Ralph Sesso: 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: Barrington HillsWebsite: NoneTwitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Barrington Hills Village Board Age: 66Family: Ralph and Carol Sesso were married in 1977 and have 4 children. Katie, David,Jill and Jonathan.Occupation: Fund ManagerEducation: BS Western Il. UniversityCertified Financial PlannerCivic involvement: Ralph coached in the Barrington Youth Football program for several years and had the privilege of coaching the now famous Kirk Cousins of the Washington Redskins.Elected offices held: NoneQuestions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I have been a lifelong entrepreneur and as such I have had many experiences which would be helpful in dealing with the needs of Barrington Hills.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.I am very pleased with several things the current administration has accomplished.Through the consolidation of the 911 dispatch system they saved the village over $500,000 a year and at the same time increased the number of 911 operators that are available but also improved the qualifications of the 911 operators that we now have.The dismissal of the Sears lawsuit was another accomplishment of this administration which had been costing the village millions of dollars. If the village had lost that lawsuit it could have emptied the village coffers.Also the consolidation and outsourcing of some of the village functions was a logical and cost saving decision.All of the above efforts reduced the tax levy that the village places on its residents. While I like the ideas that have been implemented so far, I think it is important to continue to look for ways to improve the efficiency of the village operations.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?In Barrington Hills, we have our own independent police department and our officers do a fantastic job. Most of the residents are probably not aware of the fact that our officers carry and are trained in the use of Narcan. Narcan Nasal Spray counteracts the life-threatening effects of opioid overdose. Since most accidental overdoses occur in a home setting, it was developed for first responders, as well as family, friends, and caregivers. The decision for officers to carry and Administer Narcan has already saved lives.Public safety is a vital service that the village provides. While I think the current force is more than adequate, it is vital that the department stay on top of new ways to efficiently carry out their duties.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?While the Police Pension board is separate board from the board of trustees, the village is still responsible to properly fund the police pension. As an investment professional I would like to explore options to increase the returns we have been getting on those funds so that we can more fully fund the police pension. I would potentially be responsible for appointing two of the 5 board members. I support the recent RFP looking for new managers to improve returns which help lower the tax burden on Barrington Hills taxpayers.What is one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?We have many very successful families in the village but there are some that have run into financial difficulties. I think it would be great if we could get some qualified residents to volunteer to discreetly counsel other residents who are going through a difficult time.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Perhaps the most important issue to me is that we find a way to live peaceably with each other. There will always be disagreements as to how we do certain things. The approach we should have as a community and a governing body is that we be considerate of each other in everything we do. We don't always get what we want in life. If we all give a little there doesn't have to be a divide in our community.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Bill Belichick inspires me for his dedicated approach to being prepared.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?I learned to respect my parents and their discipline taught me to do the right thing.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would have more children. Being a Dad to the ones I have has been the biggest blessing of my life,What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Math, particularly Geometry.Geometry is about solving complex problems and I really enjoy doing that.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?If you want to succeed at something find a mentor who is the best at what you want to do and listen to them.