Michael O'Dwyer: 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: Campton hillsWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Campton Hills Village Board Age: 53Family: Wife: DJ Daughters: 4Occupation: Chief Financial OfficerEducation: BSC-Accounting DePaul Univ. MBA-Finance- Dominican Univ.Civic involvement: *Campton Hills Finance Committee-2010-2013 *Active Comminity Attendee at VOCH board meetings *Knight of Columbus 3rd degree member *Prior Fox Mill HOA Trustee- FinanceElected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I have a degree in accounting and a MBA in Finance. I have 18 prior years experience in finance with Motorola. I have been the CFO of a sucessful +100mm business for the past twelve years. I servered on the Fox Mill HOA, developed a balanced budget, reduced the homeowners annual dues and started a reserve for replacing future assets. I have been a past member of our Village Finance Committee that has developed the annual budgets. I have been a strong voice for balanced budgets, cost reductions, financial controls and a watch dog for over spending. I believe in maintaining our rural lifestyle, a minimalist government and supporting our local business. I know how to work with diverse groups and drive results.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 issue in Village isn't one of too high a sales tax, but an issue of maintaining and supporting the businesses we already have. We need a better business climate. The sales tax revenue is a function of quality business, providing valued goods and services to our community. I will drive to have our village and our business working together to better serve our community. Property taxes in Kane county are way too high. While the village doesn't have control over property taxes, anything I can do to influence a lower tax and more efficient use of our tax dollars I support.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?I believe the Police and Firefighters deserve our utmost most respect. These are difficult positions and the men and women work hard to protect us. I believe that we can always evaluate the efficiency and effectivness of any organization and work together to improve services. One major area of concern involves weather warnings. The village doesn't have a tornado siren system and as such leaves the community vulnerable to a disaster. I believe this must be addressed and resolved immediately. Money can and should be cut from programs and reallocated to this issue as a priority.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?I want to see the legal cost reduced dramatically. Too much is wasted on questionable posturing. I want to pay down debt, address the under funded police pension fund and maintain a balanced budget. It's called living within your means, and I am fully committed to this concept. The village budget is tight due to the purchase of a village hall building a few years ago. The bonds issued will continue to soak up village funds until fully paid. I will continue to maintain a tight control on spending as the village works through its obligations and will not support anything but a balanced budget.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?Transparency in how the village is spending the communities money. It's next to impossible to get a monthly budget update. I want the budget and actual spend by line item published every month as approved and made available. This money belongs to the community. We need a open and truly transparent government for a change.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I want to make sure that the village has a long term financial plan and vision that is achievable. We need to balance the needs of the village and insure the least financial strain on the community. I believe we have some financial trouble coming our way if we don't reign in spending now. I am not afraid to say it. We don't have a income problem, we have a spending problem. We are one of the last truly rural communities with open space, rolling country sides and low crime. It's important that we have officials that want to maintain our lifestyle, our open spaces and yet can support local businesses. We need leaders that listen to the community, respect each other and act in the communities best interest above their own. We don't need command and control, we need our village to provide fundamental services, protect our citizens and not allow our rural lifestyle to be destroyed. I can help bring these qualities back to the village as your trustee.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Colin Powell "There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure."What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Work hard, buy only what you can afford, family comes first, trust in God.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Spend more time with my father who died in 2000. I miss him.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?History. " if you don't learn history you are doomed to repeat it" good or bad.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Be true to yourself.