Michael Barbier: Candidate Profile
Back to Wheaton City Council East District
<p style="height:1px;margin:0;padding:0;overflow:hidden;">
<p class="disclaimer" style="font-size:16px;color:#666;"><strong>Note:</strong> 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.
<h4><strong>Jump to:</strong></h4>
<p style="height:1px;margin:0;padding:0;overflow:hidden;" class="clearFix">
<h3 class="breakHead">Bio</h3>
<strong>City:</strong> Wheaton
<strong>Website:</strong> VoteBarbier.com
<strong>Twitter:</strong> @VoteBarbier
<strong>Facebook:</strong> https://www.facebook.com/VoteBarbier/
<strong>Office sought:</strong>
Wheaton City Council East District
<strong>Age:</strong> 32
<strong>Family:</strong> Younger Sister, who is an Elementary School Teacher, and Mother & Father who have been proud Wheaton residents for over 30 years.
<strong>Occupation:</strong> Civil Engineer in the DuPage County Division of Transportation
<strong>Education:</strong> Wheaton Warrenville South High School,
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering - Purdue University,
Master of Science in Civil Engineering - Purdue University, and
Master of Business Administration (MBA) - University of Chicago [Booth School of Business]
<strong>Civic involvement:</strong> University of Chicago Booth School of Business Admissions Committee
Student Excellence Foundation
League of Women Voters of Wheaton - Member
<strong>Elected offices held:</strong> I'm an Engineer, not a politician.
I have neither run for, nor held, any previous political offices.
<h3 class="breakHead">Questions & Answers</h3>
<h3 class="briefHead">What downtown improvement projects do you think need to be a priority and why? Is there work you want to eliminate?</h3>
I support projects that bring people into Downtown Wheaton on a consistent basis:
I am very supportive of building the appropriate infrastructure for the French Market. This drives commerce, supports a healthy lifestyle, and brings people into Downtown.
I would eliminate the proposed "festival streets". I don't think these support Wheaton's objectives and I believe these would fail any benefit/cost analysis.
My biggest priority when it comes to downtown improvement projects (or any large initiative) is to design projects that will be eligible for federal funding and secure that funding. Our citizens pay a lot of money through Federal Income Taxes to Washington. The City of Wheaton should look to get some of that money back to Wheaton through Federal Funding on our infrastructure projects. Certain funding can cover up to 80% of construction costs (for every $2M Wheaton spends, we can build $10M worth of improvements).
In the current "Downtown Plan", the City Council decided not to pursue any Federal dollars. This places the entire cost of the project exclusively on Wheaton Residents' property tax bill and sales tax. All the while Washington distributes our citizens' income tax dollars to other cities.
There will be a lot of Infrastructure Funding coming from the Trump Administration and the current Congress. Understanding and leveraging the federal aid process will be essential to our success as a community.
<h3 class="briefHead">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.</h3>
Overall, I believe that the tax levels are too high.
I think this is proven by the fact that the Wheaton City Council has had to use Tax Increment Financing (TIF) on 3 separate occasions. If the sales tax and property tax were "optimal", or too low, there would be no need for the taxpayers to continually subsidize the developments in Wheaton.
Property tax is an issue that each governing & taxing body must come together to address. We have seen far too many parents forced to leave Wheaton after their children have finished school. Sadly, the taxes are simply too high for many empty nesters to justify remaining here in Wheaton.
Sales Tax is a similar story. There are empty store fronts on Roosevelt, Butterfield, and Geneva Roads as well as in Danada. I do not see how raising our sales tax will fill those stores and grow our tax base.
There is no doubt that there are areas to cut spending, but we also have to face some realities with Wheaton.
There is a large percentage of the City that is not on the tax rolls. Whether it be green space, churches, or other non-profit organizations. These areas still need the basic City services of sewers, roads, and police & fire protection. Our TIF districts have a similar effect by having most of their taxes diverted from the city coffers.
Simply put, I will not look to increase taxes.
<h3 class="briefHead">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?</h3>
We have great men and women in our police and fire department. I thank them for their service and commitment to our community and believe they are doing a great job. If any issues arise in the future, I will gladly work with them to ensure that these services continue at a high level for years to come.
The greatest public safety concern in our East District is cut-through traffic on Pershing & Taft Avenue. The City Council continues to ignore the citizens' requests for safety measures even after the tragedy that befell a 6-year old Lincoln Elementary School student this past May.
This is Wheaton, children should be able to play outside, ride bikes, and walk to school without imminent danger.
When it comes to safety, especially the safety of our children, we need a Council that will both listen to the Citizens and take the appropriate actions.
<h3 class="briefHead">Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?</h3>
I take the bigger picture view. It does no good for us to be penny smart, but dollar foolish.
We have TIF districts that unnecessarily subsidized developers for Millions of dollars and large scale downtown projects that have left Tens of Millions of dollars on the table by not seeking federal funding.
One cannot look at the budget and find anything that has near this effect on our current City Budget.
We need to be fiscally responsible in all aspects of our spending and more strategic in our choice of investments.
<h3 class="briefHead">What is one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?</h3>
We always have trouble with the question, "How do we get more people Downtown?"
Sadly, we usually settle for the stale idea of yet another 'Streetscape' project on Front Street.
Unless your destination is in the CBD, people avoid driving through Downtown Wheaton. This means they don't see the new restaurants and stores, and they certainly won't stop in for a coffee.
What if we could get them Downtown by a means other than a car?
What if touring Downtown Wheaton was a destination in and of itself?
I would like to see a bike & walking trail that connects to the Prairie Path and allows people to circulate around the Downtown Area. [It could go up West St., travel along Wesley, and connect back to the Prairie Path on Cross.]
The Illinois Prairie Path is a valuable asset that is largely underutilized, but has a lot of untapped potential.
The City of Indianapolis has had huge success with their "Cultural Trail" (Google it) that brings in many people from surrounding areas into their downtown.
This would be a family focused investment that will drive commerce, support a healthy City, and make the downtown more accessible for all residents.
<h3 class="briefHead">What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?</h3>
Another important issue to me is the make up of the Council. The Wheaton City Council needs a Councilman with expertise in Public Infrastructure.
As a city, Wheaton needs to:
A) Construct Safer Roadways,
B) Address our Flooding,
C) Improve our Sewer Systems, and
D) Invest in Downtown Capital Projects.
Wheaton hasn't had an Engineer on the Council in the past 20 years and with our backlog of issues, it shows.
If we want to see progress in our infrastructure, we need someone on the Council who can bring that specific skill set.
<h3 class="briefHead">Please name one current leader who most inspires you.</h3>
Steve Gleason: He has never given up, never given in, and continues to be a beacon of hope for those who have ALS.
<h3 class="briefHead">What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?</h3>
Never let people tell you that you can't achieve something. If you put in the work and follow your passion, you can achieve your dreams.
<h3 class="briefHead">If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?</h3>
I regret not keeping in closer contact with friends, classmates, teachers, and coaches. This election process has reminded me how incredible all those people are.
<h3 class="briefHead">What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?</h3>
High School Chemistry taught by Mr. John Thorne. His lectures taught us to take accountability, not shy away from adversity, and be humble & kind.
<h3 class="briefHead">If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?</h3>
Stand up for the truth & Stand up for what is right, even if you stand alone.