to business owners and provide value added services though information sharing and development initiatives. We will bring leaf pick-up services back to the village.Questions Answers Name one policy or issue where your stance differs from the rest of your slate? Please explain.Candidate did not respond.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?Public safety has not been addressed as a concern for my neighbors or friends in WaucondaIn these tight economic times, municipal budgets have to be prioritized. Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed? Conversely, is there something that should be reinstated or have resources directed toward?Until we can see the budget in greater detail from the previous administration, any answer would be pure speculation.What changes do you think should be made in the Bang's Lake management to ensure its health and well-being and further enhance it as an important community and recreational resource?Candidate did not respond.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?Candidate did not respond.