Gary J. Pilafas: 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: Hoffman EstatesWebsite: http://www.garypilafas.comOffice sought: Hoffman Estates Village boardAge: 42Family: Married to Michelle, four sons: A.J. (14), Joshua (12), Jonathan (11), and Caleb (8).Occupation: Vice President of Converged Platform Strategies, Hitachi Data Systems, Itasca, Illinois.Education: Bachelor of Science/Aviation Management, Southern Illinois University, 1993.Civic involvement: Hoffman Estates Deputy MayorChairman Planning, Building, and ZoningSears Centre Ad Hoc Advisory CommitteeBicycle and Pedestrian Advisory CommitteeHoffman Estates Veterans Commission United States Marine Corps: Desert Storm VeteranVFW Post 8080/5151 Member Autism Society of Illinois, MemberThe Chapel, Barrington Hills, Volunteer Sound Engineer Past Service:Hoffman Estates Arts Commission Plan Commission Palatine Township Past President and Vice President - Winston Knolls Homeowners Association Hoffman Estates Park District: Community Representative, Recreation Committee, Administration /Finance, Forward Planning CommitteeSoccer and Baseball Coach Elected offices held: Trustee, Village of Hoffman Estates (2007-2011)Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Fiscal responsibility is my Number 1 campaign issue. Maintaining a balanced budget and not increasing taxes is very important to the Residents and Businesses of Hoffman Estates.Key Issue 2 Growing Jobs is my Number 2 campaign issue. Hoffman Estates has been attracting quality Businesses with job growth for the past (4) years.Key Issue 3 Maintaining Quality Essential Services within our Police, Fire, Public Works and General Government Departments is my Number 3 campaign issue.Questions Answers Are you satisfied with the village's progress in luring business development? Has the village's willingness to offer incentives set a bad precedent, or is that just the cost of doing business?I am very satisfied with the Village's progress in attracting Business Development. In the last (4) years there have been several business such as Mori Seiki/DMG, Big Kaiser, NSK, Amcol and Liberty Mutual who have all built their North American Headquarters in Hoffman Estates.Any incentives that the Village of Hoffman Estates has offered have been completely in line and have not set any bad precedents for the ways in which Business is conducted.Assess the number of village employees: just right; too many; too few? If some departments are over- or under-staffed, which ones? What should be done? How did the village handle its latest negotiations with police, fire and public works unions?The Village has right-sized all Departments. There have been 58.5 positions that have been eliminated due to attrition and/or retirements that have not been re-filled.Given the amount of Business that the Village is engaged in all of the Departments are at adequate staffing levels.The Village did a good job in the last negotiations with their Police, Fire and Public Works Unions.Is the village doing the right thing with the Sears Centre? Evaluate the changes the board made in the past year and tell us what still needs to happen.The Village is absolutely on the right track with their direction with the Sears Centre.Over the past year the Village has accepted the Sears Centre from the Developer/Operator through a very civil foreclosure process where the developer and the Village came to an agreement that saved the Village and their tax payers approximately $7M of liability.The Village then contracted with Global Spectrum to run the Sears Centre Operations and Levy to run the Food and Beverage Operations which has helped the Sears Centre through Operational efficiencies and taxes turn an Operational Profit.In addition to offering several quality events the Village has also used the Sears Centre for Community Events with no cost. Examples of the Community Events are the Tartan Day Celebration and a Community Ice Skating event both of which were no charge.How should the village develop its west side? Are the complaints that some residents living in that area feel neglected legitimate?The Village should develop the West Side of Hoffman Estates the same as they do the North and Central sections of Hoffman Estates by attracting business that the Residents and other Businesses need.The Village recognizes the concerns that the Residents in West Hoffman Estates have relative to development and have a Commission where Residents are appointed to address their concerns. The Village also conducted a meeting in West Hoffman Estates to discuss a development proposal where Residents were able to discuss the prons and cons of the proposal.The village has placed employee salaries online, but is the village doing enough to be transparent? If not, what else should be available online for public viewing?The Village has cooperated with different Organizations to allow for a transparent Government. Posting Village Employee Salaries is just one example of the Village's transparency. Village Committee and Board Meeting agendas and minutes are posted online as well as other documents such as contracts and ordinances.