Christopher A. Epstein: 2023 candidate for Glendale Heights District 4 Village Trustee
Bio
Town: Glendale Heights
Age on Election Day: 62
Occupation: Retired
Employer: N/A
Previous offices held: Former Queen Bee School District 16 board member
Q&A
Q: What is the most serious issue your community will face in the coming years and how should the village board respond to it?
A: A board that is still answering to the previous mayor and creating a hostile environment at board meetings.
Q: How would you describe the state of your community's finances?
A: Fair because of a bloated payroll in certain divisions.
Q: What should be the three top priorities for spending in your community during the next four years?
A: Increasing revenues by bringing in businesses to support our sales tax base. Capital improvements especially in my district golf course community which has not had any significant improvements since being built in 1989. Just look at our streets and sidewalks. Work with our school districts not always blaming them for their high tax bills.
Q: Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed? If so, what are they?
A: We need to take a look at our Parks and Recreation areas for a bloated payroll on the top. Our golf course is a loser and has been in the restaurant area. Bring in a professional.
Stop no-bid contracts such as has been with regards to the cricket fields.
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: Our roads and sidewalks need to have major work and not patchwork. Government bonds or reserves but as an accountant I would need to make that decision when I am elected.
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.
A: As a former Queen Bee 16 board member I looked at the cost benefit of installation of the new system for heating the campus.
This system relies on the energy beneath the surface to maintain constant temperature control in the buildings and although primarily for heating it has benefits during the summer.
This current board loves to argue with each other and especially against the current village president.
My family has no and has never had any financial ties with employment or contracts in the village unlike the six current trustees have relatives or friends on the village payroll, some unqualified with bloated salaries.
Q: What makes you the best candidate for the job?
A: I am here for the residents of the village not the self-serving interests of the current board members.
Q: What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?
A: Bringing in John Taffer who is an expert in the field to review our bar restaurant facilities and hopefully help us to bring our facility to a high standard instead of constantly losing money.