Sameer Gupta: 2025 candidate for Carpentersville village board

Bio

Office Sought: Carpentersville village board (Vote for 3)

City: Carpentersville

Age: 50

Occupation: Multiple businesses

Previous offices held: Current — Carpentersville Police Pension board member, Rotary Club Carpentersville Morning board member, Former commissioner at Carpentersville Business Development Commission

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

The village of Carpentersville, Illinois, has been successfully addressing many significant issues that has and will impact the community with pressing concern is the aging infrastructure, particularly the water supply system.

With the help from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency's Principal Forgiveness Loan Program, Carpentersville has replaced 390 lead water service lines at no cost to residents, with plans to replace the remaining lines by fall 2025. (Data source — cville.org)

I will encourage the village board to address these infrastructure challenges by Investing in infrastructure upgrades, enhance emergency preparedness, engage with residents, and explore state and federal grants.

By proactively addressing these infrastructure challenges, the village board can enhance the quality of life for Carpentersville residents and ensure the community's resilience in the face of future challenges.

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 has invested in multiple infrastructure projects in recent years. The Longmeadow Parkway, a bypass of Algonquin, Illinois, was constructed to alleviate traffic congestion in northern Kane County, and the Carpentersville Dam removal to restore the natural flow of the Fox River, benefiting both recreation and conservation efforts.

Based on these recent infrastructure investments, the village must prioritize and allocate budget for maintenance and enhancements of existing facilities, public services improvements while addressing community needs.

Potential areas for spending cuts could include discretionary programs or services that have seen reduced demand or can be consolidated with other initiatives.

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?

As per my previous answers — In Carpentersville, the most important infrastructure project likely revolves around maintaining and enhancing the existing and recent investments made, ensuring the longevity of these assets. Top priority for the village should be roads and infrastructure maintenance and safety improvements and encourage new business investments.

While these priorities are been worked upon, we can evaluate any and all new large-scale developments depending on the community’s needs. This will lead to enhanced stability of the existing infrastructure while balancing the immediate needs with long-term growth, focusing on vital improvements to public safety, roadways.

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 village board.

A collaborative and communicative approach works best, in local government, to determine policy. I believe in encouraging open dialogue and active listening while ensuring all perspectives are considered. Local government decisions impact a wide range of community members, so it's vital to integrate input from various stakeholders — whether it’s fellow board members, residents, or community organizations.

Creating an environment where all voices are heard, helps in building trust and understanding while building consensus. I also believe in data-driven decision-making as well as transparency and accountability.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I as a candidate can present my strengths by focusing on their experience and skills, community engagement, problem-solving approach, communication and leadership, and commitment to transparency and accountability.

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

The one idea that could I believe can significantly benefit the community of Carpentersville is the development of community-based green spaces that double as flood mitigation zones.

This concept isn’t just about creating a park, but a system that integrates environmental sustainability and community well-being, improving both quality of life and resilience in the face of climate change.