Frank C. Hudetz: 2023 candidate for Wheaton City Council, At-Large

Bio

Town: Wheaton

Age on Election Day: 74

Occupation: Former CEO of Solar Communications

Employer:

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 respond to it?

A: A serious issues Wheaton will face in the future is how do we address the needs of our aging population and people with disabilities, especially those with autism. Wheaton's census shows this vulnerable population of senior citizens alone represents 17% of the entire city.

In addition, over 11,000 Baby Boomers are retiring every day in the U.S., a growing number of people over 65 are becoming homeless, and more Chicagoans are relocating to the suburbs due to crime. Others are relocating to the suburbs because of remote working arrangements. Seniors are now living into their 80s and 90s, and we must ensure we can meet their needs: housing, food insecurity, and health-related issues to name a few.

Caring for these individuals is an issue Wheaton - and all of DuPage County for that matter - should proactively address. I believe the first step the city should take is forming a task force to address these issues before this becomes a crisis.

Q: How would you describe the state of your community's finances?

A: Wheaton's financial condition is excellent as evidenced by its most recent 2023 annual budget report. Also, given its AAA Bond rating by Standard & Poor's, Wheaton is well positioned to easily generate new funds if needed. Adding to a positive cash liquidity picture, is the ongoing policy of expensing 40% from the General Fund each year to be held in reserve. In other words, the City of Wheaton has a more than adequate "rainy day" fund set aside for any unforeseen emergencies.

Q: What should be the three top priorities for spending in your community during the next four years?

A: Within four years, the city should develop a strategic plan for economic development activities focused on attracting reputable developers who might be incentivized to build more housing for new homeowners, seniors, and the disabled. This sort of plan can help assure developers Wheaton is on top of monitoring population variances to mitigate any negative growth trends and maximize growth opportunities.

What's in it for the city, is also a strategic plan which can help to ensure ongoing sales and property tax-revenue growth as well as attract more restaurant owners and retailers. Without such planned stability of growth among new residents and retention of existing ones, Wheaton could slip off the radar as a community to consider when restaurants, retail shops or consumer service businesses look to expand.

Beyond the above I would defer to whatever the city managers have deemed the highest infrastructure, police and fire department priorities

Q: Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed? If so, what are they?

A: None

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: On the far southwest side of Wheaton is a subdivision built in the '70s known as the "The Streams." Within this subdivision are man-made lakes which were created by widening an existing creek named Springbrook. Since their creation by a private developer, these lakes have created recurring sedimentation problems for the City of Wheaton, requiring dredging approximately every five to seven years to remove sediment.

This is a costly process. The last dredging cost more than $750,000, and current market estimates are closer to $1 million for the next dredging, which is needed in the near future. A solution to this problem, which could save Wheaton citizens tax dollars, was recently presented.

This solution would replace the lakes with a meandering channel with a native floodplain plateau. This ends the need to dredge the lakes and would improve the water quality. This project has a total estimated cost of $3 million, but grants are available to decrease the cost by 80% or more.

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 city council.

A: As the former CEO of a mid-size multinational corporation of 600 employees for over 30 years, I have been involved in numerous group discussions to determine new or amended polices. My style is to approach such meetings with a win-win attitude and express that approach from the get-go with the caveat that no one should expect the final version to completely favor any one person's opinion/wish list. Within my process to reach agreement is the requirement to make certain all assumptions can be quantified and that all strong opinions be triangulated to enable better decision-making. Along with my noncombative and moderate style of interpersonal communication, my style would produce well thought-out policies.

Q: What makes you the best candidate for the job?

A: I'm a well-grounded and easygoing college graduate from a family of 10 brothers and two sisters. I would bring years of business acumen having served as the CEO of a midsized company for 30 years, and other leadership experiences gained from serving on many local boards, including chair of the DuPage Foundation. Layer that with being a Viet Nam Veteran with a Top Secret (SCI) clearance while working within the Naval Intelligence Group, and having been married to my wife, Carolyn, for over 52 years, many would consider me to be verifiably trustworthy. I'm proud to have lived in or near Wheaton my entire life and feel my vested interest is inclusive to all Wheaton citizens regardless of their religion, race, gender or political affiliation.

Q: What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?

A: In recent years, video doorbells have become widely popular because of their convenience and security. However, their price point is not always in the budget for many citizens. Why not help subsidize the purchase of these video doorbells, so everyone in the City of Wheaton who wants the type they'd like to have can more easily obtain one?

Recently I completed the 10-week Citizens Police Academy course in Wheaton, and I was struck more than once when officers teaching the courses would mention how much they wish every homeowner in Wheaton had a video doorbell. In my opinion, subsiding part of the purchase of them for our citizens is a good use of our rainy-day fund to be used for making Wheaton safer for everyone.