Mary Black: 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: Lake ZurichWebsite: http://www.facebook.com/#!/ElectMaryBlackMayorVillagePresidentLakeZurichOffice sought: Lake Zurich Mayor (4-year Term)Age: 44Family: I, along with my husband, run a household with six children (I have three children from a prior marriage, as did my husband, and now we have a blended family of eight people).Occupation: I am a Real Estate Broker in and around Lake Zurich. I became an Agent in 1995 and worked in Chicago. I now own the company I started with in 1995. I have been an investor as well as dealing with both commercial and residential real estate.Education: I received my degree in Italian Literature with a minor in studio art from Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois.Civic involvement: For the past 12 years I have been an active volunteer at elementary, middle and high schools. I was the Vice President of the Sarah Adams PTO as well as numerous community sporting events/teams. For eight (8) years I was a minister of care for St. Francis where my duties included volunteer work at Lexington nursing home.Elected offices held: NoneHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Instituting a concentrated campaign to STOP (the waste and excess expenditures that plague Lake Zurich), STABILIZE (the budget and tax payer's services relating to the budget) and SUCCEED (in bringing new life and energy to local government in Lake Zurich).Key Issue 2 The TIF issue is one of the key issues facing Lake Zurich at this time. I support the village's current stance as a method to support local developments and generate tax revenue that will allow Lake Zurich to address its significant debt. This position coincides with my views of the importance of increasing and enhancing the sense of community in Lake Zurich.Key Issue 3 I feel it is extremely important that Lake Zurich properly balances its budget and as mayor, I will work with the village manager along with other local officials and community members in an effort to accomplish this goal.Questions Answers What is your position on what needs to be done to jump-start downtown redevelopment and how soon does this need to get happen?I believe that in order to properly jump-start downtown redevelopment it is necessary to escalate the level of community participation in this area. I will push for aesthetic changes to be made to the downtown area as part of the effort to gentrify Lake Zurich. I would like to see a committee of community member volunteers assist with this effort and this is something that I will seek to do soon after I become mayor of Lake Zurich if I am elected.What are your views on any kind of financial incentives to attract future development? Do you have any concerns about offering breaks in the wake of those recently received by the developer of Mariano?s?While I support incenting businesses as a means to attract development in Lake Zurich, I feel it is important that we apply a high degree of scrutiny to these matters. As such, I will work with Lake Zurich officials in an effort to carefully identify an implement proper financial incentive packages in our effort to develop Lake Zurich.In 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?I am currently in the process of reviewing Lake Zurich's finances and at the conclusion of my thorough review I intend to identify the areas that I feel are appropriate for budget cuts. Everything needs to be scrutinized. Nothing can be off the table. We need to look at our budget and prioritize with a fresh perspective. Line by line we need to figure out where we can STOP wasting money so we can STABILIZE. Ultimately, we have to create a budget that focuses on inspiring economic development downtown. A developed downtown will generate the income we need to SUCCEED as a communityWhat's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?I support having a local summer music festival weekly or bi weekly with vendors as well as entertainment with the hopes of making it an annual event for Lake Zurich. I think Lake Zurich should do more to develop the artistic community in Lake Zurich including possibly seeking local volunteers to implement minor improvements (such as planting flowers in the downtown area).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 feel this community is most concerned about the issue of child safety. Specifically, the ability (or inability) for children to safely traverse properly paved and lit sidewalks throughout the community. Additionally, there is a safety issue surrounding areas of Midlothian and Rand road that require attention at this time in my opinion.