Marie Hasse: 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: LisleWebsite: https://www.prosperityforlisle.com/Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prosperityforlisleOffice sought: Lisle Village Board Age: Candidate did not respond.Family: I have been happily married to my husband Mark for 25 years. We have two girls, one attending Benet Academy, one attending St. Joan of Arc School.Occupation: Formally an accountant for several Fortune 500 companies, now a stay at home MomEducation: BBA in Accounting from Dowling College, New YorkCivic involvement: I have done extensive volunteer work at St. Joan of Arc School including mentoring, coaching and chairing several committees. I also enjoyed singing in the Parish choir and participating in Harvest Sunday each year. At St. Margaret Mary Parish, I have provided assistance with PADS and Vacation Bible School programs. I lead two Girl Scout troops for over 10 years and we worked on various local events including Lights of Lisle.Elected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I have lived in Lisle for 18 years and have watched the village deteriorate over the last decade. I am driven to ensure that the Village of Lisle will grow and prosper for future generations. I will advocate for transparency and treat all citizens with kindness and respect. My volunteer background has taught me to listen and learn so that I may best serve others. My accounting background insures that I will trust, but verify, the claims of contractors and Village service providers. This is an important combination of traits that will make me successful at representing the needs of the residents.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.Property taxes are at an all-time high. We need to immediately freeze property taxes and bring businesses back to Lisle to share the tax burden. There are too many vacancies that are not generating any revenue for our village. In order to develop downtown and the properties on Ogden, we need the right mix of retail, restaurants and entertainment to fill the void.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 love the Village of Lisle's Police Department. They are very responsive to resident phone calls and inquiries and can be seen patrolling different areas of Lisle at any time. I am concerned about the fact that they have been working for two years without a contract; an issue that needs to be resolved.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?By cutting the unnecessary and wasteful budget items, more resources can be prioritized to projects that attract more businesses to Lisle. A strong business community will not only add opportunities for our village, it will grow our tax base and shift the tax burden away from homeowners.What is one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?The elephant in the room is the downtown retail area of Lisle. If we want Lisle to grow and prosper, then we need to look at all areas of Lisle. We have many strip malls with many vacancies that need to be filled. Over the last 16 years, the Village has commissioned several master plans for the downtown or Ogden Avenue corridor. None of these plans have been actively implemented and several developments actually contradict the recommendations of the master plan. As a trustee I would ensure that the village managers plan their work and work their plan.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?One of the biggest issues facing Lisle is how the community is divided; by subdivision, by high school, by economics and by the opinions of long term versus newer residents. Opening up conversations that provide a safe place for everyone to contribute their ideas will be the cornerstone to future success. Working together we will make Lisle a better place for all, and a source of community pride.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Candidate did not respond.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Listen to your elders, they have life lessons that are important to hear and learn by.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?would love to volunteer with an animal shelter in finding homes for abandoned pets.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Accounting taught me to manage money so that I was able to achieve economic stability allowing me the freedom to stay home with my children.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Be kind to everyone and treasure your family and friends.