William Denton: 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: Oak BrookWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Oak Brook Village Board (4-year Terms)Age: 74Family: Married 05/28/1978, Evanston, IL, No Children but plenty of nieces, nephews, aunts, and uncles.Occupation: Trane - Solutions Applications Sales Engineer, Large Chiller and Systems Specialist. Member of Trane Safety Team, Communications.Education: Glider Pilot License - 1956 BSME - 1960 General Motors Institute (Kettering University) Thesis: Design and Analysis Refrigeration Components and Systems Graduate Teaching Assistant, Advanced Algebra, Iowa State 08/1961 to 07/1963Civic involvement: Civil Air Patrol American Society of Mechanical Engineers Mercedes Benz Club of America (MBCA) Mercedes Benz Club of America Educational Foundation Oak Brook Civic AssociationElected offices held: Non-paid - all positions were volunteer Past President, Chicago Section American Society of Mechanical Engineers - ASME Past Regional Director - MBCA (National Board) National Director at Large - MBCA (National Board) Past President, MBCA Educational FoundationHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NOCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 New School Bond - before District 53 voters. I believe a new school for elementary thru Junior High will be good for the village. Now is too soon in view of the upgrading done approximately 5 years ago that was focused on energy reduction and student/teacher environment. New heating and cooling units, new energy efficient windows, additional roof insulation, new secure outside doors plus measures were provided for Brook Forest Elementary. Up grade of classroom, techroom/library cooling, Gym cooling, and windows and outdoor doors were provided at Butler. The cost of that investment has at least 8 to 10 more years or longer of useful life. Why throw away this investment now? I recommend a no vote at this time.Key Issue 2 Village land sale to District 53 - before Village voters. This question is presented much too early and assumes there is a good long range plan in place for the land use that is in the best interest of all past, current and future stake holders. Again I recommend a no vote.Key Issue 3 Resident Taxation. The level of resident real estate taxation should be maintained. Investments for the future should be just that and not for political reasons but for greater long range value.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I have discovered that I am truly a self starter and accountable. My foundation of these principals has allowed many experiences of success and failure to build knowledge. Problem solving and decision making by considering the interaction of the key variables provides lasting value. This broad experience has permitted me to gain success where others feared. Complex problems can be simplified. I worked my way through formal education and discovered education never stops and that life is similar.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.I believe the local sales tax is about right. Since we bought our home in 1978, the sales tax percent has changed acceptably without being a burden on purchasers paying sales tax.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.Fire and life safety are important. Our community provides excellent police protection and law enforcement. The fire and life safety is excellent. I believe the Police and Fire departments share like principals.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?I believe the budgets have tracked reasonably well since becoming a resident in 1978. Legal expense reduction needs to address the root cause and fix it. I beieve improvement is definitely underway. A building can implode quickly compared with the time and expense of building and providing proper maintenance for one carefully. for future replacement in a sensible form.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?We need to timely account for future replacement of infrastructure based on its useful maintained lifetime. Careful consideration needs thoroughly analyzed before selling versus alternate leasing while retaining ownership.