Christopher ‘Chris’ R. Pecak: 2025 candidate for Lisle mayor

Bio

Office Sought: Lisle mayor

City: Lisle

Age: 59

Occupation: Senior project manager, critical infrastructure

Previous offices held: Lisle mayor since 2017

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?

I first ran for mayor eight years ago in pursuit of transparency, fiscal responsibility, and growth of the community.

My record of freezing/lowering the village property tax levy for the past eight years, creating a business friendly environment, modernizing our zoning and building codes and safely reopening our businesses/community by July of 2020 have resulted in the fastest growing economy in DuPage County.

While maintaining the lowest sales tax rate allowed by state law, we have doubled our sales tax revenue, paid down debt, doubled our treasury, and kept our property tax levy flat.

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

The most serious issues are the ones outside of our control — the issues like COVID shut downs that you cannot plan for. We were prepared, and our efforts reflect in our financial recovery.

Today, the most pressing issue is the funding of pensions. I’ll be proposing alternate revenue sources to fund our pension obligations — so we don’t solely rely on property taxes. Property taxes in Illinois are crushing residents — especially our seniors.

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?

The village of Lisle is financially in the best financial shape it’s ever been in with the fastest growing economy in DuPage County. Over the past 8 years of my time in office, we’ve doubled the annual sales tax revenue and doubled our village reserves — all while freezing our property tax levy for eight years.

Upcoming priorities include investing in our infrastructure to attract and retain residents and businesses; funding and supporting our police and their pension fund to keep our town safe; making further progress on flood mitigation strategies; and advancing our plans for bike and pedestrian paths along the river.

We run an efficient operation, however I will always support looking at ways to increase efficiency without cutting services.

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?

Investment in infrastructure has been a cornerstone of my two terms in office. We’ve invested in water mains, roads, bridges, stormwater control, and bike/pedestrian connection routes.

All of these are equally important for our resident and for our business and commercial property owners as well as visitors and employees working in our community. We work carefully and diligently to plan, budget and prioritize and re-prioritize annually.

The most unique infrastructure project in our near future is the North Connector bike trail being constructed in cooperation with the DuPage County Highway Department.

Due to be completed in 2026, this trail will connect the East Branch DuPage River trail to downtown Lisle, the BNSF commuter station, and eventually to the Southern Regional trail system. One exciting stop along the trail will be the front entrances to the Morton Arboretum and Hidden Lake Forest Preserve.

Lisle is in excellent financial condition and we have no plans to put infrastructure on the “back burner” — it’s simply too important.

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

I’m often told that I have a patient, contemplative style. Plan your work and work your plan. My business experience has taught me that it takes a team of highly talented individuals that I empower to reach our team goals. I have high expectations and drive for results.

Having a very talented staff and a team of highly qualified advisors has led to all the success the village of Lisle has achieved these past eight years.

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

The North Connector trail will be a game changer for the village of Lisle. Not only will it spark other connections throughout the community and beyond, it will be a catalyst for redevelopment as residents and businesses will seek a connection or attachment to the trail.