Jim Moynihan: 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: SchaumburgWebsite: www.jimmoynihan.netOffice sought: Schaumburg Village Board Age: 62Family: Joan, spouse Dan, son Matt, son Sarah, daughter plus 6 grandchildrenOccupation: Financial AdvisorEducation: B.A., Political Science, Northeastern Illinois UniversityCivic involvement: Pitch Hit Club of Chicago Schaumburg Business Association UNICO (national Italian service charitable organization)Elected offices held: noneQuestions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I am a 27-year resident of Schaumburg and a financial advisor associated with Wayne Messmer Associates. My background includes over 20 years of successful leadership and management experience, including serving as a Section Chief at the Illinois Department of Transportation (CATS), owning and operating a small business, and working with and within a variety of organizations ranging from Fortune 500 companies to small and mid-sized companies. I have the depth and diversity of experience needed to bring a fresh prospective to the Village Board, challenge the status quo, and drive efficient budgeting decisions. I graduated with High Honors and earned a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Northeastern Illinois University. I recently ran for Illinois State Representative from the Schaumburg area as a family and taxpayer advocate focused on controlling state spending and reducing the excessive tax burden on all of our families. Although we came up a little short in that effort, I have heard from too many Schaumburg residents who are concerned about taxes and spending to sit back and do nothing. I remain committed to our community to find ways to reduce our overall tax burden through efficient budgeting decisions and a complete elimination of the new Village of Schaumburg property tax passed in 2009. My wife Joni and I are the proud parents of three adult children: a District 211 high school teacher, a Chicago police officer, and a banker.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.The Village of Schaumburg levied a property tax for the first time in 2009. We were told that the property tax was necessary to preserve essential services in the throes of the 2008 financial crisis. While some could disagree in 2009 over the necessity of a property tax, there can be no disagreement today that the financial bases for arguments in favor of the property tax are eroding. In the year ended April 30, 2008 (FY2008), before the property tax, Schaumburg had general revenues of $95,883,448. In the year ended April 30, 2014 (FY2014), Schaumburg had general revenues of $108,347,842, including property tax revenues of approximately $21 million. If we subtract FY2014 general revenues without new property tax revenues (i.e., $87,347,842) from FY2008 inflation-adjusted general revenues (i.e., $105,167,938), we are left with a deficit of $17,820,096 in FY2014. Yet, the Village property tax revenues in FY2014 were approximately $21 millionâ#128;#148;meaning, the Village property tax levy is $3,179,904 higher (or 15% higher) than it needs to be to keep general revenues the same as compared to FY2008. Consequently, as Trustee, I will call for an immediate 15% reduction to the Village property tax levy, saving Schaumburg residents $3,179,904 next year, or $100 per household. In addition, over each of the next four years, I will work to identify savings of one cent on every dollar of Village spending, allowing the Village to eliminate the property tax by 2020, saving Schaumburg residents approximately $21 million each year, or $600 per household.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 Schaumburg has top notch Police and Fire Departments. Both have made significant strides to improve coverage and services for the community in challenging economic times. Both have positioned themselves for the next decade and are doing an excellent job of addressing public safety concerns. Even so, there is an obligation for the Village Board to continue to exercise oversight to ensure we do not have a repeat of the circumstances that led in 2013 to the arrests of Schaumburg police officers in DuPage County. An area of particular interest for me, and the community generally, is the recent increase in heroin use in the suburbs, especially among suburban youth. Schaumburg police officers have been trained and now carry Narcon (also known as Naloxone), a lifesaving antidote for opiate overdoses. In addition, the Schaumburg Police Department has a new, highly visible Special Operations Division Tactical Unit that will enhance its enforcement efforts by actively patrolling the Village for street-level criminal/vice activity. I support these efforts and will make sure the Schaumburg Police Department has the resources it needs to implement these and other efforts to keep our community safe and drug-free.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?As discussed above in the context of my response regarding property taxes, I am not proposing cuts or increases in spending to specific departments or programs. However, I will bring to the Village Board the general goal of identifying one cent of savings in every dollar of Village spending over each of the next four years in order to responsibly eliminate the Village property tax. This modest level of savings can be achieved by identifying efficiencies and reducing overhead as opposed to making substantive cuts to desired programs or levels of service. In addition, as Village sales tax revenues continue to improve, even this modest level of savings may not be necessary.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?I support a ballot referendum where Schaumburg voters will decide whether to limit Village officials to serving three consecutive terms, or 12 years, in office. While I respect the current Village incumbents and appreciate their service to the community, I believe elected officials are more responsive and accountable to their constituents when their terms are limited and there is regular, healthy turnover in their positions. I note that, since 1991, only one new Village Trustee has been elected. (One Village Trustee was newly elected in 2009, and other Village Trustees have been appointed and subsequently elected during that period.) I also note that, collectively, the incumbent Trustees have served over 100 years on the Village Board. I believe this is too long for a healthy democracy and believe Schaumburg voters should decide via ballot referendum whether to limit Village officials to serving three consecutive terms, or 12 years, in office.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?The Village of Schaumburg has grown and changed over the years. Schaumburg grew over 366% from 1970 to 1990 based upon census information but only grew 0.8% between 2000 and 2013. By comparison, the City of Naperville grew by 166% between 2000 and 2013. Going forward, it's important that we inject fresh new ideas and a different prospective into the Village Board. I have great respect for Village President Al Larson and the incumbent Village Trustees and have even actively campaigned on their behalf in the past. Because of their efforts, the Village of Schaumburg is both a vibrant commercial district and a wonderful residential community in which to raise a family. I would add a fresh perspective and collaborative voice to the Village Board, focusing in particular on responsibly eliminating the Village property tax, building support for a Village term-limits referendum, remaining competitive as the place to live and work, and maintaining a safe, drug-free community. I would invite Schaumburg residents and the Daily Herald to visit my website, www.JimMoynihan.net, for a fuller explanation of the issues discussed in this questionnaire, including citations to original sources. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 847-899-0943.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Pope Francis for being a humble, genuine leader committed to reconnecting the Catholic Church with its global flock through balanced judgment and sincerityWhat's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?That love, respect and solid core values are the recipe for growing into a good person.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would have found a way to save more for my retirement.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?History and Political Science. I was always fascinated with past events and where they led us. I am finally putting it all to good use.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Treat others the way you want to be treated.