Antioch trustee candidates talk about what's most important

The five candidates running for Antioch's village board have different ideas about the top issue in the race.

But for most, it's money.

The candidates vying for three, 4-year trustee seats spoke about their top issues in response to a Daily Herald questionnaire.

Having served eight years as a trustee, incumbent Scott Pierce says the most important issue is for city leaders to keep a clear head in these uncertain times.

"Navigating the waters with a calm hand and a charted course is the biggest issue we face," Pierce said. "How we choose to do so will mean either success or failure for the village. Each issue is surmountable and we have a very qualified staff to bring the proper solutions to the problems we face."

Incumbent Robert McCarty sees the deterioration of roads and other infrastructure in the village as the top concern. He's been on the village board for four years.

"The largest issue we face is the aging infrastructure and the lack of our ability to repair or replace the problem areas," he said. "Only time will tell if we get any money from the federal stimulus package. If we don't, I believe we will have to make some hard choices."

Candidate Ted Poulos cites the need for balance between growth and keeping the small-town feel.

"Our biggest issue is the struggle between growth and maintaining the old town values," he said. "I believe there are businesses we can attract to the downtown area that require people to come to town. If we have a captive audience, we can then attract other businesses to feed off those who are there."

Keeping the village's spending in check and avoiding tax increases are at the top of the list for candidate James Jozwiak.

"I believe our biggest challenge is revenue retention and maintaining the services we provide," Jozwiak said. "I will use all my experience and skills in the field of information technology to clarify the problems we face. I would implement process changes where necessary and create positive outcomes and without new taxes."

Write-in candidate Dave Dziki says the most pressing problem is the town's financial situation.

"The village of Antioch has serious financial problems due to administrative mismanagement and the economy," he said. "We need to reduce expenses. We should start by dramatically reducing the administrative payroll. We should also review opportunities with companies that currently do business with our village," he said.