Drew D. Cullum: 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: LibertyvilleWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Libertyville Village boardAge: 48Family: Married for 24 years, 3 Children, Village resident for 18 years.Occupation: Self-Employed Insurance and Financial Planner since 1987. Office located in Downtown Libertyville.Education: Bachelors degree from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 1984Civic involvement: Village Trustee 2007-Present.SWALCO representative.Elected offices held: Appointed Village Trustee June 2007Re-elected Village Trustee April 2009-Present.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Maintaining the economic stability of the Village through a Balanced Budget, while at the same time eliminating furlough days for Village Staff and increasing Village financial reserves.Key Issue 2 Re-energizing the marketing programs to sell the Family Entertainment Center and the Golf Learning Center while at the same time, finding new/additional ways to maximize the profits from these existing structures until the time that they are sold.Key Issue 3 Taking the next steps toward a Greener Community by educating residents on what ELSE can be recycled and by moving forward on a Commercial Solid Waste Franchising Agreement.Questions Answers Should the village consider economic incentives to attract new business/development? Explain your answer.Yes. The Village currently offers an innovative incentive program to promote the revitalization of properties within the business districts. Based on past sales tax history, a business may be eligible for a sales tax rebate up to 30% after a sales threshold is met and up to a predetermined dollar limit. Libertyville Chevrolet recently took advantage of this wonderful program.How can the village work with IDOT to ensure the Milwaukee/Peterson intersection work minimizes disruptions for commuters?The Village Staff and Board are actively working to bridge the gap between IDOT, the Business Owners, Residents and Commuters. Numerous meetings and conversations have already taken place. A Village Staff member will be a main contact, funneling information in both directions, to keep open communications with all involved. Though an anticipated 2-year project, it will be a huge enhancement to the North-East edge fo the Village, once completed.If red-light camera revenue continues to be well below projections, will you support removing them? Explain your answer.No. The red light cameras were installed with safety being the number one issue. Reduced revenue means that they are working to enhance Village safety. The cameras are revenue positive at any level to the Village. The camera provider could decide to remove them if they aren't meeting THEIR revenue projections after a specific contract period.To what extent should a historic preservation ordinance affect individual property owners?I believe that a historic preservaton ordinance has a place in maintaining the character of our historic downtown. There has been an incredible amount of time, effort and money committed by the Village Administration, Mainstreet Libertyville, and the building owners to create the feel of our downtown corridor. Residential teardowns are a function of a maturing, thriving community. As long as new construction is able to follow the Village building codes, the projects should fit into the existing neighborhood, thereby enhancing everyones property values.How best can the village maintain its deteriorating streets as the damage worsens without investment?Being a member of the Streets Committee, I know that we are acutely aware of the challenges we face with our aging roads. A priority list has been in force since the late 1980's. The list is updated regularly. Annually, the road budget is allocated to the streets most in need. Historically, the Village has been able to issue bonds to expedite projects, but with no revenue source available to pay down the bonds at this point, that is not a viable option.