Edward Levato: 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: BloomingdaleWebsite: http://www.bloomingdalerepublicans.comOffice sought: Bloomingdale Township Supervisor (4-year Term)Age: 66Family: Married Three children Two grandchildrenOccupation: AttorneyEducation: BA SIU-Carbondale, 1971 JD Chicago Kent/IIT, 1976Civic involvement: Justinian Society of Lawyers of DuPage County, past president Carol Stream Association of Business Industry, past president Advantage National Bank, Elk Grove Village, Roselle and Bloomingdale, former board of director STC Capital Bank, St. Charles, board of director Bloomingdale Chamber of Commerce, past president Bloomingdale Plan Commission Judge, Septemberfest Committee, Bloomingdale King Queen Contest Mentor, Lake Park High School, School to Work ProgramElected offices held: Bloomingdale Township Supervisor, 2005-current Bloomingdale Township Trustee, 1997-2005 Bloomingdale School District 13 Board, 1987-2003Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: No.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Our top priority is maintaining fiscal integrity of the township. We are first and foremost concerned with making sure we keep spending and taxes under control and our tax levy as low as possible.Key Issue 2 We also are focused on maintaining the delivery of needed and expected services to our residents in a timely and professional manner.Key Issue 3 We work together with other governments in the township and will continue to do so. This allows us to share information and expenses via intergovernmental agreements that streamline government and avoid duplication.Questions Answers Name the three most important goals or objectives this board should tackle in the coming term. Prioritize them, and briefly discuss why you believe each to be critical, and how the board should go about addressing them.1) Continuing to maintain fiscal integrity by treating every tax dollar as precious. We will continue to review all our operations to make sure we stay efficient. 2) Continuing to work together with other governments. We have saved money by working with other units of government within the township and will seek further efficiencies when the circumstances warrant. 3) Continuing to stay close to the community we serve. All of our elected officials are active throughout the civic, political and church communities and that allows us to stay in touch with the constituents we serve.In the 21st Century, with municipalities gobbling up vacant land, why are townships needed? Should they be serving a new role? If so, what?It's a larger government with specific responsibilities that are not duplicated, yet are closer to the people. County government can be remote and too large for many who need services, i.e., General Assistance, senior services, real estate tax assessment problems, snow plowing, etc.What should be the primary responsibility of township government?Providing residents with needed services near their home base without the bureaucratic layers of larger governments with many more agencies to govern.In these hard economic times, can you identify some township expenses/programs that could be trimmed or eliminated to reduce the tax burden?In the last 16 years, our township population has grown, our citizen contacts for services have nearly doubled and yet our expenditures for 2012 were about the same as 1996. We continually look for ways to be more efficient.What specific background or experience do you bring that makes you the best qualified candidate to serve as an elected official in the township?I?ve lived, worked and volunteered in this community since 1984 and have been in elected office since 1987. My legal and business background has prepared me to meet and understand most issues that arise. I look forward to continuing my service to township residents.