Kathryn Davolos: 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: WarrenvilleWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Warrenville City Council Ward 3 (4-year Term)Age: 64Family: Married, two grown childrenOccupation: Retired from work in scientific research/publication and technical writingEducation: Bachelor of Science in Biology from Beloit College,Beloit WI (1970) Master's Degree in Zoology Microbiology from Ohio University, Athens, OH (1976) Sigma Xi, scientific research societyCivic involvement: Wheaton-Warrenville District 200 (Committee on Boundary Changes, Citizen member of Financial Work Group, actively campaigned for various school board candidates and district referenda) Member of committee to hire current Warrenville Park District Director. Member of Warrenville 175th Anniversary Planning Committee. Former member of Warrenville Women's Connection. Johnson School PTA, Science Fair Judge. Hubble Middle School PTA and representative to the District 200 PTA. Participated in several civic groups gathered to offer input to the city. Dupage County election judge.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 The current issue that will probably affect the most citizens of Ward 3 will be the proposed Tax Increment Financing District (TIF #3) located in the Old Town/Civic Center of Warrenville, and the resulting redevelopment in those areas. The Tif #3 area includes the oldest part of town and with the input of citizens, a subarea redevelopment plan has been created which will guide redevelopment initiatives. As Warrenville currently has no debt service, a TIF plan can support the city's realizing these plans without excess taxes on the taxpayers. The increasing EAV would be expected to relieve some tax burden on citizens in the future. This process requires elected officials to provide oversight and, more importantly, to inform citizens of TIF activities while making every effort to gain citizen input, especially from residents and business located in the TIF area.Key Issue 2 Continued oversight and creativly partnering with Dupage County and the Dupage County Forest Preserve District on storm water management and flooding issues with the western branch of the Dupage River. The city council unanimously voted to support and help finance a group of preferred alternatives to manage these issues. With the river running through much of Ward 3, I hope to keep these plans as a top priority of the city. Many of the future redeveloopment plans will be impacted by enacting these preferred alternatives.Key Issue 3 Oversight and open discourse with the Dupage County Forest Preserve, and timely communication with citizens, concerning the Forest Preserve's maintanance facility plans along Warrenville's north border. Investigation of the potential safety issues and possible adverse effects of contaminants released to surrounding recreational space or into the Dupage river. Another issue associated with these plans is the open and timely communication with residents as plans for bringing water and sewer to the area develop.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?From joining Warrenville Women's Connection 30 yearss ago when my chidren were babies, to serving as an eletion judge last November, I have been involved with issues and organizations important to Warrenville's residents, including the schools through PTA, school board and park district referenda, city committees and fund raising to support civic initiatives. I come with administrative and leadership experience as an Elder, longtime chair of the Personnel team and Building Task force member at my church. My science research background pushes me toward problm solving, while searching the details for truth. I am deeply committed to supporting Warrenville's courage in holding on to it's small town character and values, while wisely providing modern day services, faciities and residential oportunities without undo tax burden or debt service. I have moved twice since residing in Warrenville, always remaining in Ward 3, and would be honored to represent the ward on the City Council.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.Recently, new taxess were enacted last year to fund a new, extensively researched, capital improvement fund. As the city is almost built out, the citizens expressed a desire for the city to maintain current infrastructure and city services. Residents also expressed their desire to remain debt free going forward in a depressed economy. The taxes that were enacted were a combination of use taxes paid by Warrenville residents and other taxes paid by anyone who comes to Warrenville for entertainment, food or lodging. I feel these taxes were necessary to find a way to maintain our town and its services at an adequate level. Our taxes still remain, overall, lower than other Dupage communities. Now, we need to live within our budget, continuing to find ways other than raising taxes to pay our bills and remain free of debt.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.Warrenville currently experiences a very low crime rate. Residents definetly want to continue that trend and want to support the police in their efforts. Continued code enforcement related to safety and maintenance of properties, especially dealing with fire codes, remains critical. With the completion of the widening of Butterfield Rd., the city needs to support and fund safe means for pedestrians and byciclists to cross that highway, so that the community is not split in two, but rather residents have a safe entrance to and exit from the city center.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?As the current ecomony has led to a drop in revenues to most taxing bodies, I commend the current elected officials and city staff on their efforts to keep our city debt free. Budgets have been reduced in many areas and alternative revenue streams, including grants, explored. My goal would be to keep the city operating on a cash basis. As far as adding to the budget, revenues may need to be redirected or cost savings found to maintain or enhance code enforcement policies, support redevelopment plans as well as citizens's requests for higher levels of city services.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?I feel one way residents are likely to experience more involvement in their community is through easy access to their elected officials. Conversely, elected officials need to have channels in place to hear from their citizens. While each alderman is given a city email address on the city's website, I would find it useful if alderman could have a way to post or link to information they would like their constituents to know. High postage rates preclude mailers and communication through the city website seems most cost effective.