Anthony Carballo: 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: LisleWebsite: N/ATwitter: N/AFacebook: N/AOffice sought: Lisle Village Board Age: 55Family: My wife, Julie, and my three children, Vince (24), Grace (22) and Nick (19).Occupation: Attorney (Partner at Freeborn Peters LLP)Education: BA, Loras College, Dubuque, IA (1983)JD, I.I.T./Chicago-Kent College of Law (1986)Civic involvement: Assistant State's Attorney, Cook County (1986-1994)Lisle Park District Commissioner (2005-2013)Lisle Village Trustee (2013-present)Lisle Convention and Visitors Bureau Board (2007-present)Village of Lisle Economic Development Commission (2016-present)Elected offices held: -Lisle Park District Commissioner (2005-2013)-Lisle Village Trustee (2013-present)Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I believe I am the best candidate for trustee based on my business and legal experience, my years of service on boards, and my ability to work with others to reach a consensus and get things done for the community.I have been an attorney for over 30 years. I served as a prosecutor in Cook County for eight years and as a business attorney and partner at Freeborn for the past 23 years. I have gained extensive business and legal experience that helps me to analyze issues and make good decisions for the benefit of the community.I have served on the Lisle Park District board for eight years (from 2005-2013) and as a Village trustee in Lisle for the past four years (from 2013 to present). I have extensive experience working with my colleagues, analyzing complex issues and working together for the benefit of our community. I have the proven ability to work collaboratively with other board members for the benefit of the community.I have a strong passion for serving our community. In addition to serving on the Park District and Village boards, I have also served on the Lisle Convention and Visitors Bureau board, the Lisle Economic Development Commission, the Lisle Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Rotary Club of Lisle. I have also been actively involved at our local schools, at the Lisle Park District, the Lisle Baseball and Softball League, and my church. I love Lisle and enjoy serving our community.What is your opinion of your community's present level of local sales and property taxes? Is the tax just right, too low or too high? Explain.As far as sales tax, Lisle has the lowest sales tax of all the surrounding communities. I believe that the sales tax is appropriate.As far as the property tax, only six percent of the property tax goes to the Village of Lisle. The majority of the property tax (64%) goes to the school districts. As a Village trustee, we have no control over the other taxing bodies. In my opinion, the Village of Lisle taxes are reasonable for the services provided. Approximately $4.9 million dollars a year is collected from property taxes in the Village of Lisle and the general fund is over $15 million. Of that amount, 83% is used for police related services (police services and police pension). The balance goes to pay for liability insurance and other legal obligations. I am proud of the fact that the Village of Lisle has maintained a strong financial position during the past four years. We are fortunate to have a dedicated and professional staff and board. Lisle has the highest bond rating (Moody's bond rating Aa1),minimal debt, and strong reserves. In addition, the Village of Lisle has received Certificates for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the past four years as well as clean audits from the Village's outside auditors.Rate the efficiency of your town's police and fire coverage. Are the departments well prepared for the next decade? What, if anything, should be changed? Do you have specific public safety concerns?Lisle has an excellent police and fire department. The Lisle Fire Department proudly maintains the Insurance Services Office (ISO) Class 1 Rating. (It should be noted that the Lisle-Woodridge Fire District is a separate taxing body). Lisle also has a highly skilled, trained and professional police department.Lisle Police Department is well prepared for the next decade. We have an excellent police chief (Dave Anderson), skilled supervisors, and professional and well-trained officers. In fact, three of Lisle's officers recently received an Award of Valor for their actions above and beyond the call of duty in saving a resident who was the victim of a home invasion in progress. Lisle recently paid off the bond for its police station, which is a well maintained and state-of-the-art facility. Lisle also has excellent and well-maintained police vehicles and equipment for its officers. Additionally, Lisle has excellent community service officers and "Volunteers 4 Lisle," who provide expanded services for the community and make it well prepared for emergencies and routine events.One specific public safety concern for all of DuPage County is the heroin problem coming from Chicago. Lisle police officers have received special training and equipment to deal with this problem and have been successful in saving several lives due to overdoses. Additionally, Lisle police and other emergency responders have received special training to deal with weather emergencies and derailments and other emergencies along the BNSF Railway line running through Lisle and other communities in the western suburbs.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?The Village of Lisle staff and board have worked prudently to prepare the budget each year over the past four years that I have served on the board. We have an excellent village manager and financial staff. The Village staff and board have also been prudent with capital improvement planning. The Village has also obtained millions of dollars in grants to fund projects (including hazard mitigation, Four Lakes Bridge, street improvements, safe routes to school, downtown parking study, traffic/roadside safety, ADA train station doors, bullet proof vests, tobacco enforcement, and energy.) As a result, Lisle is in a solid financial situation. Although there are always areas where the budget could be cut or more money allocated to other areas, it is important for the Village staff and board to be careful not to cut certain costs in the short term that will end up costing the Village more in the long term.What is one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?One idea that I have to better the community is to regularly recognize residents who do things to improve their homes or the community. I believe that recognizing people who do good things to improve our community inspires them and others in the community to do things to improve their homes and the community. This in turn helps to foster community spirit. Although we currently have a yearly "Community Spirit Award" that is given to a person or group at the Mayor's annual State of the Village luncheon, I would like to expand it to more regularly recognize the many residents who are doing good things to improve our community.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?1. Economic Development/Downtown - We have had several businesses and developments come to Lisle, and several residential and commercial projects are underway. We hired an economic development coordinator, conducted a market analysis study, a downtown master plan and a downtown parking study. We completed environmental remediation of the Lockformer site and it is ready for redevelopment. We are completing remediation of the gas station on Main Street, and the shopping center there will soon be ready for redevelopment. We had several buildings demolished and those properties are ready for redevelopment. We completed the Veterans Memorial and have a residential/commercial development under construction downtown. I want to help complete the downtown redevelopment. 2. Maintain Village Services - Continue providing excellent services including maintaining streets, sidewalks, bridges, trees, storm water systems, sewers, water supply, cemetery, leaf/branch pickup, snow removal, signage, park areas, recycling programs, and insect/animal control programs.3. Civic Engagement - The Village promoted several programs to expand civic engagement including festivals, concerts, car shows, French market and other community events. I want to continue these and other events to expand civic engagement. 4. Maintain Small Town Values -I want to maintain our small town values. I oppose attempts by our opponents who are trying to annex Lisle into Naperville.5. Strong Financial Position - Continue the strong financial position the Village has maintained the past four years. 6. Flood Mitigation - Continue to work with the Army Corps of Engineers, the County and Village to develop flood mitigation strategies.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Bill Gates- his vision, work ethic, unflappability and willingness to share his time, talents and resources to make a significant impact on his community.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Don't take health or people in your life for granted, and it was stressed that the time spent in search of knowledge is never wasted.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would have worked fewer hours when my children were young. As a business litigation attorney, I worked L-O-N-G hours preparing for trials.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?History. It helped me learn a lot about the people, cultures and places in our world while also developing my love of books.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Count your blessings, take the high road, be nice and do your part to make the world a better place.