Tom Anderson: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Tom Anderson

City: Fox River Grove

Office: Trustee

Age: 64

Family: Wife, Laura; Children, Ray (Daughter in Law Annie), Katie, Margaret; Grandchildren, Flora and Colleen

Occupation: Retired Asst. VP Operations (Nov. 2018), currently marine consultant and school bus driver

Education: BS Nautical Science 1979, Maine Maritime Academy

Civic Involvement: Volunteer fighter 20 years (Fox River Grove and Spring Brook, NY) volunteer VA Hospital (Buffalo, NY), volunteer City Mission (Buffalo, NY), Boy Scout Leader, Little League coach, US Coast Guard officer 10 years (Desert Storm veteran), past member Fox River Grove Zoning Board of Appeals

Previous Elected Office: Trustee, Fox River Grove, 2013-2016.

Incumbent: No

Website: NA

Facebook: NA

Twitter: NA

Issue questions

What are the most important issues facing Fox River Grove and how do I plan on addressing them?

IEPA regulations for waste water: At most there is ten years before IEPA will tighten the phosphorous standard to half that presently allowed. I will work to budget money in the water/sewer fund now and secure a low interest IEPA loan needed to upgrade the water treatment facility.

Downtown re-development: It is critical to aggressively pursue revitalizing our downtown in order to enhance quality of life in the village, attract young families and ease the burden of high property taxes on residents. I will make this issue a high priority goal and specifically support proposals that achieve this end.

Police pension obligations: This issue is likely the biggest issue the village and all municipalities in Illinois face. The village must implement budget management strategies for funding pension obligations. I support proposals that would shift the safety pension plans to an IMRF style plan a well-managed and proven competent plan.

Property tax burden: The number of residents leaving Illinois was 68,204 in 2013 increasing yearly to 114,779 in 2017. At the heart of this exodus are extraordinarily high property taxes. Higher taxes discourage home ownership, disproportionately harm young families and business growth. I will not vote to raise property taxes.

What makes me the best candidate for the job?

My experience in village government and in the private sector and my demonstrated commitment to the community. I know how village government works so there will be no learning curve when I am elected and take my seat on the board. I retired from my job of 34 years in operations for a Great Lakes shipping company and I now have the time to devote to serving the residents of the village. I look forward to engaging with the mayor and my colleagues on the board on a variety of issues and challenges. I will show up on time and prepared for the meetings, I will respect my oath and, as an elected official, I will conduct myself at all times ethical and honorable manner. My goal is to keep Fox River Grove a great place to live and raise a family.

Describe my leadership style and explain how I think that will be effective in producing actions and decisions with the village board?

Consensus and collaboration. After serving one term on the board already I know that on every issue coming before the board there are likely six different opinions on how to manage it. There are seldom clear cut black and white issues. It takes people working together, considering other view points of view and a willingness to meet half way on an issue to get things done. I will do my homework before matters come before the board so that I am well prepared to intelligently discuss and make my point of view straight forward and easy to understand.

How would I describe the condition of my community's budget and what are the most important specific the village should take to assure providing the level of services people want?

Presently the budget is balanced and in good shape and has been since I was on the board in 2013. However, I see storm clouds on the horizon in terms of major financial challenges ahead. IEPA regulations and pension obligations will likely be very difficult issues to manage. In order to maintain the level of services residents presently enjoy and expect I believe further budget planning is needed to look at contingencies to address these issues and continue to fix the roads, maintain the parks, assure public safety and just keep the village a great place to live and raise a family. Specifically, develop budgets for worst case scenarios.

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

Market the village to interested developers and potential business in terms of our existing assets; the river and parks, the train station and, perhaps most importantly, our great schools. In addition to emphasizing downtown re-development and attracting new business it is critical to attract young families to our community. Families looking for a community to settle in need to know what a great community this is and the high quality of education their children will experience here. I suggest that village (mayor and administrator) as well as D3 officials could met with realtor agencies and market the village and schools.