Marty Walker: Candidate Profile

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Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioQA Bio City: NapervilleWebsite: martywalkerformayor.comOffice sought: Naperville Mayor Age: 62Family: 3 Sons, 3 Grandsons, 1 GranddaughterOccupation: Retired Fire Department LieutenantEducation: Wheaton North High School Class 1970. College level curricular pertaining to the Fire Service and public safety. E.M.T. Paramedic certification training.Civic involvement: 2013 Ribfest Chairperson 2011 Ribfest Logistics Chairperson 2011 Ribfest Family Area Chairperson 2008 Naperville Exchange Club Member 2007 Naperville Jaycee Member 2008 West Suburban Irish Member Assists with Memorial Day Parades Assists with St. Patrick's Day Parades Assists with "Little Friends" Parades 2009 Assisted with Healing Field of Honor 2012 Assisted with Healing Field of Honor 2015 Healing Field of Honor Chairperson Past Naperville Exchange Club Americanism Committee Chairperson Chairperson for the Naperville 9/11 Ceremonies Volunteer at Cantigny Park in Wheaton Volunteer at Naper Settlement Operation support our troops - America Operation Welcome You HomeElected offices held: Board member Exchange Club of Naperville. (Past) Human Services Commission Village of Carol Stream. (Past) Board member Hundred Club of Dupage Co.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?My first order of business as Mayor will be to lead the new council and begin working with the City Manager and staff to bring people together to keep Naperville strong and moving forward. I have had 40 years of leadership experience as a company officer in the fire service. I have a long history of working with people. My strengths are the ability of being available to listen to the need's of people. My love for Naperville and it's people are at the front of my campaign. Being retired I have the time that is necessary to be the Mayor of Naperville. It will be important to keep the pace that will be required to do the job correctly. I feel that Mayor Pradel had raised the bar and people expect the Mayor to be at their events. I will be available to attend the events to the best of my ability.How would you describe the condition of your community's budget, and what are the most important specific actions the town should take to assure providing the level of services that people want?The City budget runs from May 1st to April 30th each year. It costs over one million dollars each day to keep the City of Naperville running. For the proposed budget for the next fiscal year has a 12 million gap. This is the result of anticipated lower revenues. Much of the lowered revenues is the result of lowered property taxes. Anticipated lower sales taxes and an increase of budgets from the 8 Departments within the City of Naperville. Staff was advised by City Council to sharpen their pencils to lower their proposed budgets.How would you handle the role of liquor commissioner? Would you actively punish liquor license holders for violations that occur at their facilities? What type of punishments do you think are appropriate and what actions would you take to keep downtown night life safe?As the Mayor of Naperville, you also serve as the liquor commissioner. As commissioner you and the commission oversee's the liquor and tobacco laws as it relates to the City's ordinance's. I would take this responsibility very seriously and make the necessary decisions to ensure that the laws and ordinances are adhered to. It is important that people understand that when they come to Naperville establishments that unruly behavior will not be tolerated. It bothered me to see the street fight videos on the major networks as well as youtube. It is also important that the establishments understand that if they do not adhere to the laws and ordinances that they will be punished by temporarily or permanently revoking their liquor license. I'm happy that the Naperville Restaurant Association is working together and with the new use of a phone app "Groupme." This app gives the ability to send group messages and photos to all of the city's establishments. This is reported to be very successful. It will be very important for this commission to continually monitor the newly enacted ordinances are being adhered to. Naperville can not be labeled as the suburban Rush Street.The top three goals in the city's strategic plan are adding more government services to the website, improving traffic flow and increasing two-way communication with residents and stakeholders. Do you think these are the best three priorities? If so, why? If not, which other topics would you prioritize and why?I personally think that the city's strategic plan was properly instituted. This plan was part of a public survey and the residents of Naperville felt very strongly that these 3 issues were priority for the city of Naperville to address. E-government innovation. E-government innovation will provide 24-hour convenience to residents and businesses.Human resources E-application system. Overnight parking sign up. Electronic form development, to make E-services available. Online payment capability. Traffic congestion has been consistently at the top of the list for years. When I decided to run for Mayor, I would ask people around town what they would like to see improved in Naperville. In most cases, traffic flow and parking were at the top of the list. Initiate the Comprehensive Transportation Plan update. Complete engineering of South Washington Street Bridge pedestrian improvements. Regard to notifying residents of an emergency is also very important to me. If we can get the word out to our Naperville residents of an impending storm or flooding situation early could save lives and property. The one area of communications that are key would be in the event of an area evacuation due to a rail disaster or other types of hazardous material incidents.Initiate City website redesign. Enhance "Your Place" website mapping tool.As the mayor of one of the state's largest cities, what role can and should you play in pursuing issues of regional importance that extend beyond Naperville's borders?Naperville is one of the largest city's in the State of Illinois. It will be important for the Mayor to take an active role in the "DuPage Mayors and Managers" organization. It will also be important to be involved at the State and Federal levels.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I feel that the Mayor of Naperville need's to love this city along with the people that live and work here. Naperville is a unique and magical place and needs to be kept the award winning community that it has been. I envision that we can improve the economic development for big and small businesses. I see many vacant business's along Ogden Ave and Rt. 59. There are also vacant warehouses in the various industrial parks that should be occupied. I will work on building strong relationships with current business owners. I also feel that health and safety issues need to be looked at very hard. These areas include the drug and alcohol issues and to continue to monitor the drinking establishments. I want to work on the traffic and parking issues. Work on keeping taxes low and diversified. I have a great love and respect for our Veterans and want to make sure that their needs are met.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.George PradelWhat's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Treating people the way I wanted to be treated - in other words "with respect".If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Asking more questions to my parents about my family history while they were alive.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Human psychology. Helped me better understand and relate to people.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Live every moment as if it was your last.