Greg Garner: Candidate profile
Bio
Name: Greg Garner
City: Gurnee
Office sought: Village of Gurnee Trustee
Age: 61
Family: Lavonna (Spouse), Nneka, Myles, Jared, and Abeni (Children)
Occupation: Pharmaceutical Sales
Education: MBA, Lake Forest Graduate School of Business; B.S. Biology, Loyola University of Chicago
Civic involvement: Boy Scouts of America, Gurnee School District 56 Mentoring Program
Previous elected offices held: Village of Gurnee Trustee for three terms
Incumbent? If yes, when were you first elected? 2004
Website: N/A
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greg.garner.982
Twitter: N/A
Issue questions
What are the most important issues facing your community and how do you intend to address them?
The most important issue facing our community is having good government where elected officials operate with integrity, transparency, without agenda, and deliver on their promise to meet the need of residents. As a sitting trustee, I model the above consistently and set the standard for other board members to follow. I listen and value the opinions of each board member and residents alike to arrive at decisions that benefit our community. In an effort to insure the Village operates in the best interest of residents, I respectfully challenge opposing views when necessary and hold board members accountable when their views fail to meet the needs of our community.
What makes you the best candidate for the job?
Experience, passion for this community, and a desire to do the right thing at all times for Gurnee, makes me the best candidate for the office of Village Trustee.
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 have a grass-roots leadership style where I invite, listen, and weigh the opinions of others prior to making a decision. In doing so, I provide others with an opportunity to be heard and to have a "say" with regard to the outcome.
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?
As a result of my tenured role on the board, my push for fiscal responsibility, and conservative spending philosophy, the Village of Gurnee is financially sound. The board annually passes a balanced budget and operates within parameters established. Reserves for the village budget are more than adequate to provide the level of services residents will need in the event of an emergency. Annually, the village wins the CAFR award (Certificate of Achievement for excellence in Financial Reporting). The village needs to continue being vigilant in its pursuit of a balanced budget by seeking creative ways to reduce expenses without adversely affecting village services.
What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?
Gurnee Beautification! The Village of Gurnee, is a premier destination location for shopping and entertainment. If the village is going to maximize visitation and its retail sales tax base, we must strive to keep Gurnee clean and enhance community aesthetics. This will increase the quality of life and create a positive shopping and entertainment experience for visitors and residents alike.