Arlene Juracek: Candidate Profile

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:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: Mount ProspectWebsite: http://www.electjuracek.comOffice sought: Mount Prospect Village Mayor (4-year Term)Age: 62Family: Married, three adult childrenOccupation: Retired utility executive, engineerEducation: BS Mechanical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, 1972 Masters of Management, Northwestern University, 1976Civic involvement: Mount Prospect Historical Society Garden Club of Mount Prospect Leadership Greater Chicago Timber Lake PlayhouseElected offices held: Trustee, Village of Mount Prospect, 2007-presentHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: No.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 My goal is to bring our village to its 100th anniversary in 2017 knowing that I have done all I can to facilitate a vibrant commercial and business economy in all areas of the village. Doing so will bring the necessary tax base and revenues to help ensure we have an affordable community that provides the level of services our residents expect.Key Issue 2 The next few years will continue to be economically challenging. We must continue to exercise fiscally disciplined oversight of Village operations and capital investment, to provide efficient and cost-effective services and to hold the line on taxes and fee increases. This will require engaging our citizens in the discussions that will enable us to carefully balance service level desires and sustainable and achieveable revenue levels.Key Issue 3 Public safety must be "Job One" in the Village, including the provision of police, fire/paramedic services and storm response. These services must have the highest priority claim on our constrained resources.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I am a candidate with solid experience and proven ability. My experience includes corporate management, not-for-profit social service delivery, infrastructure engineering, provision of essential utility services, legislative and regulatory perspectives, and a proven common-sense approach to the duties of public office. These varied experiences allow me to "connect the dots" and to anticipate unintended consequences and potential long-run impacts of a decision.Given the delicate balance between the need for revenue and over-taxing local businesses, what is your opinion of your community's present level of local sales taxes? Is the tax just right, too low or too high? Explain.Local sales taxes are just right in Mount Prospect, as compared to other municipalities in Cook County. Additional sales tax increases could prove disadvantageous given our close proximity to Lake County, while a decrease would jeopardise the necessary funds for infrastructure maintenance and improvement that they fund.Talking with your friends and neighbors, what seems to be their biggest public safety concern? Explain the concern as you see it, and discuss how you think it should be addressed.Recent burglaries and the persistance of scams perpetrated on the ederly have created a hightened level of wariness and concern in the Village. Fortunately, we have been able to re-instate the position of Public Safety Officer, and he has already received an enthusiastic welcome from our residents and schools. This and other efforts to cultivate a high level of trust between the police and our residents and business persons (such as the Community Connections Center and the Crimestoppers program) are important to ensure a community-wide approach to crime prevention and criminal apprehension.In these tight economic times, municipal budgets have to be prioritized. Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?After several years of no or very low tax increases, there are very few dollars to be gained from additional cuts, without also jeopardizing service levels. This is why the economic development efforts I cited as my #1 campaign issue are so critical. The next round of cuts will hurt.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?The recent "Homes for a Changing Region" report highlighted something we all already know - the Village needs more suitable housing opportunities for senior citizens seeking to downsize. While we are perceived as a built-out community, there are still vacant land parcels that offer opportunities that are close to shopping and other amenities that need to be actively explored.