Tom Blackburn: 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: WinfieldWebsite: http://www.WinfieldFirst.comOffice sought: Winfield Village Board (4-year Terms)Age: 42Family: Married, two childrenOccupation: Information Technology Project ManagerEducation: Master of Information Systems Management (with honors), Keller Graduate School of Management Bachelor of Arts, Business Information Systems, DePaul University Associate of Applied Science, Accounting, Purdue UniversityCivic involvement: Cub Scouts Pack 575, Winfield in Action, Winfield Park District sports, West Chicago Wildcats Youth Football, Symposium Investment Club (past president)Elected offices held: None.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: No.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Winfield has a revenue shortfall, to the point where it cannot effectively manage a road repair program, maintain a robust Police Department, fund pensions, or serve residents in a prompt manner. We are blessed with assets, such as a hospital and a well-used regional road network, that are not effectively being utilized to provide diverse streams of revenues into our community. As a consequence, residents and taxpayers are repeatedly asked to support property tax hikes and fee increases, which have been soundly rejected time and time again. My goal is to support investment in our community wherever there is strong regional traffic flow, to deliver new revenues through commercial property and sales taxes and a budget that does not rely mostly upon resident contributions.Key Issue 2 Winfield, in the heart of DuPage County, has a hospital with a reputation that is the envy of communities throughout the region. Winfield also has at its neighbor the leadership of DuPage County government in the county complex just over the border with Wheaton. Our leadership over the past several years has had a poor reputation with these entities, with whom we rely upon to solve larger issues such as regional stormwater management. We have an opportunity to utilize the strength of these partners to deliver effective projects that improve the quality of life in Winfield and to make Winfield a community we truly can be proud of. My goal is to build and nurture these relationships in order to establish priorities and achieve solutions.Key Issue 3 Winfield is collectively a community that, while united by residency and mailing address, is divided fractionally by having three grade school districts, two high school districts, three park districts and two townships. We have a need as a community called "Winfield" to make a special effort to reach across artificial boundaries to build community, achieve understanding, and create an environment where all residents feel as is their concerns are important and that their issues are given a sense of priority. Whether one lives in Klein Creek, Fredricksburg Farm, the Knolls, the Shelburne townhomes, or south of the tracks, we are all one Winfield. We are all important to Winfield's future. We should all get the same level of service and respect from our Village Hall, regardless of whether or not one lives north or south of the tracks, or how far one lives from Roosevelt Road. One of my priorities, if I am elected, is to support a strict residency requirement of all participants of our Village's committees, commissions, and task forces. Currently, we have non-residents with no stake in our Village serving on committees critical to setting direction of our future, for the sole reason of membership or monetary support of current Village elected officials' political organizations. This is a disrespect to all residents who expect Village Hall to operate in residents' best interests, as well as disrespect to other residents who wish to give of their time and skills and are denied the opportunity.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I have nearly 20 years' experience in the corporate world, in diverse groups involved in financial matters, technical issues, and large-scale projects. My experience, especially in project management, has shown the need to reach out and gather information from all groups with a stake in the outcome. Sometimes this process can be very emotionally charged, but is necessary in order to bring forth all of the thoughts and ideas necessary to bring forth solutions. I have a long history of being able to bridge levels of understanding amongst disparate groups, in order to address needs and concerns while at the same time achieving deadline and budget goals. I believe that with sound collaboration and goal setting, led with respect for all involved, Winfield as a community can get past its differences and focus on problem-solving that is critical to its future. This community needs to get past continual squabbles between specific individuals that have great ideas but for one reason or another are not respected because of personality clashes. It is time we work together, leverage all of those strengths collectively, and create a Winfield we all can be proud of.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.Winfield has a revenue shortfall, driven by a relative shortage of business activity as well as a lack of adaptation to changes in traffic flow over the years in order to bring business opportunities to potential customers. Winfield also currently collects no local sales tax, compared to rates of at least one full percent in our neighboring communities. I believe Winfield has the ability to raise sales taxes by a modest amount, while still allowing our current businesses to remain competitive to those in nearby communities. A modest sales tax will also allow Winfield to gain new revenue at a higher rate than today should new development in high-traffic areas take hold. This revenue will allow Winfield to better support its businesses through robust and responsive 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.There are two pressing matters of public safety that are of interest to Winfield residents: Robust and effective police service, and timely repair of roads and public rights-of-way. There is concern about police services on multiple fronts. There has been considerable reduction in full-time officers due to budget constraints, along with the debate over the last year over future direction of how police services are delivered and the resulting friction that has created in the community. I agree with my fellow residents who voted against any option that involves outsourcing police services to another entity, as it relinquishes full control of priorities for the force. I also agree with those who overwhelmingly rejected increases in property taxes for the second time in order to provide needed revenues for police service and road repair. I believe that the solution to these problems is in a focused approach: Use the assets Winfield has in order to derive new sources, and do so in diverse ways that do not place the exclusive burden on residents and landowners. My goal is to use the assets we have in traffic flow on our arterial roadways, Roosevelt and County Farm roads, along with a collaborative partnership with Cadence Health, to derive new and ongoing revenues for our community. The Village can do that through supporting zoning and responsive service to the business community that supports new business and respects nearby residents. Willing landowners and private developers are more than eager to participate in improving Winfield and building the means for Winfield to achieve the revenues it needs.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?At the present time, I believe the Board of Trustees has prudently managed the funds they have available, albeit insufficient. In previous years, public funds have been allocated to the Winfield Riverwalk project, which I believe is inapporopriate due the fact basic municipal needs are unfunded and that the project is recreational in scope, perhaps more appropriate for the Park District to sponsor. I support the current stance of supporting this initiative through private funds, and believe the project is a worthwhile endeavor of the community. The overall budget is underfunded, particularly in the areas of police pension obligations and deferred maintenance.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?I believe, as a leader in the Village, it would be helpful to improve communication between the Village, Park District, and individual grade schools/parent groups that serve Winfield: Winfield School (Dist.34), Indian Knoll (Dist.33), Pleasant Hill (Dist.200), St John the Baptist, and Wheaton Christian Grammar School. Perhaps this could lead to more Winfield-centric activities that can pull families and neighborhoods together and build community spirit in Winfield.