Jim Tinaglia: 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: Arlington HeightsWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Tinaglia for TrusteeOffice sought: Arlington Heights Village Board Age: 55Family: Cindy (wife)Stephanie (daughter)Alex (daughter)Jimmy (son)Nick (son)Occupation: ArchitectEducation: Bachelor of Arts in Architecture - Iowa State University, 1985Civic involvement: Elected Trustee 2013-presentArlington Heights Design Commission appointment by Mayor Mulder 2002-2013Arlington Heights Park District Soccer Advisory Committee Chairman and member - 7 yearsACES Travel Soccer Coach - 13 yearsElected offices held: Village of Arlington Heights Trustee - 2013-presentQuestions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?The number one quality that makes me the best candidate for the job is my willingness to listen to residents and personally research the critical issues that are facing the Village. However, I have also had a long footprint in this Village, which includes growing up and raising my family here, owning a business in town, participating as an active and engaged member of the community, and finally serving for the past four years as a Village Trustee. These personal and professional experiences have taught me valuable lessons about fiscal responsibility, which I believe is an important quality for any public official to have.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 Trustees, Mayor, and Village Staff work hard to keep our taxes reasonable and as low as possible. We recently changed our fiscal year to mirror the state budget process, allowing us to plan more efficiently for funds that will be needed. As residents are probably aware, the annual property taxes are divided into many components, with the Village receiving approximately 12%. We work extremely hard to manage an annual budget of $180,000,000 to provide services, facilities, and maintenance for over 75,000 residents.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?We have a top ISO Class 1 Fire rating, and we are working to build a state-of-the-art police facility that should come online in 2018. As a community that looks to the future, we need to address our aging baby boomer population, and continued growth of medical, rehabilitation, and care facilities. Over the next 10 years we will need to work on developing building plans that can be creatively repurposed for our future needs - 30 to 40 years down the road - and not become vacant and obsolete. We need to ask ourselves What is the footprint that we are leaving behind for the next generation?" It is our duty to leave this community better than we found it.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?For the last four years I have worked collaboratively with my fellow Trustees and Village Staff to keep the budget as lean as possible, while still being responsible in supporting our community's safety, security, and serviceable expectations. I am always open to reviewing ways to find more money toward repairing and rebuilding our infrastructure, such as storm water, sanitary sewers, and water main breaks.What is one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?Geographically, this community is eight miles long by about three miles wide. Though distinctive in its individuality, this makes it difficult to engage the entire community towards a feeling of "one Village." Perhaps we could create a recognizable transportation system, such as a Trolley, which would be available to transport people to different areas of Arlington Heights. This would allow and encourage all residents to share in many of the unique offerings that our Village provides; larger retail and industrial in Uptown, hotels and retail in Southtown, and a Downtown offering dining, entertainment, boutique shopping, and services.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Control of spending and taxes, infrastructure (flooding of basements, storm water management to protect streets, fixing water mains by supporting our Public Works department), and keeping the community safe by supporting the Police and Fire Departments. The police station project is extremely important to me as a Trustee, architect, and concerned citizen. As an architect by trade, I have expertise in knowing the questions to ask, reviewing the plans, developing the site, reviewing the budget, and insuring proper construction techniques so that the project is completed on time and on budget.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.My late friend Mike Schroeder inspired me as a father, businessman, politician, and mentor. I continue to admire him for his commitment to this community.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?My parents were hard workers, and we were taught to honor our responsibilities to our family, as well as our community.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would like to have my parents here, so that they may share the wonderful community and personal experiences we enjoy with the VillageWhat was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Architectural Drawing at Arlington High School. I always loved drawing, and have owned my own architectural business here in Arlington Heights for 26 years.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?To take responsibility for yourself and those you care about with honesty, courtesy, and respect.