Richard Gallagher: 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: InvernessWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Inverness Village Board (4-year Terms)Age: 71Family: Married, three children, six grandchildrenOccupation: Retired, CEO, Chartered Marketing ServicesEducation: B.S. United States Military Academy, West Point 1963 M.P.A. Princeton University, 1970 M.B.A. Fairleigh Dickinson University, 1973Civic involvement: Member, Illinois Energy Resources Commission, 1973-76 President, West Point Society of Chicago 1982-1984 Board Member Committee Member, West Point Association of Graduates, 1976-2006Elected offices held: Trustee, Village of Inverness, 1997- PresentHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NOCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 As Chairman of the Village Finance Committee, to insure we continue to keep our village taxes low, carefully monitor all our expenditures and maintain our Village's AAA bondrating from SP.Key Issue 2 To continue to work as a team member with our Village President and the other members of our Board to insure that the Village continues to have good governance for all our residents.Key Issue 3 Candidate did not respond.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?My 16 year elected record and and my business experience as a CEOGiven 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.A sales tax is inherently a regressive tax and currently is too high in Cook CountyTalking 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.Good policing in the Village and we have achieved that with the establishment of the Inverness Police force.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 Chairman of the Finance Committee, we have a very tight budget that I review with the Village Administrator on a regular basis. That is the reason we continue to have a AAA rating from SP.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?Continue to recruit thoughtful and intelligent individuals to seve on the Village's Board and Committees to insure good governance continues in our community