Phil Cuevas: 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: Oak BrookWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Oak Brook Village Board (4-year Terms)Age: 42Family: Married, one six year old daughterOccupation: attorneyEducation: B.S. Illinois State, Political Science, 1996 Juris Doctorate, The John Marshall Law School, 2000Civic involvement: Forest Glen Home Owners Association board Memeber Amercan Bar Association ISBAElected offices held: noneHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: noCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 To keep Oak Brook free of a Property Tax and end the string of lawsuits against the village.Key Issue 2 Enhance the resources that make Oak Brook a great place to live, shop and visit.Key Issue 3 Save the Village money through training and enacting policys to prevent losses and waste.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I have over 10 years of experience as a municiple attorney and have handled a wide range of claims against public entities.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.Just right. The sales tax was increased 1/4 a percent 4 years ago. Currently Oak Brook is in good fiscal condition. The Village has made it through tough economic times without enacting a property tax on it's citizens.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.My neighbors main concern is the 10 million dollar lawsuit filed by the former Village President and Police Chief who have teamed up with a disrespected nightclub and are suing the Village and several elected officals and police officers. They feel that our new Chief and Police Officers are excellent at protecting the citizens and their property.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?Our legal expenses have been a major issue over the past decade. Recently a SLEP issue has cost the Village around $750,000.00 for the former Police Chief's short service since he was allowed to stack his former service outside of Oak Brook but have the residents pay the full pension. I am the only person running or on the board with over a decade of municiple legal experience. We could also expand co-operative progams to cut spending along with preventative maintience programs.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?Ending the lawsuits against the Village and beatification of Oak Brook.