Ryan Brandes: 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: LindenhurstWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: rnbcolct1@yahoo.comOffice sought: Lindenhurst Village Board Age: 43Family: Wife- Nancy Daughter- AbigailOccupation: Modernization Coordinator for Construction and Procurement Managment Lake County Housing AuthorityEducation: Candidate did not respond.Civic involvement: Lindenhurst Environmental CommissionElected offices held: Current- Lindenhurst Environmental CommissionerQuestions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I feel that my leadership style, my years of working in the public sector and my personal drive will enable me to be the best resource I can for the citizens of the town I love. I am doing this as a long term member of this community to grow my village a and father looking to raise my family in the Village of Lindenhurst.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 feel that the current levels do a good job supporting the schools and community services. However the current levels of reserves for both the Village and Library District show that there is not a need to increase rates year after year. Our local officials should be doing more to bring in new industry and support the small businesses that make up the back bone of our community. I want to work with the Village of Lindenhurst to help bring these businesses to town. To add to our tax base through new industry and retail. Not just raise taxes on our citizens and put the thought in their minds that living and shopping local may not be their family's best approach.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 feel that the local departments do a great job keeping our Village safe. I will be proud to support them with as needed resources and advice so we can maintain the Village as a model for others and a destination for new families and businesses.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?I would like to look at the appearance of redundant staff and focus these resources towards community building. Multiple layers of supervision can be constricted or staff can be reassigned to community development projects.What is one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?We as a village need to do a better job of inviting all neighborhoods to be part of the process. All neighborhoods need to be represented and should not feel excluded simply because they do not have a trustee that lives there. No areas of the Village should feel cut off or neglected simply because they do not know who to complain to. This is not a village of districts. The elected officials represent the entire village and need to make decisions that will benefit the entire community.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I feel that the Village needs to be not just more transparent but also more timely in regards to projects and decisions that affect all citizens and business owners in the Village. I feel that our residents do not have enough voice in the future planning for the Village.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Sir Richard Branson. Inspire your people by including them as part of the team.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?I had supportive parents that did not leave me wanting but didn't spoil me. Both of my parents instilled a hard work ethic in me.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Spending more time with my fatherWhat was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Marketing. Learning the confidence to not just self promote but find the way to be a resource in any aspect of life.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Win or lose just try your best.