Reid Goodrich: 2025 candidate for Wood Dale City Council Ward 1

Bio

Office Sought: Wood Dale City Council Ward 1

City: Wood Dale

Age: 70

Occupation: Accountant

Previous offices held: Fenton High School board member since 2023

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

Fortunately, Wood Dale in not a community with outsized problems. Some of the issues are good such planning for growth. Attracting businesses that are complementary to the community in reputation, financial impact, environmental impact are decisions that would affect the community for 10, 20-plus years. This is long after many of those involved in the decisions may have left public service.

I would expect the council to have criteria for recruiting new business with periodic reviews of contacts and the results. This would allow the city to continually adjust its marketing.

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?

Wood Dale finances are good with currently 6 months of reserves. This is better than many communities. Without short changing infrastructure to be addressed below, I suggest the saying that you have to spend money to make money.

Companies will review financial incentives as part of their checklist prior to committing to a location. Wood Dale has an environment to attract business. Plus it recently spent $8 million and built roads to seal a deal with a data center that would result in tax revenues well over the initial cost to the city. The decision to commit millions of dollars was controversial but the payback is attractive.

Regarding curtailing spending, nothing I am aware of at this time. However, I also have the opinion if you start digging, one can find savings. Nevertheless, I would review consultant fees.

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?

Infrastructure is a concern whether old drainage and sewer pipes, roads, etc. The water tower will undergo an overhaul to check welds, paint, etc. Areas prone to flooding should be a priority due to potential property damage and grants are available to help offset construction costs.

However, not every bid comes in within budget or there might be scheduling issues. I would expect a plan B project to make the best use of available funds. If money is short, roads are the most likely to be deferred.

Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy. What is your style in such a setting to reach an agreement and manage local government? Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your city council.

I have been on boards of nonprofit, public entities and private businesses. I am currently on the Fenton High School board. Actions include financial review, strategy, human resources and various operational policies.

I believe one must listen to those with whom you don’t agree. They may alert you to a new perspective. This can lead to common ground and a solution. This also helps avoid a scenario of those who win and those who lose. Everyone should have a piece of the win or successful solution and so have an environment to solve the next problem.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

Besides previous board experience, as your alderman, I bring to the citizens of Wood Dale over 35 years of experience in accounting, finance, cost analysis and control, sales, manufacturing, IT and human resources. This experience provides me the foundation to ask questions to get behind the numbers, to take a close look at the operations and if need be a willingness to “rock the boat.”

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

Wood Dale is primarily a car community. A look at a few other communities along train lines you see Elmhurst, Lombard and Glen Ellyn have a vibrant downtown. Many businesses are centrally located and the layout allows residents to stroll and mingle.

Many pass their evenings entertained with in their own communities. These communities also have a strong sense of identity.

If there were a chance to redirect development in Wood Dale in such a fashion to be more pedestrian friendly, I would do what I could in support. There are practical limitations to doing this given the existing business layout, however perhaps bit by bit and envisioning how to shape Wood Dale this could come to pass.