Gary G. Stanton: 2023 candidate for Hoffman Estates Village Board
Bio
Town: Hoffman Estates
Age on Election Day: 72
Occupation: Attorney/retired
Employer: Retired/former assistant public defender of Cook County
Previous offices held: Three terms as trustee for the village of Hoffman Estates
Q&A
Q: What is the most serious issue your community will face in the coming years and how should the city council or village board respond to it?
A: Perhaps the most serious concern I have for our village is finding a buyer for the Sears property in our western district and then making sure that the new owners have the ability and desire to work with our village's comprehensive plan and our village staff in creating the best possible project for that parcel of land.
Q: How would you describe the state of your community's finances?
A: Excellent. Our village has come through the pandemic in good shape.
Q: What should be the three top priorities for spending in your community during the next four years?
A: I believe our three top priorities for spending should be our streets, our sewer and water systems, and our rolling stock.
Q: Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed? If so, what are they?
A: With our village budget in good fiscal shape, I see no areas of spending that need to be curtailed at this time. The village budgets for the items that are necessary to keep our village operational and we stay within our budget.
Q: What do you see as the most important infrastructure project the community must address? Why and how should it be paid for? Conversely, during these uncertain economic times, what project(s) can be put on the back burner?
A: I have always considered our streets as the most important infrastructure project that we needed to address and over the last 10 years I believe we have been doing an excellent job in keeping up with the repairs. Within the last 10 years we have dedicated revenues for that purpose. While our streets are of continued importance, our storm sewers are also aging and in need of repair. Our village staff is on top of this and again we have dedicated funds for these projects. When necessary, some new purchases of our rolling stock could be put on the back burner, but at this time, I don't see that as necessary.
Q: Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy. What is your style in such a setting to reach agreement and manage local government? Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your village board or city council.
A: Over the last 12 years as a trustee for the village of Hoffman Estates, I have had to engage with the five other trustees, the mayor, as well as the village manager and his staff in creating and agreeing upon village policy. Consensus is reached by a combination of listening and discussion. Compromise is essential. I feel over the years I have been successful with this approach while I have been on the village board and I know it has been effective in producing the proper decisions for our village.
Q: What makes you the best candidate for the job?
A: I have been a village trustee for 12 years now and have worked with nine trustees, two village managers, and one mayor, giving me the experience I feel is necessary to continue as a trustee. Throughout that time, the mayor and I have been to Springfield working with the Illinois Municipal League and the Northwest Municipal Conference to ensure that our legislators either passed bills favorable to our community or vetoed legislation that was unfavorable to our community. We also lobbied successfully for funds on behalf of the full interchange at I90 and Barrington Road. I expect to continue working for this village in that capacity if reelected.
Q: What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?
A: Putting streetlights in the community where they currently don't exist is one idea I would like to explore with the village board.