Donald Ziemba: 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: Sleepy HollowWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Sleepy Hollow Village Board (4-year Terms)Age: 57Family: Married, two children (a son and a daughter)Occupation: AccountantEducation: Bachelar of Science in Accounting Masters of Business Administration in Finance Certified Public Accountant in IllinoisCivic involvement: Sleepy Hollow Trustee Member of the Knights of ColumbusElected offices held: Trustee in the Village of Sleepy Hollow (3 terms)Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Keeping a balanced budget in the Village.Key Issue 2 Hiring a new Police ChiefKey Issue 3 Trying to share resources with all interests in the village, providing the budget remains balanced (Revenues equal or exceed Expenditures)Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I have a strong financial background and have served the village for 12 years. During that time period, the annual operating budget was balanced for 75% of those years. Sleepy Hollow is one of only a handful of villages in the Chicagoland area that has no debt.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 revenue is too low. However, it's not because we need to raise taxes, it's because we have too few commercial establishments within the Village's boundaries.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.With our weak economy, many residents fear crime will increase in our village. Our interim Police Chief is doing a great job with the Police Dept. and the morale of the Dept. has improved. A few of my neighbors have commented on the improved "friendliness" of the police officers. I believe the officers are doing a very good job patrolling the village and enforcing our ordinances.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?Sleepy Hollow has an active Finance Committee that meets regularly to discuss the finances of the village. Our village runs under a tight operating budget. Perhaps the one area we need to review is the cost sharing related to medical insurance provided by the village to its employees. Many private businesses are reviewing the cost sharing of their benefit plans. The village should be run like a business and the residents are the shareholders.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?Candidate did not respond.