Hoffman Estates candidates head into stretch run

The six candidates for Hoffman Estates village trustee are well into the stretch run this weekend as their campaigns near an end.

With the election Tuesday, here’s a rundown of the major issues for the hopefuls seeking one of the three, 4-year board terms at stake.

Craig Bernacki, 52, a chiropractor and Hoffman Estates Park District commissioner, believes the village isn’t friendly enough to businesses and has missed out on opportunities as a result.

“Businessmen do things in a businesslike way, (and) with a lack of business people on the board, it’s real easy to spend other people’s money,” Bernacki said.

Alison Hertz, 40, touts her degree in city planning from the University of Colorado, saying her background would be an asset to the board. She chides current trustees for making decisions that focus only on the short term, and questions the construction of a water tower on the village’s west side amid financial struggles.

“I think the village just needs a change, a fresh voice,” she said. “I think I can offer that.”

She also thinks the Sears Centre should be used more efficiently, imagining the village working with Sears to bring a hardware expo to the arena.

Anna Newell, 55, joined the board in 2007. The assistant director for senior services for Schaumburg Township, Newell believes in the village’s current leadership and wants to continue with the momentum board members have built.

The biggest issue facing Hoffman Estates is the Sears Centre, she said. The village owes debt on the construction loan for the arena, and while nothing is imminent, there’s a chance a property tax increase could be necessary in the future to pay off the loan.

Newell is proud of the village board’s actions in revamping the Sears Centre.

“It’s really come a long way, and it’s good for us, it’s really put us on the map,” she said.

Incumbent Gary Pilafas, who also joined the board in 2007, once said a tax increase was needed to help pay for the Sears Centre, but has changed his mind since.

Decreasing revenues make it harder to balance the budget and keeping police and fire and other departments adequately staffed, said Pilafas, 42, who works for Hitachi Data Systems in Itasca.

“We’ve taken steps to correct that,” he said, noting police layoffs. “They’re not always the easiest or popular steps, but those steps have given us a balanced budget.”

Gary Stanton, who was appointed in December to fill Cary Collins’ expiring term, said maintaining a balanced budget is his number one goal.

A former head of the village’s plan commission and an attorney, the 60-year-old Stanton said financial obligations related to the Sears Centre could take money away from other needs.

“It depends on the economy,” he said. “If the economy picks up, we’ll be fine.”

Robert Weitzel, a 48-year-old high school custodian, is running for political office for the first time. He’s most concerned with red-light cameras, saying they serve more to produce revenue than improve safety. He also believes the village board ignores residents on issues, including the red-light cameras.

After many delays securing permits and a problem with the vendor, Hoffman Estates could go forward with installation of cameras later this year at select intersections.

Mayor William McLeod is supporting all three incumbents.