Gaurav Patel, 2021 candidate for Hoffman Estates village board

Six candidates for three available seats

Bio

City: Hoffman Estates

Age: Candidate did not respond

Occupation: Did not respond

Civic involvement: Served on both the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Police and Fire Commission for Hoffman Estates

Q&A

Q: How do you view your role in confronting the pandemic: provide leadership even if unpopular, give a voice to constituents — even ones with whom you disagree, or defer to state and federal authorities?

A: During this unprecedented time, we need leadership from local, state and the federal government to give clear instructions on the latest guidelines to keep people safe. Our job as local government officials is to tell the truth, provide leadership, set an example for our residents, and work to move the community forward.

Q: Did your town continue to adequately serve its constituents during the disruptions caused by the pandemic? If so, please cite an example of how it successfully adjusted to providing services. If not, please cite a specific example of what could have been done better.

A: The village of Hoffman Estates failed to provide support and communicate with local small businesses to help obtaining federal aid. The incumbents failed to provide seniors with obtaining vaccine appointments. Whereas the villages of Bensenville, Addison, and others are helping their seniors get vaccine appointments.

Q: In light of our experiences with COVID-19, what safeguards/guidelines should you put in place to address any future public health crises?

A: Our village needs to get out of the private sector, e.g. the NOW Arena which is costing us millions of dollars per year, and start planning for an emergency fund. We need to establish a specific division in the village's health and human services department that residents can call to get guidance.

Q: What cuts can local government make to reduce the burden of the pandemic on taxpayers?

A: We must reprioritize our spending in Hoffman Estates, because there is too much wasteful spending going on right now. In the middle of the pandemic, the village was moving around dirt for a beer tent at nearly $1 million of cost to taxpayers. We must do a better job locating state and federal grants to supplement our village budget and support our residents and local businesses.

Q: What do you see as the most important infrastructure project you must address? Why and how should it be paid for? Conversely, during these uncertain economic times, what infrastructure project can be put on the back burner?

A: If we want Hoffman Estates to thrive, we must do a better job financially. We must solve the problems we have with the NOW Arena and focus on growth for the rest of the century. Our location is prime as we have access to every mode of transportation. We must capitalize on our location by investing in infrastructure now. We also have historically low interest rates that will make capital improvements inexpensive to taxpayers, but with the long-term effect of bringing in revenue that will outpace the costs.

Q: Do you plan to address businesses that don't adhere to the governor's order to close or restrict business?

A: I would give the small business latest CDC guidelines and make sure they follow them and also make sure their customers are aware of the guidelines.

Q: Do you agree or disagree with the stance your board/council has taken on permitting recreational marijuana sales in the community? What would you change about that stance, if you could?

A: Agree, on permitting recreational marijuana sales. We must find all possible ways of increasing and diversifying our revenue streams.

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

A: While neighboring communities like Schaumburg and South Barrington attract small and large businesses, McLeod and his trustees do nothing to attract businesses. In fact, they do the opposite — they so frequently reject businesses that want to open in our community that our village has become known as the “village of no!” We must let it be known that Hoffman Estates is open for business so we can move our community forward in a new direction.