Ethan A. Hastert: 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: ElburnWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Elburn Village boardAge: 32Family: Wife: Heidi Children: Jack (4), Ben and Ava (3 months)Occupation: AttorneyEducation: Born and raised in the Fox Valley, I was educated at Yorkville High School. I earned my undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and my law degree from the Northwestern University School of Law.Civic involvement: From 2001 to 2002, I served in the White House as Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff and National Security Advisor in the Office of the Vice President of the United States.Since 2005, I have served on the Board of Directors for the Luxembourg American Cultural Society and, since 2008, on its Executive Committee. I also serve as Honorary Consul for the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg for Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. I am also a member of the St. Charles Sportsmen#146;s Club, the National Rifle Association, the Illinois State Rifle Association, the Republican National Lawyers Association and a former Kane County Republican Precinct Committeeman.Elected offices held: I have never held elected office.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: Ten years ago, when I was 22 years old, I was cited for driving under the influence of alcohol. To this day, I remain embarrassed by that mistake and grateful that no one was injured. It is a mistake that I won#146;t make twice.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 My top priority is fiscal responsibility. A balanced budget produces smaller government, less spending and lower taxes. Reckless spending in Washington, Springfield and communities across the nation threatens our ability to leave our children and grandchildren anything but a mountain of debt. The Village cannot rely on ever-increasing property tax revenues or for full and prompt payment of the Village#146;s share of state-collected tax revenue. I appreciate the efforts that Elburn officials have recently made to get the Village#146;s fiscal house in order, and, if elected, I will advocate for a continuation of this kind of fiscal discipline.Key Issue 2 It is important that the Village plan for the economic recovery and do what it can to position Elburn as a desirable place for businesses and families to call home. However, the costs associated with growth#151;including traffic and congestion#151;are staggering. If elected, I will champion smart growth that does not overburden our infrastructure. I will work with Village, County and regional officials to develop transportation solutions that enhance the qualities that make Elburn attractive to businesses and families alike.Key Issue 3 As a pro-life, pro-family, and pro-Second Amendment rights conservative, I will stand up for these core values whenever they are challenged.Questions Answers On what should the village be spending property tax and sales tax money?In the current economic environment, the Village cannot count on ever-increasing property tax revenues or for full and prompt payment of its share of state-collected tax revenue. Therefore, it is important that the budget reflect this near-zero-growth reality and make sure that the Village is able to continue to provide the essential government functions at the municipal level#151;e.g., keeping our streets and community safe and clean. As the economy recovers, I would advocate setting aside accrued savings in a rainy day fund to provide for the next economic downturn.The economic meltdown brought plans for big residential and retail growth to a halt. Should Elburn use this time to re-evaluate and adjust its plans for the future and, if so, how?Absolutely. Every entity, public and private, benefits from continuously evaluating its current position and plans for the future. If elected I would advocate that the Village convene a committee of Village officials, members of the public and business interests to evaluate existing plans against realistic growth estimates.What can the village do to ensure it gets either money or infrastructure upfront on a development, rather than having to go after bonds for bankrupt developments like Blackberry Creek? Should the village be more aggressive in this regard, and how?The Village of Elburn, like all municipalities, must balance responsible economic growth against the risks associated with that growth. As stewards of taxpayer dollars, it is important that the Village negotiate the best possible terms up front from developers. For example, the Village could require, as a term of any annexation or bond agreements it negotiates, that funds be escrowed to cover the cost of enforcing a performance bond. Whether such terms are appropriate must be determined on a case-by-case basis taking all things into account#151;e.g., the likelihood of default.What do you think of the current plans for the proposed Elburn Station development? Should the village insist retail be built before issuing housing permits?I believe that it is essential that the Village work to make Elburn a community that attracts well planned developments like the one proposed at Elburn Station. However, it is vitally important that, before such developments are approved, the Village adequately ensure that it will not be saddled with the responsibilities for providing services for that development in the future without an increase in resources with which to do so. Whether or not the Village should insist on retail operation prior to issuing residential housing permits is a question to be determined on a case-by-case basis taking all things into account#151;e.g., whether there are adequate sources of revenue absent such a requirement.When the economy does recover, can Elburn expect to have the growth once projected for the village? Explain.It is unclear what specific impact economic recovery will have on growth in Elburn and the surrounding communities. However, Village officials are responsible for positioning the Village to take advantage of economic recovery when it occurs. In my view, that means making Elburn a desirable place for businesses and families to call home. I believe that we can accomplish that by: continuing to live within our means; limiting the burden on taxpayers; and leveraging our rich heritage and our proximity to regional assets like major metropolitan areas, employers, and transportation infrastructure.