George S. Dunham Jr.: Candidate profile
Bio
Name: George S. Dunham Jr.
City: Schaumburg
Office sought: Village trustee
Age: 70
Family: Married to Diane Dunham 47 years. One adult child, one grandchild
Occupation: Retired Executive Recruiter and Human Resources Consultant
Education: University of Tulsa, Oklahoma - Public Administration major, Political Science minor
Civic involvement: One of three founders of Lexington Fields South HOA in 1979. Served on ad hoc Village Committee on Residential Development in 1983 and 2002. Appointed to Business Development Commission in 1986. Appointed to Plan Commission in 1989. Appointed to Illinois International Convention Center Authority in 1993. Member of Schaumburg Regional Airport Advisory Commission since 1993. Appointed to National League of Cities Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy & Advocacy Committee in 2013. Current Chairman of Finance, Legal & General Government Committee; serve on Planning, Building & Development Committee, and Public Safety Committee.
Previous elected offices held: None
Incumbent: If yes, when were first elected? April 1991
Website: www.friendsofschaumburg.com
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Issue questions
What are the most important issues facing your community and how do you intend to address them?
Continue to maintain tight controls over village's strong financial position. Ensure adequate funding sources are available for future infrastructure replacement and improvement. Take every opportunity to retire existing debt and take advantage of refinancing opportunities when beneficial to the village. Continue to reduce or keep flat level of village property taxes per original promise to voters. Assure future residential and commercial development according to carefully-conceived concept plans and building standards long in effect. Take every opportunity to pursue and win available grants for infrastructure and transit improvements.
What makes you the best candidate for the job?
Comprehensive experience gained through extensive service to the voters. Strong belief in and commitment to conservative fiscal policy. Willingness to pursue cost-sharing opportunities and partnerships with other communities or entities for purchase or lease of necessary major but intermittently-used capital equipment.
Describe your leadership style and explain how you think that will be effective in producing actions and decisions with your village board or city council.
I believe in working with my colleagues to build consensus and then take action based on that consensus. Our board has an extensive history of working together effectively in this non-adversarial environment.
How would you describe the condition of your community's budget, and what are the most important specific actions the town should take to assure providing the level of services people want?
Schaumburg is in an excellent financial condition, however we must work tirelessly to maintain that position especially in light of the state and county taking every opportunity to confiscate and redirect revenues that are due to the village and spend them elsewhere. Our small portion of the overall property tax bill continues to be the second-lowest of all surrounding communities, and we anticipate lowering it further next year, yet through careful management we are able to spend record amounts on street and infrastructure maintenance. And we are paid ahead of bench marks for state-mandated pension obligations.
What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?
I would like to see established a program that would enable youth and others to learn about and possibly eventually serve in committee/commission opportunities in village government.