Rezwanul Haque: 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: StreamwoodWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Streamwood Village Board Age: 56Family: I have a beautiful wife, Nuzhat. She is the executive chef at our banquet hall, Lazzat Banquets, located in Streamwood. My eldest son, Sameeul, is a first year law student at Chicago-Kent College of Law. My daughter, Saman, is graduating from UIC this Spring with a degree in Applied Psychology. She plans to attend law school in the Fall. My youngest son, Razaul, is in his first year at UIC and is studying Political Science and Criminology. He also plans on a career in law. Both Saman and Razaul are a part of the Honors College at UIC as well.Occupation: Entrepeneur.Education: I graduated from Northeastern University with a Bachelor's of Science, with a Major in Computer Science and a Minor in Accounting. I also have a degree in Civil Engineering from when I grew up in India.Civic involvement: For the last ten years, I have been involved in voter registration efforts with communities in the Northwest Suburbs.Elected offices held: Midwest Islamic Center:-Treasurer from June 2016 to Present-President from June 2012 to June 2014-General Secretary from June 1998 to June 2012-Funeral Coordinator from June 1998 to Present-Chair of:Fundraising Committee from 1998 to PresentAl Huda Academy from June 2006 to PresentWeekend Islamic School from June 2004 to PresentCouncil of Islamic Organization of Greater Chicago-Member of the House of Representatives from January 1998 to Present-Member of the Executive Board from September 2007 to September 2009Suburban Eid Committee-President from 1998 to PresentQuestions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I only recently moved to Streamwood, spending most of my time living in Schaumburg, however, I have been doing business in Streamwood for almost a decade, when I began construction on my plaza near the corner of Irving Park Road and East Avenue. From there, I opened my grocery store, Eastern Halal Foods Groceries, and banquet hall, Lazzat Banquets. Throughout my time in Streamwood, I have employed a large variety of people and have helped contribute to Streamwood's growth. I even purchased the bank building at that same intersection and am finalizing a deal which brings more business back to the Village. But my involvement with this area is not strictly commercial.I have been involved in community outreach and service for most of my life. Even from my time as an adolescent in India, I would ensure that the dead, who died from Tuberculosis, received a proper burial. Now, I have helped establish a private school at the Midwest Islamic Center and helped personally fundraise millions of dollars for construction costs and community programs. I have also been on the Executive Board of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC). These experiences coupled with my experience in business, have led me to run for Village Trustee in the Village of Streamwood.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.As far as property taxes are concerned, the County has recently raised them. While this is certainly an issue I am not in favor of, there is not much that can be done about it at the Village level. However, the Village recently added a food and beverage tax which negatively harms the incredibly diverse restaurant business that can be seen across Streamwood. Even though this tax was imposed two years ago, its negative impacts have been passed on to the consumers. It is important to monitor these changes to ensure government revenue does not stifle growth.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?Unfortunately, I have witnessed medical emergencies at home and at my businesses. People have fainted at the banquet and my mother-in-law has had serious medical issues, including both a heart attack and a stroke. In every instance, the fire department has done an excellent job serving my family and my guests. So, from the limited information I have as a civilian, the fire department of Streamwood seems well prepared to handle issues across Streamwood. The police in Streamwood do an excellent job serving the community. However, Streamwood, like most villages and towns in the area, still suffer from a reducible amount of crime. This coupled with the national concerns about police officers means we must appropriately equip our brave men in blue to ensure everyone's safety.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?According to the 2015 Comprehensive Financial Report for the Village of Streamwood, the Village has had a steady increase in revenue through property taxes, but has failed to do much in getting the real estate market going. There are some fantastic properties in Streamwood and it is important to have the real estate market moving again. Even though there has been some headway, it would likely be beneficial to take some of the increases in revenue and reinvest them into the real estate market and provide incentives for purchasing a home in Streamwood. Most policy issues regarding the budget should focus on appropriate reallocation of funds rather than a trimming of the budget. Streamwood has shown strong growth and continues to do well in the private sector. Despite some concerns with property taxes at the county level, Streamwood has established an acceptable balance of revenue and growth, notwithstanding the concerns with the food and beverage tax. Reallocation and reinvestment is the key to putting this new revenue to use.What is one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?Providing diverse representation to the Village Board should be of huge significance to the community. Upwards of 20% of the Village's population is Hispanic and over 10% are Asians. I think now would be a good time to add some diversity to better reflect the community, especially with a position that does not have an incumbent. Of course, the death of Mr. Patterson was unfortunate, and while I did not know him personally, his colleagues on the Board speak very highly of him.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?While I have served various communities in a variety of capacities, I would like to increase my community service by performing the civic duties of a Village Trustee. I will continue to dedicate my time to foster Streamwood's increasingly strong private sector and reinvigorate its real estate market.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Senator Bernie Sanders showed the country that a gross roots movement for political change can be created against establishment politicians.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Helping others provides the greatest inner peace.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would try and find new and innovative ways to help those around me.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Debate was my favorite subject, and to this day its lessons of public speaking and advocacy resonate with my work.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Always be bold, honest, and courageous, even in the most difficult of circumstances.