Mary Papantos: 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: WheelingWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Wheeling Village Board (4-year Terms)Age: 58Family: Divorced, two childrenOccupation: Candidate did not respond.Education: BS in Biology, Creighton University, 1976 MBA (Management Concentration), Roosevelt University, 1984Civic involvement: Currently serve on the Board for the Wheeling Pavilion Senior Foundation (WPSF)Elected offices held: NoneHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 I would like to see a tight rein on spending within the Village. I am a fiscal conservative. I believe expenditures should produce results that benefit the Community, not just for the few or for real estate development. Currently Wheeling owns property throughout the Village (for instance vacant property along South Milwaukee Avenue, the Wickes site and the Collins Fireplace building). The current Board recently approved (unanimously) the purchase of a run down building at 119 S. Milwaukee Ave. for $560,000.00. This does not include the cost of demolition and any possible remediation/clean-up of the land. The money spent on this property could be used to provide better flood control, street improvements, green space and perhaps a River Walk area along Restaurant Row. I feel Restaurant Row is a very attractive feature in Wheeling and if the town worked with local business we could attract even more people to the area. More customers at local restaurants result in a greater influx of sales tax revenue.Key Issue 2 Business growth in Wheeling should center on filling vacant properties instead of building new. We have too many vacant buildings that present a poor impression on future development in the Village. For instance, I feel the new Dunkin Donuts located on Dundee Road at Wheeling Ave. could have been located at a vacant, available location along Dundee Road. I feel the Dundee Rd/Wheeling Ave location is intrusive on the neighborhood. Before approving new buildings I would like to see better communication with neighborhoods that may be impacted.Key Issue 3 I think zoning codes should be reviewed to insure that when large developments are constructed within Village limits, these developments do not have a negative impact on surrounding neighborhoods and that there is adequate parking. Specifically, the shopping center remodeled/redeveloped on the southwest corner of Milwaukee and Dundee has inadequate parking (until recently employees used Center Ave. to park all day) and has caused traffic congestion in the adjoining neighborhood during deliveries. The Westin Hotel development (when all outbuildings are occupied) is a parking nightmare. What will happen when the new restaurant opens in the Claim Jumpers building? Will we see the same parking problems? The Village needs to be proactive and prevent these situations from happening.Questions Answers What should be the relationship between the village and businesses? Should the village encourage busineses to move to town and if so how? What types of support should the village give new or existing businesses?I believe Wheeling should be business friendly, but as I stated above, I would prefer the use of vacant buildings instead of building new. The use of the Cook County 6b Property Tax Exemption has helped promote influx of business into the Village. Wheeling has one of the lowest industrial vacancy rates in the Northwest suburbs and should be proud of that record. A healthy business base helps keep residential property taxes low and supports local job markets. Wheeling has a large industrial/business district and should continue to attract companies to our community. I feel the Economic Development Commission should be reinstated. The Commission could help bring new businesses into the community. I would like to see Wheeling attract a large grocery chain where people could do all their weekly shopping. It was a disappointment to lose Aldi, and it is a greater disappointment to see the building still empty.Do you agree with how the village has spent its TIF dollars? How would you spend them going forward?TIF funds have been used extensively in Wheeling to encourage business development and should only continue if there is a positive balance in TIF accounts. In my opinion, TIF funding should not be used for housing development. Recently TIF funds were used for a small park and clock tower on the southwest corner of Milwaukee and Dundee. I disagree that this is the best use of TIF funds. While park areas are attractive they do not generally produce an increase in the tax base. TIF funds have been used for Facade improvements. I am glad small businesses have been able to take advantage of this in order to improve the appearance of their buildings. If this program can not continue I would like to see the implementation of a small business loan program as was recommended in the "Wheeling 2000 and Beyond" document.What are other issues facing Wheeling? Does Wheeling put too much emphasis on economic development and not enough on issues such as public safety? How would you rate quality of life for Wheeling residents?I believe Wheeling has a fair balance between economic development and Public Safety. I feel the quality of life is quite good and I am proud to see services such as the food pantry, Social Service advocates and our Senior Center. I think the Human Relations Commission should be re-established.Given the delicate balance between the need for revenue and over-taxing local businesses, what is your opinion of Wheeling's present level of local sales taxes? Is the tax just right, too low or too high? Explain.I feel the restaurant sales taxes are too high. Wheeling's "Restaurant Row" leads directly into Lake County which has lower sales taxes. Wheeling should continue to evaluate the effect of these taxes on local establishments within the Village and whether the sales tax rate has an adverse affect on bringing additional businesses into the community.What are the village's biggest public safety concerns? Explain the concern as you see it, and discuss how you think it should be addressed.Wheeling is divided into an East and West side by the railroad tracks that cross Dundee and Hintz Roads. During morning and evening rush hours there can be a significant delay for emergency vehicles going from one side of town to the other. Adequate staffing and equipment is necessary to ensure the safety of all residents. All interactions I have had with public safety officials have been positive. I feel the Police Department does an excellent job in controlling gang activities and educating the public. The Fire Department has obtained grants to provide smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors to Seniors.