J.R. (Robert) Meyers: 2025 candidate for Wauconda mayor

Bio

Office Sought: Wauconda mayor

City: Wauconda

Age: 45

Occupation: Self-employed/business owner

Previous offices held: None

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?

Honest, integrity and actual willingness to work with the community.

I’ve observed and participated in many TH and EDC meetings including the Ice Cream Truck request in town. Also was a big opponent of Home Rule in 2023 pushed by our opposing slate at the taxpayer expense of $33k.

You have to identify a problem as we have in order to fix it. Now I’m asking you to vote us in to do just that.

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

How we do and allow business in town. How to keep small businesses thriving thus embracing our small-town feel. How to welcome new businesses and create a healthy market for all businesses.

We will shift to a freer market friendly community by relieving some burdens on businesses such as detrimental regulations and fees. Less government control of who does business in town and how. Free market business relieves residential taxpayer burdens in the now. Controlled markets often add extra expenses to homeowners by requiring expensive oversight which also further burdens smaller businesses. Courting larger corporations often requires taxpayer funded deals with substantial upfront money allowances and tax breaks for years to come. This gives unfair advantages over existing businesses. We look to level that playing field.

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?

I think we’re okay, but not as good as our incumbent opposition presents. If so, why did they try to pass home rule last consolidated election where the community overwhelmingly came out to defeat. Hundreds specifically voted NO and chose to abstain from all other voting. That speaks volumes. I think infrastructure is our biggest concern. It’s been neglected, patched and been done by the lowest bidder far too long.

I think spending can be curbed in quite a few ways. Quit wasting taxpayer dollars on pet projects like Home Rule and rushed vote, 6 figure steel barricades bypassing bidding process. Paid premium on something unneeded that no town our size has. Government should not be paying for advertisement campaigns that businesses can afford themselves. Public service cost for events put on by local organizations can be brought down by restructuring of events based on size and popularity. Certain events getting 1/2 off discount service rates should be reassessed again. It’s time local taxpayers know exactly how their money is being funneled and if they want to continue to fund as such. I'd also like to focus paying down more debt freeing up interest costs.

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?

I’m told by many our huge problems are under the streets, not just the actual streets themselves. I’m also told our current administration has put together a plan that will carry future boards to success for many years to come. I will intend to initially take them at their word on that one and follow the plan year one while consulting with their 3 remaining trustee seats for input. As we get more of a grasp of the plan and seeing it in action after our first year, we can make the tweaks as necessary.

Obviously, the network of arteries that run this town are crucial, even though not seen, everything else is built on top of them. We hope to cut any unnecessary spending to refocus extra dollars to these most important issues.

Many buildings have been not addressed appropriately in years putting us in a scary position. We're seeing that on some levels of them sitting empty for extended periods of time and causing a stalemate between owners, village and potential tenants. We hope to facilitate free market ideas to find a compromise to appease all so our town doesn’t suffer the blow of sitting empty.

We’ve witnessed roads being replaced that had a few years left in them in my IMO.

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 having a voice and allowing everyone else to have one too. We’re running on transparency, and our goal is to do just that. Get the community involved on decisions from the inception of an idea all the way across the finish line. Truly make them aware of agendas and make them working family accessible so they can choose to be heard should they so choose. Our board will put our thoughts to the side should the community decide overwhelmingly they prefer another direction on items.

Social media has been a free avenue that we will continue to use to get information out there. Currently my Wauconda Screams 4 Ice Cream pages are where we create most village concern content. And our free speech FB group Wauconda Area Uncensored carries interactive polls to engage the community. Having control of village sponsored sites will only help spread the word on agendas to encourage actual involvement.

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

Starting simple by thinking outside of the box with existing concepts but adapting them to a unique community like ours.

People are already talking about it, but not enough to take it seriously.

We’ve proposed Food Truck Mondays on Main to help fill our two vacant, most recognizable storefronts. With the restaurant industry being as risky as ever, our idea allows potential suitors to come in and test proof of concept and see if their business would do well to commit to brick and mortar in our wonderful community.

We chose Mondays as it doesn’t conflict with our 3 existing restaurants downtown (all 3 with a common partner) as they’re closed on Mondays. Many Main St businesses supported the concept to draw new foot traffic without other distractions like the Farmers Market. Thus making it more likely patrons would shop at their stores as well.

There is virtually nothing to lose by testing this concept that the current administration continues to ignore despite huge community interest.

And of course, Ice Cream Trucks are a right of childhood passage that only creates more community spirit- however everyone is talking about this one.