Michael Hantsch: 2023 candidate for Lisle Village Trustee, 4-year term

Bio

Town: Lisle

Age on Election Day: 44

Occupation: Attorney

Employer: Kohn Law Firm, P.C.

Previous offices held: None

Q&A

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

A: The continuing development of downtown Lisle, particularly the vacant Family Square property, is key to the future of Lisle. The most important thing the village board can do is encourage and foster appropriate downtown development in this area, as this will affect Lisle for many years.

Q: How would you describe the state of your community's finances?

A: The current administration of Lisle has been very fiscally responsible. Not only has the administration kept property taxes frozen for six years, but Lisle has also had a strong and growing sales tax base, even during the worst portions of the pandemic. Practices like this need to be continued and encouraged.

Q: What should be the three top priorities for spending in your community during the next four years?

A: The most important spending priorities for Lisle are as follows:

Continuing to responsibly promote development of excellent businesses, particularly in downtown Lisle;

Improving and maintaining infrastructure;

Public safety; Lisle has an excellent police department and other public service divisions which need to be well-supported to continue to do their work effectively.

Q: Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed? If so, what are they?

A: If anything, the village board could sometimes be more selective in the projects it chooses to foster, particularly anything involving a TIF district, which can have a strongly negative effect on Lisle's taxpayers seeing a return on those taxes, especially when these incentives are poorly distributed.

Q: 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?

A: For reasons of safety, the most important infrastructure project facing Lisle is the ongoing flood plain concerns, although the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan is one that should also be prioritized for the positive effect it will have for all of Lisle's residents and businesses.

Q: Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy. What is your style in such a setting to reach agreement and manage local government? Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your village board.

A: I have done both volunteer and professional work in group settings of this nature. My volunteer work has focused mainly on the Lisle schools my children attend, as well as with charitable groups like the Knights of Columbus.

I have done other work of this nature on a professional basis within the legal community. My style in these settings is to listen first, ask questions second, and then offer my own thoughts. I have found that even in more contentious settings, this has served well, and I think it would be a responsible and effective way to serve as a village trustee.

Q: What makes you the best candidate for the job?

A: I believe I am excellent candidate for this position because I feel a deep gratitude for having had the opportunity to grow up in Lisle, and now to be able to raise my children here. Lisle has done well by me and my family, and I wish to help grow and develop this community so others can have the same experience.

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

A: I can't honestly call it original, but one idea I would like to explore is the integration of more natural spaces within Lisle's downtown as it develops. Prairie Walk Pond is a wonderful feature in Lisle that is enjoyed and appreciated by many. While a comparable space might not be practical in downtown development, integration of more natural elements like this could be a unique enhancement to the beauty and identity of the area.