Jeffrey Lynam: 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: East DundeeWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: East Dundee Village Board Age: 52Family: Candidate did not respond.Occupation: Financial AnalystEducation: B.S in Accountacy and Finance from Northern Illinois University class of '88.Civic involvement: Member of Friends Revitalizing and Energizing Dundee. Volunteer for many community events including Dundee's Heritage Fest.Elected offices held: Trustee for the village of East Dundee.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?Well, the notion of me being the best candidate is certainly a subjective one. However, being a member of the team that has over the last two years advanced the commercial viability of the village beyond that of any board in a generation prior, does afford me a unique perspective. My focus for the next four years will be to not only continue our efforts of commercial redevelopment, but to also bring more residents into the process of improving our town. The village works best when we all work together. This has been the concept promoted by East Dundee's village president, Lael Miller, and has been embraced by the board with measurable success.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.Taxes are never a popular topic, however, they are necessary in order to provide the essential services we all value. That said, we as a board have done everything possible to hold all taxes in check. Sales taxes in East Dundee are at, or below, those charged in surrounding communities. Given this, I would suggest that sales taxes in the village are about right. As to property taxes, the village has yet to impose an increase in property taxes since I have been a member of the village board. I'm proud of that fact. While the portion of property tax received by the village is equal to only 1.7% of the total tax on any assessed property, the village has managed to do with this amount. By that measure, I would argued that the tax levels are just right. However, the board has, as one of its stretch goals, the elimination of the village's portion of resident's property tax. We are very optimistic of our chances to achieve this goal.Rate 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?The village of East Dundee is very fortunate to have at the helm of its police and fire department two exemplary individuals in Chief Terry Mee, and Chief Steve Schmitendorf. The effect these men have had on our community cannot be overstated. The village opened a new fire station in 2014 and is converting the old fire house into the new police station. Completion is scheduled for May of 2015. Both departments will have been updated as well along with the new facilities.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?Outside of the five essential services all municipalities must provide, those being police, fire, streets, water, and sewer, all other expenses should be viewed as discretionary. While it may sound boastful to suggest that there is very little fat in our budget, the fact is that this is the case. There are few subjects the board takes more seriously than the annual budget, and with the help of our finance director and village administrator, we have developed some very admirable spending habits. If there was one area on which I would like to see spending increased it would be streets.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?East Dundee has a long-established neighborhood that is not currently served by the village with regard to water. Lakewood Estates is a beautiful, idyllic development nearly as old as the village itself. Currently, this neighborhood is not connected to the rest of the village's fire hydrant system. I believe the village has a reponsibility to provide the same level of protection to the residents of this development that it provides the rest of the community. I would like to see the board consider this project in a three phased approach over a ten year period.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?One issue that I have clung to over the years was the establishment of reserve accounts for our water and sewer funds. The expenses associated with these funds can be quite high. I am happy to report that we have recently established these accounts and have funded them to a $100,000 level. My goal is to see these levels increased to one million dollars each within the next ten years.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Ted Cruz. He embodies the spirit of hard work, self-reliance, and conservative principles that have served this country well.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Learning right from wrong. Conscience, free will, and experience will develop the wisdom that can help guide one to the right choices.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?High school. I did very well, but I know I could've done even better. I also would've bought MicroSoft in '76.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Math. It helped establish and strengthen critical and analytical thinking that I've used in all aspects of judgment.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Money will come as a consequence of doing what you love, so follow your dream and not the dollar.