Jason Carr: 2025 candidate for Wood Dale City Council Ward 1

Bio

Office sought: Wood Dale City Council Ward 1

City: Wood Dale

Age: 39

Occupation: Pipe fitter

Previous offices held: None

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

Everyone has issues one way or another, it is hard to come up with just one. When I was walking around the Ward 1 I had insightful conversations with a lot of different residents. Each one of them had issues they would like to see taken care of, that are serious to them. As an alderman I would try to find a way to help the community with their concerns as best as I can. My goal is to create a seamless band of communication between residents and the city council.

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?

As far as I know our community’s finances are in great shape, we have an awesome team that takes great care in keeping the city of Wood Dale finances top priority.

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?

When I spoke with our Wood Dale residents, many of them voiced concerns about speeding in their neighborhoods, airplane noise, retention of businesses on Irving Park road, and having a family friendly communal area for residents to gather. The decisions on whether a project should be done and the funding of any forthcoming projects should be decided among the city council, with the residents input.

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.

Many factors play a role in determining policy. In management of local government the primary factor would be to identify a need for a policy.

Our city residents play an integral role in this. They are the ones that know ins and outs of what our cities needs are, as well as its shortcomings.

In order to manage effectively the city council needs a liaison who is approachable, friendly and willing to listen to the residents concerns with a high regard. Someone who is willing, and able to take action when a need for a policy arises, and someone who will follow through with implementation of a solution or development of policy in betterment of the whole city. Clear and respectful cooperation between the city council in collaboration with the city residents should be the basis of our policy determination.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I am not a politician. I am a family man who is trying to do good in our town.

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

As a resident of Wood Dale, I have ideas of what could be done to better our community. As a candidate for an Alderman, I just want to say that reaching out to the community of our residents and finding out what they think requires the city council’s attention will be my top priority.

I want the residents to know there are people in their city willing to help out with any issues or concerns they may have.