David Brummel: 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: WarrenvilleWebsite: Brummel for Mayor.comTwitter: N/AFacebook: Brummel for MayorOffice sought: Warrenville Mayor Age: 70Family: Mary, wifeRyan, sonSara, daughterOccupation: cabinetmakerEducation: BS in psychology, University of IowaCivic involvement: current President, DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference; current Chairman of the Board, DU-COMM; board member DuPage Convention and Visitors Bureau; member DuPage County Stormwater CommitteeElected offices held: Plan Commission, City of Warrenville 1997-1999; Alderman, Ward Three, City of Warrenville 1999-2005; Mayor, City of Warrenville, 2005-presentQuestions Answers How should the city develop its Old Town/Civic Center area at Batavia and Warrenville roads?The Old Town area by the river would best be served by new businesses. The City has already purchased several properties to facilitate that end. Additionally, redevelopment in this area would allow us to take further advantage of the recent completion of the West Branch cleanup and rehabilitation with additional pathways along the west side of the river. Another property (shuttered gas station) would be a good community purchase as it is contaminated which limits its future use. Purchasing it and cleaning it up to a residential standard makes sense as TIF money could be used, and a residential standard cleanup would open the door for new business. The Musselman property near our Civic Center should be redeveloped as residential. The City purchased it and invested in cleaning it up to a residential standard to facilitate new housing, and has been working on that goal for nearly ten years. New homes would help our tax base, allow the City to recoup its investment in the property as well as provide roof tops that would encourage additional redevelopment of the Civic Campus area.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?Our budget has been fine tuned especially over the past several years to keep Staff lean and to closely align our services and service levels with the expectations of our Citizens. Warrenville has cultivated a varied revenue stream, maintains ample reserves (against bumps in the economy as well as state actions harmful to municipalities) and has no bonded debt. Paying cash as we do means that every tax dollar that comes to the City is available to provide staff and services for our citizens, and none is required for debt service. Any trimming of the budget would likely involve service reductions, or less emphasis on economic development and strategic planning, which we have been able to concentrate on more intentionally, and which our citizens have emphasized is very important to them.I hope in the coming year we are able to add a new administrative staff position to Public Works. Public Works is the last department that has undergone evaluation and realignment with the help of outside consultants. Our people continue to do a terrific job for our citizens in the field, but are missing training requirements and important record keeping necessities that both would increase their performance and efficiency. Adding staff must always be carefully considered as it is an ongoing expense, but in this case, I feel the improved service and increased efficiencies are worth the investmentWhat makes you the best candidate for the job?Warrenville has prospered over the past twelve years that I have served as Mayor. We are one of the very safest communities in the state; we continue operate with a balanced budget and no debt; our service levels meet or exceed community expectations; we fund many large and small community improvements by seeking and securing federal, state, county and grant money; we continue to make careful plans for our future. It is very satisfying to have a hand in this success. I have deep roots in my town. My Father was born on a farm in Warrenville and spent his whole life here, the last 55 years married to my Mother and living on Lorraine Street, where they raised me and my two brothers. I am a tradesman which fits our small town culture. I am college educated which helped prepare me for representing our town in the wider community. I thoroughly enjoy my monthly conversations with our citizens in the Hometown Happenings. I have learned much and cultivated many connections over my twenty years in public life that benefit the community. I have taken on numerous responsibilities at the regional level to give Warrenville a positive presence and enhance our reputation. I try to be a leader that inspires those I work with to excellence. I like to think I am doing well as Mayor of Warrenville, and I love this job as much as anything I have ever done.Describe your leadership style and explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your village board or city council.I believe that, first of all, I must behave in such a way that demonstrates decency, respect, confidence, competence, openness and patience. As the Chair sets the tone of the meeting, the Mayor should accept the responsibility to establish the tone for the community. If you set the expectation that everyone must be heard respectfully and their ideas given due consideration, better decisions generally follow. Along those lines, I see my role as providing the context for good decisions. When people have a good forum to discuss ideas and solid information on which to base an informed decision, almost always a good decision follows.What is one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?At some point I would like to see some iteration of a Crime Free Housing program implemented in Warrenville. This has been on my mind for some time, but limitations on staff resources has kept it from moving forward. In other communities this type of action has helped improve the responsiveness of landlords and the quality of rental units, while providing the means to effectively deal with problem renters.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?It always remains paramount to provide very good services at a reasonable cost, to have effective, responsive and respectful staff to provide those services, and to have reasonable community rules fairly and uniformly enforced. All of our decisions must respect the culture of pride in our small town/rural roots while allowing and encouraging needed change that serves the long term best interests of and enhances the sustainability of the community.Also, because Warrenville is land locked by its neighboring communities, we cannot grow in size. It is really important that we ensure redevelopment opportunities are focused on the highest and best use of the properties involved. We will get only one shot at these potential improvements, so it is paramount that redevelopment is very carefully considered.We must continue to make decisions that are environmentally sound and sensitive. We are surrounded by forest preserves and have several fine parks. We must continue to provide new connections to these amenities so that citizens have more opportunities to enjoy them safely and comfortably, whether hiking or biking.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.All the Mayors I am privileged to work with inspire me.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Whatever you choose to do, do it well.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Too soon old, too late smart. I would start getting smart earlier.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Psychology. It has helped me to understand people, made me more tolerant of differences, and aided me in dealing with others respectfully and effectively.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Gratitude turns what you have into enough.