Joe Malacina: 2023 candidate for Lake Villa Village Board
Bio
Town: Lake Villa
Age on Election Day: 35
Occupation: CEO
Employer: No Limit Enterprises, Inc.
Previous offices held: None
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: Economic pressure and its impact on the residents as well as on the village board. The board must meet the economic challenges without burdening the residents with additional taxes.
Q: How would you describe the state of your community's finances?
A: Fair with room for improvement.
Q: What should be the three top priorities for spending in your community during the next four years?
A: Make sure money is put in the budget at a regular basis for repairs, maintenance, and infrastructure. No new spending projects, instead, freeze taxes to encourage new developments and constructions which will bring more revenue to the government while simultaneously reducing the burden on individual taxpayers.
Q: Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed? If so, what are they?
A: Yes, each year the board must open projects to multiple bidders instead of using the same vendors each year. This will make sure that the board is getting the best deal with the taxpayers' money. In addition, the board should look at making more part-time hires to save on costs.
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: Keeping the roads and bridges in good condition are very important as well as keeping up with exterior maintenance of buildings to keep water and mold out. These two infrastructure projects are important from a safety aspect, and in addition will save the government money in the long run. All other projects should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine if they are a need for the village or a want, with the latter being scrapped during these inflationary times.
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: Having owned and operated my business for 10 years, I have firsthand experience working with groups to develop solutions and implement them. I always listen to all sides of an issue, and take into consideration other points of view. it is also important to listen to people with more expertise than you in certain areas, especially when arriving to a decision. This approach of listening, valuing, and considering other people's opinions and expertise equally has served me well in business, and I expect it will serve me well in government.
Q: What makes you the best candidate for the job?
A: I understand that just being elected to the board does not make oneself an expert on everything in government. Personal research is required to make good decisions on critical issues, and community feedback should always be taken into account. I also understand working with others is important, yet compromise must be a 2-way street. Principals cannot be negotiated way, and I will always stand strong for my principals of a responsible and transparent government that is accountable to the people of Lake Villa.
Q: What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?
A: Finding new revenue sources that will allow for future tax reduction in Lake Villa. Our community has one of the highest tax burdens on its residents in the state. This should be reduced to a more reasonable level, and this can be attained through generating new revenue sources such as downtown development, and luring new businesses to Lake Villa.