Bobbie O'Reilly: 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: Long GroveWebsite: voiceoflonggroveTwitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Long Grove Village Board Age: 72Family: Husband Bill,sons Bill Doug, grandchildren, Elle,Conner,Cait,JackOccupation: Owner, Weichert Realtors, McKee Real EstateEducation: New Trier High SchoolUnion CollegeCollege of Lake CountyCivic involvement: President Long Grove Historical,Lions Club,Downtown Revitilization Study, Comprehensive Plan Update Committee, Charter Rep for Scouts, Long Grove/Kildeer Benefit Bridge, Greyhound adoption groups.Elected offices held: Buffalo Grove Village Board, 1979-1987, Lake County Board, 1988-1992, Lake County Forest Preserve Board, 1988-1992Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I have experience as an elected official. I've lived in Long Grove for 30 years and had my business in downtown Long Grove for 25 years so I believe I can feel the pulse of the community. I'm a very good listener and an active participant in solving issues.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.Long Grove will continue to be a non-property tax community. Our tax rates are what the State allows. Because we are limited to what the State allows, it is vital that we attract commercial to the edges of our community. Those who came before us were very smart in attracting Menard's and the Sunset Foods development. We need more of that type of development. Because we are limited in the revenue we can raise, its important that we control our spending. Those of us who live in Long Grove need to check our cell phone bills to make certain our address is Long Grove, not Lake Zurich. This cell phone tax is 11% of the revenue for our Village.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?Both of our fire departments, Long Grove and Countryside continue to provide excellent service. They are governed by their own Boards. Our Police service is provided by a contract with the Lake County Sheriff's Department. It is an efficient use of dollars in that we don't have to pay for multiple layers of supervision, it is provided by the Sheriff's Department. Financially we could not provide a full police department but have a full department available if we need it. We do need to evaluate our level of service annually.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?Because we do not levy a property tax we must be very careful with our funds. Several years ago there was a referendum to levy a tax and that was soundly defeated. In the last several years there have been enormous efforts to better organize our finances so that everyone is aware of where our funds come from and where they are going. I'm happy with the budget as it stands today.What is one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?I would like to see the Village participate along with all of our homeowner's associations in creating an annual picnic in Heron Creek Forest Preserve at Old McHenry Route 22. It could bring our community together in a fun atmosphere.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Growth - although it may seem that we have no place to grow, we still do. My concern, and one of the reasons I'm running for office, is that I want to make certain that while we finish growing our community we don't accept growth that doesn't blend with our present Village.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Speaker of the House, Paul RyanWhat is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?A very strong work ethic.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?TravelingWhat was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?History - To understand the future you must understand the pastIf you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Honesty is always the best policy