James P. Nagle: 2025 candidate for Oak Brook village board
Bio
Office sought: Oak Brook village board (Vote for 3)
City: Oak Brook
Age: 63
Occupation: Real estate
Previous offices held: Village trustee since 2021
What is the most serious issue your community will face in the coming years and how should the village board respond to it?
Public safety. We have made great strides over the last four years. We have hired a new chief from within the department which has taken us in a new direction. We have adapted by introducing more technology driven solutions such as license plate reading cameras and drones. We have reinstated our undercover task force and K9 units at the mall. We have also installed the same cameras at all of our HOA developments.
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?
When our newly elected trustees took control of the village board four years ago, we have completely turned the finances around. We were six months away from having a negative balance in our infrastructure fund. The previous boards’ answer was to raise taxes. We have curtailed spending and now have an all-time high balance in all of our funds.
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?
There is no one particular project that must be addressed. We must continue to manage our finances prudently to keep Oak Brook’s business and residential districts infrastructure in excellent condition. Fortunately we now have the funds to complete long overdue 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.
There is no way we could have achieved the outstanding results both financially and from an personnel position without the team effort of the village president, village manager and fellow trustees. Although we have spirited debates from time to time, the common thread with all of these team members is a fiscal conservative bent and not engaging in reckless spending.
What makes you the best candidate for the job?
I believe my experience as a trial lawyer for over 20 years and a successful business owner and developer make me the best candidate for the job. Many of the issues that the village board confronts are legal, financial or construction/development related. I am now running on a track record of success. I am proud of these results.
What’s one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?
Now that our financial house is in order I would like to see our team focus more on the brand of Oak Brook. I believe our next goal is to let the world know that Oak Brook is the premier location to live, work, dine and shop.