Ronald Baker: 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: RoselleWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Roselle Village President (4-year Term)Age: 48Family: Married, Four ChildrenOccupation: Supervisor/Manager for the Northwest Suburban Municipal Joint Action Water AgencyEducation: College Of DuPage Currently active in completing and possessing an A.A.S. Management DegreeCivic involvement: Former Roselle Paid-on-call FirefighterElected offices held: Current Roselle Village TrusteeHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 We need to prioritize our public safety services by improving and providing for a safer Roselle without the possibility of lay-offs or elimination of Police, Fire, or Public Works employees. While the need to generate future revenues for the increasing costs of providing the current level of services, at the minimum, has to be addressed more now than ever.Key Issue 2 This Village has to live within its means. We need to eliminate wasteful spending along with eliminating the funding for unnecessary projects and also prevent the practice of "NO BID" contracts.Key Issue 3 We need to continue to support and push for future development and business opportunities throughout the Village as a whole. We need to develop and improve on our working relationships between the Village and all existing and incoming local businesses along with an enhanced partnership with the Roselle Chamber of Commerce.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I have been a resident of Roselle for more than eighteen years. I proudly served as a former Roselle Paid-on Call Firefighter/EMT for nearly four years. With honor, I was elected and am currently serving Roselle as a Village Trustee. I have been employed with the Northwest Suburban Municipal Joint Action Water Agency as a Supervisor/Manager for over sixteen years while working with seven Northwest suburbs providing over 300,000 residents and multiple business districts with Lake Michigan municipal drinking water. My position also consists of being an active liaison for Administration, Police, Fire, and Public Works Departments for those same seven Northwest suburbs. I remain highly involved in the development and forecasting of a 30+ million dollar annual budget. I am deeply engaged in future planning of infrastructure system upgrades, maintenance, and necessary repairs along with the bidding process and awarding of bids. My experience in working with seven suburban communities and their Administrations; along with my willingness, commitment, and experience serving my own community, will make me an ideal candidate to serve the people of Roselle as their next Mayor.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.Roselle, compared to other surrounding communities, has some of the lowest to average local sales taxes in the area. Given the nature of the current economy this would be a venue to explore for possibly increasing revenues in the Village if needed, due to the increasing costs of services.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.The safety concern is the lack there of on Public Safety Personnel. Our Police, Fire And Public Works Departments are operating with minimal crews most of the time. Unfortunately a majority of the Village Board would rather fund over a quarter of a million dollars to try and save infested or dying trees rather than fund the necessary public safety services. I feel the need for funds to be allocated to serve the safety of our Village residents first and foremost.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?See the answer above !!!What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?Strong leadership that provides transparency, honesty and open communications between the Village, its residents and employees.