John Rutledge: 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: WheatonWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Wheaton City Council South District (4-year Term)Age: 67Family: Married, one son, two grandchildren.Occupation: Real estate consultant.Education: BS Agricultural Economics, University of Illinois MS Agricultural Finance, University of IllinoisCivic involvement: Former Scoutmaster Church elder and other roles Numerous presidencies, committee chairmanships, and other roles in local, national, and international real estate organizations. Active Rotarian University of Illinois Alumni volunteer work, Loyalty Award recipient in 2005.Elected offices held: Appointed to Wheaton City Council March 2011 to fill remaining term of vacancy.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: No.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Continuing to maintain sound financial condition. This requires close attention to expenses as well as welcoming new businesses that will contribute to the tax base of the city.Key Issue 2 Economic development. Numerous new businesses are coming to our community, and we must do all we can to facilitate their process of getting up and running to provide goods and services to area residents and to generate employment and tax revenue.Key Issue 3 Maintaining and improving infrastructure. Infrastructure includes streets, sidewalks, water and sewer, as well as dedicated employees and their equipment in the Police, Fire, Public Works, and other departments. We must continue our work to reduce flooding and sewer back-ups, upgrade our water distribution system, and repair our streets and sidewalks.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I am the only candidate for the job (unopposed). What do I bring? I have devoted my career to all aspects of real estate, and much of what comes before the City Council involves the development and redevelopment of privately owned real estate. I use my experience to seek the best development and financial outcome for the city. I have the time and energy to thoroughly prepare for meetings including doing sufficient background research to be comfortable with my positions on issues.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 our tax rates are appropriate. Of course I would like to see lower taxes. Our sales tax rate including home rule is comparable to neighboring communities. A recently approved Special Services Area tax rate in the downtown area is less than half the rate of the SSA tax it replaced.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.Most comments I receive are complimentary of Wheaton's public safety services. A recent agreement with several neighboring communities to share dispatching and to coordinate training equipment availability has worked well, and other communities have expressed an interest in joining the alliance.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?Several years ago, the City Council and administration reduced staffing and increased the home rule sales tax. I believe the resulting expense structure is appropriate. To accommodate increased water charges by the City of Chicago via the DuPage Water Commission, as well as to provide for the repair and replacement of an aging distribution system, we recently approved a significant increase in water rates, but we are still within the range of charges in surrounding communities, some of which have not addressed the increase in the cost of water. We are about to enter our budgeting process, and priorities will be reviewed. As funds are available, I prefer to dedicate them to upgrading infrastructure (one-shot expenditures) rather than adding personnel and other ongoing obligations. We have repaired sidewalks in the south part of the City, and I would like to see that process extended to all other areas, again as funding is available.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?As I have ideas, I bring them to the attention of my colleagues on the Council and to senior administrative staff members. Wheaton is a fine community, not in need of major changes, and I look forward to continuing our tradition of excellence.