Mona Mustafa: 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: Lake VillaWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Lake Villa Mayor (4-year Term)Age: 49Family: Single mother of one boyOccupation: Sales Marketing executive and small business owner, paralegal consultant.Education: B.A. Political Science, Public Law, Minor: Sociology Paralegal CertificateCivic involvement: Lake Villa Timberwolves 2011/2012 Director, Cedar Ridge Homeowner's AssociationElected offices held: Director, Cedar Ridge Homeowner's Association President, Grant South Towers - Northern Illinois University Vice President, Student Council- Deerfield High SchoolHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: No.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Bringing value to Lake Villa. This is a multi-faceted issue, where we have to 1) Improve property value;2) Attract businesses to build the downtown area; 3)Address the fiscal crisis in our schools 4)Repair and maintain infrastructure; 5) Address the foreclosures in Lake Villa;6) The necessity to obtain water from Lake Michigan;7) The competition for businesses to move into Lake Villa; and to improve our offerings of goods and services to the residents. We are not getting value for our tax dollars spent- our downtown, our neighborhoods, and our schools are in disrepair.Key Issue 2 Transparancy and communication - There should be no "behind closed doors" Board meetings, unless it is required by law to be behind closed doors. Voter apathy is, in part caused by a lack of communication. The lack of focus on efficient communications has resulted in a lack of knowledge and participation. The vast majority of Lake Villa residents are unaware of the major issues we face.Key Issue 3 The lack of a specific plan for Lake Villa, with numbers and budgets and quantified action steps. As it stands today, our downtown plan does not have benchmarks, milestones, timelines, any of the factors that will produce measurable results in the next four year. One only has to look at our neighboring communities, Round Lake Beach and Antioch, to see our lack of competitiveness and our lack of progress over the last 20 years. Downtown Lake Villa looks almost the same as it did 40 years ago. Round Lake Beach annexed property for Wal-Mart. It's as if we are "waiting for something to happen" before we can move forward. Waiting for the economy to get better, while our neighboring communities are enjoying the results of fiscally responsible planning, and execution of their plans.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I am a creator of opportunity, and I will utilize my skills and talents to build Lake Villa. I have 20 years of experience as a Vice President of Sales and Marketing, and Business Development. In launching businesses from scratch, and manufacturing products from conception to shipment, I know how to responsibly build products. It is a team effort. I have provided top level service to my customers, which included Wal-mart, Target, and Michaels. I have a global view, not a local view. I have managed multiple manufacturers, to produce a program for mass and specialty markets. I know what attracts businesses to a community, and I will make sure that Lake Villa is an attractive choice for a business to move into. I will motivate the residents to participate in initiatives. I have won two innovations awards for products, and I will strive to win Governor's Hometown Awards, in each and every category offered. I will be aggressive in attempting to secure grant money to add to our own revenues. If we tap into the intellectual capitol that now exists in our community, we will establish better plans, with a better result. If we include the community in our deliberations, our community will be vested in the result. If we make the effort, we will succeed. I am the best candidate for the job because I know that the best leaders provide the best service to the people they serve. I wouldn't put my name on the ballot if I didn't believe 100% that I was that person. I will deliver results to the people of Lake Villa that will be more than they expect. I will prove that their trust in me is not misplaced. I am independent, and I am competitive.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.I believe that the present level is just right, for now. I believe that Lake Villa should look to generate revenue by attracting commercial businesses to our downtown area, and by responsible development of the village. If we attract the right businesses to Lake Villa, our revenue potential will increase. For example, we have two lakes that are underdeveloped. We have identified spaces for development, and we need to bring businesses that will bring revenue into Lake Villa. (Ex. We have two lakes, we need a hotel, a Trader Joes, a thrift store, an anchor, like a Target, etc)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.The irresponsible construction of the roads, wetlands and homes in Lake Villa have caused numerous health and safety issues. Code violations have been ignored, and have cost the public immeasurably. I believe that those responsible for the substandard construction should be made to bring their work up to code,at their own expense, and not at the expense of the taxpayer. I also believe that going forward, an ordinance requiring "proof of performance" is imperative, for all construction. Without proof, no permits are approved, or certificates of occupancy are issued. Proof is supplied to the village, and is included in the files, which are accessible to the public. When an inspector signs off on a permit, he should have verifiable proof of performance in his posession. For example, on January 22,2013 at the school forum at Palombi, it was noted that several cieling fans were in violation of the building codes, and some electrical conduit was held up by string. Wires were exposed. How did this get past the inspectors? There could not have been a permit for the work. This is in a public school, a serious fire hazard. Also, some residents were concerned that the water breaching the wetlands could have contaminated their drinking water, the EPA had to call the village to check it out.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?In tight economic times, budgets do have to be trimmed. I believe we have to give priority to those action items that will improve the property values of the residents. Attracting businesses to Lake Villa, that can generate more revenues for Lake Villa is top priority. We need to cut consultants, layers of administration, etc. Anything that does not ultimately lead to generation of revenue is the first place to trim. Materials, Labor, Overhead. Payroll is your most controllable expense. Cut overhead where you can, but not at the expense of quality of the product.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?I have always thought Lake Villa could lead by example. My idea has to do with energy efficiency, which is one of the Governor's Hometown Award categories. We have a prominent local developer here in Lake Villa. I have tremendous sourcing experience, on a global basis. My idea is simple: Create an opportunity for Lake Villa to retrofit each and every home with energy saving automatic faucets, like you can see in public places. There exist very fashionable and versatile faucets, direct from one or two factories. LED lighting is less expensive. Replace existing lighting in Lake Villa with LED lighting. If we do it in a public private partnership with local businesses, Lake Villa can be a model community. Then, our local businesses can do this with other communities.