Carl Sorgatz: 2025 candidate for Winfield village president

Bio

Office sought: Winfield village president

City: Winfield

Age: 72

Occupation: Retired

Previous offices held: Village president (2021-25), village trustee (2015-21), and village treasurer (2010-15)

Why are you running for this office? Is there a particular issue that motivates you? Also, what makes you the best candidate for the position?

Being a 39-year resident of Winfield, I feel a strong need to give back to the community which has given me so much. I am running again to ensure that the progress we have made and the innovative approaches we have implemented are continued, and our goals are attained and our village’s goals and potential are realized.

I have the passion and the energy to serve and the desire to continue to work hard to improve the lives of our residents.

I want to continue the forward-looking and innovative approach to redevelop Winfield’s Town Center through the development agreement with Northwestern Medicine and the use of TIF funds that will result in several significant multifamily apartment buildings, including a walkable Town Center area with the Riverwalk Park (with band shell and music events), a Town Square, and new restaurants and outdoor dining.

My experience in public service is extensive and includes four years as village president, six years as a village trustee, as well as serving on the plan commission, as village treasurer, and other numerous village committees, commissions, boards, and task forces.

My professional background includes 30 years as a Credit Union CEO. I’ve served as chairman of an Illinois State Trade Association Board and on a national legislative committee. I’ve also testified twice before Congressional committees in Washington, D.C. as an industry expert.

What is the most serious issue your community will face in coming years and how should leaders respond to it?

Addressing the urgent need for a new police station/municipal center. The village has an innovative approach to funding the cost of building that facility through the use of a portion of TIF funds — without raising residents taxes — and sharing a significant amount of excess TIF funds with all taxing bodies. The village board has already received positive feedback from our residents regarding the use of TIF funds for that purpose.

How would you describe the state of your community's finances? What should be the top priorities for spending during the next few years? Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed?

Winfield’s finances are in the strongest position they have ever been. We have had 4 years of balanced budgets, retained a strong cash reserve and high bond rating of Aa2, retained one of the lowest property tax rates in DuPage County at 4.0%, have grown sales tax and property tax revenues through commercial development, increased investment income, and secured a second Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant to be used for completion of the Winfield Riverwalk Park.

Raising the funded percentage of the police pension fund to a level that exceeds 70%. This would put the village in a stronger financial position regarding meeting the future police pension actuarial funding requirements of being funded @90% by 2040.

Finally, the village will work with other communities to try to persuade the state of Illinois to raise the Local Government Distributive Fund back to the 10% level (it’s currently @6.47%) where it has been at for the vast majority of the past 55 years.

This is a loss of over $900,000 in revenue to Winfield. This is income tax money from Winfield’s residents which should be used for local community needs instead of being kept by state government.

What do you see as the most important infrastructure project you 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?

The village just recently completed updating over 3,800 water meters saving over $750,000 by replacing the transmission modules instead of the entire water meter. Other major projects include a bridge replacement and ongoing village road resurfacing.

The bridge project will be paid for using federal and state grants and the road resurfacing is paid for by Motor Fuel Tax funds and capital funds. Winfield is fortunate that our financial position will allow the continuation of infrastructure projects.

Describe your leadership style and explain how you think it will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your village board.

My leadership style is best summarized as democratic and visionary. By emphasizing collaboration and consensus building, I try to foster a sense of ownership and engagement from board members. The plans we have for Winfield are at once compelling and practical. This combination allows for thinking “out of the box” and developing a vision for the future while valuing ideas from all participants.

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

Looking ahead to the 250th Celebration of America in 2026, I am looking at the potential for having a professional artist do depictions of Winfield through the painting of murals in Winfield.