Thomas Duffy: 2025 candidate for Lisle village board

Bio

Office sought: Lisle village board (Vote for 3)

City: Lisle

Age: 40

Occupation: Healthcare strategy and ops

Previous offices held: Lisle village board trustee since 2021; Lisle Library District trustee (2019-21)

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

Economic development — Lisle continues to lag behind its peers when it comes to development, especially the downtown. The board needs to remove blockers for development, understand the market dynamics (not fight against them), and move fast to get developments going.

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?

Lisle works on very much a shoe string budget and has grown more reliant on sales tax revenue. Having more reliance on a revenue source that is volatile can have significant negative impacts within an economic downturn. While I do not believe we need to raise property tax rates, we can raise the equalized assessed valuation by strong economic development. Our commercial property EAV growth has not been as strong as our neighbors, resulting in the tax burden being shifted more to the resident.

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?

Village staff identified many different unfunded infrastructure projects that the town needs to complete over the next few years. I am fine looking at how reserves can pay for these projects.

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.

I am well versed in working in a group setting, as my entire career has been within a matrix style environment. During my time as an elected individual, I have shown a pragmatic and thoughtful approach to finding common ground.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I bring extensive public service experience, coupled with an approach not tied to dogmatic political ideologies. I believe we are of service to the community, the whole community.

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

Data centers — it has not been a hot button topic within Lisle but would be a good use of much of our Warrenville open office lots. They bring in large amounts of revenue that could help fund additional projects within Lisle.