Asif Yusuf: Candidate Profile

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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:BioQA Bio City: Oak BrookWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Oak Brook Village Board Age: 52Family: Married to Azra Yusuf for 27 years. Four children, Zain (24), Farah (21), Neha ( 19), Ali (15)Occupation: Real Estate and FarmingEducation: Bachelor's degree, University of Illinois at Chicago, Accounting and Economics. Some additional coursework for professional licensesCivic involvement: Dupage County Stormwater Committee 1/2014- Former board member Oak Brook Civic Association Former member Oak Brook Autumnfest Committee Brook Forest School Exploremore day volunteer ( I do the canoeing class). I also donate the pumpkins and straw and cornstalks to the park district for the haunted forest(grown on my farm)Elected offices held: Oak Brook village trustee 2003-2007 2011-Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I have extensive experience with village government. I am committed to doing whatever I can to address the needs of my fellow residents. I take a common sense approach to meeting challenges and most importantly I treat everyone with courtesy and respect, even if we disagree. I do my homework ahead of time so I can be fully informed to make a decision.In making a decision I use one simple litmus test, I ask myself Is this good for the people of Oak Brook. I do my best to serve the needs of my fellow residents because that is what it means to me to be a public servant.What is your opinion of your community's present level of local sales and property taxes? Is the tax just right, too low or too high? Explain.Nobody likes taxes, including me. However in Oak Brook we do not levy a single cent for village operations so we can't cut that below zero. I do feel our sales tax rates are very competitive when compared to surrounding communitiesRate the efficiency of your town's police and fire coverage. Are the departments well prepared for the next decade? What, if anything, should be changed? Do you have specific public safety concerns?We staff at the necessary levels to provide a safe environment for our residential and business community. It is important to have good equipment and trained personnel to operate it. The pension laws have presented unique challenges, in the absence of much needed pension reform from Springfield we will have to consider consolidation as well as adjusting our mix of carreer versus contract employeesWhere, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?There is nothing major that could be cut without a reduction in desired services, we are continuing to try and find opportunities to do so. We recently combined the functions of the finance director and assistant village manager into one position, which will result in significant savings. I believe we may need additional staff in the building department as the economic recovery continues, but this cost will be offset by increased permit revenue from additional permit activityWhat's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?I don't have one because if I do have a good idea and haven't brought it forward, then I am not doing my job. hieved but There have been good ideas brought forth and positive results have and will continue to be achieved but it is always a team effort. I do intend to bring forward a change to allow third party alarm monitoring for our business community as opposed to mandating their use of our alarm board. This will create an opportunity for reduced costs through competition. I believe 3rd party monitors such as ADT are up to the task. If they are good enough for our residents, then they are good enough for our commercial communityWhat other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?We have to continue to make sure things are done in an efficient manner. We as board members need to treat our staff with courtesy and respect and absolutely demanthe same courtesy and respect. It is our highressential to keep the positive momentum going on all fronts as follows: 1. We have increased our cash reserves each year 2. We have welcomed new businesses into our community resulting in continuing increases in sales tax revenues. 3. We have switched to consolidated emergency dispatching with DuComm resulting in enhanced ability to service our residential and business community, while achieving substantial savings. 4. We have successfully fought against pension sweeteners which have eliminated significant costs we would have otherwise incurred. 5. We have revitalized our beautification program, as a result our community is more attractive to residents, business, and visitors, allowing us to maintain our competitive edge 6. We continue to work closely with our very dynamic chamber of commerce to drive economic growth, which is needed to allow us to provide the levels of service necessary to but the residents and the business community.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Our governor, Bruce Rauner. He is taking on a huge task to fix our stateWhat's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?To think things through completely before you actIf life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would have worked a little less and spent more time with my children, when a day goes by you can never get it backWhat was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Philosophy, it made the logical approach to problem solving very clearIf you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Enjoy every day and at the end of the day make sure you can come up with something good you have done