John Prendiville: 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: WheatonWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Wheaton City Council At-Large (2-year Term)Age: 50Family: Married to Georgia, four childrenOccupation: Managing Director and Senior Managing Counsel The Bank of New York MellonEducation: University of Notre Dame Eastern Illinois University DePaul University College of LawCivic involvement: Councilman At-Large, City of Wheaton, 2007-2011 Mayoral Candidate, City of Wheaton, 2011Elected offices held: Councilman At-Large, City of Wheaton 2007-2011Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 The City's finances are the top priority for the City Council; virtually all of the objectives of the Council are dependent upon the strength of the City's budget. During my previous service on the Council, we dedicated our efforts to maintaining the City's strong financial position. The recession posed great risks to the City, but the Council, working together with the City Manager and his staff, took decisive (though painful) steps to ensure that expenses were reduced to the extent possible in order to keep pace with falling revenues. It was very difficult to reduce our workforce, but absolutely necessary. At the same time, spending priorities were examined and reordered. The end result was a leaner budget, a strong bond rating, a continuation of the ability to provide the most important of the City's services, and rising balances for the City's reserves. With Illinois ranked at or near the bottom in many financial categories, it will be tempting for the State to distribute less tax revenue to municipalities. The State's financial problems will not be solved in the near future; therefore, the City must be prepared at all times to react to a quickly changing financial picture. The most effective method of dealing with these issues is to have the City Council continue to examine all expenditures carefully, with the goal of keeping taxes as low as possible while providing the services our residents expect.Key Issue 2 Infrastructure issues will likely dominate the City Council's budget discussions for many years to come. As our sidewalks, sewers, water system and streets age, the strength of the City's budget will determine the its ability to rehabilitate or replace these declining structures, which in turn will impact the continued status of Wheaton as a desirable place to live. Although storm water flooding and sewage surcharge does not occur in all neighborhoods, all residents benefit from a well-functioning sewer system, and the City has a responsibility to ensure that it works reliably for all residents. The City has already taken major steps to address these problems, but this work is tremendously expensive. While sewer and water rates must rise in order to finance further and faster improvements, I believe this to be a very wise investment. I would also advocate continued funding of the sidewalk repair and replacement program, as sidewalks are a vital component of neighborhoods. In addition, if revenues rise in a recovering economy, I would promote additional funding of our forestry department in order to replace a large portion of the City's 6000 ash trees, given that trees are fundamental to the look, feel and property values of a neighborhood.Key Issue 3 I believe that it is very important for the City to continue its effort to mitigate negative impact to the environment. During my previous service on the Council, I consistently voted in favor of environmentally sound practices. The City of Wheaton has taken effective steps to move toward more sustainable practices. In 2007, the Council made a commitment to green policies as part of its initial prioritization of issues, and has since: moved to a refuse disposal provider which encourages more recycling with use of the big blue containers; replaced vehicles in the City fleet with hybrid vehicles and downsized where possible to more fuel-efficient vehicles; implemented several grants to encourage more energy-efficient practices by our residents; and consistently strived to effect environmentally positive change through its bidding practices. I would vote to proceed in this manner, even when there are additional upfront costs (within reason), because I believe that, in the long run, these measures constitute the responsible course to take, and will also prove in most cases to be cost-effective over the long-term.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?My training and experience (including my previous service on the City Council) qualify me for service on the Wheaton City Council. I believe that I would be a very strong representative of the City's residents; this belief is supported by my performance during my prior service on the Council. I was very active in my representation, meeting frequently with residents, responding to phone calls, e-mails and letters quickly with genuine concern and relevant information or advice. I prepared thoroughly for Council meetings and planning sessions and contributed meaningfully to its deliberations. I took my position as an elected official and public servant very seriously. I have over 24 years experience in municipal and corporate finance, beginning my career with one of the top municipal finance law firms in the country. I am now counsel to the Corporate Trust Division of The Bank of New York Mellon, the number one Corporate Trust provider in the U.S. and the world, leading a team of attorneys located in North America and Europe.Given the delicate balance between the need for revenue and over-taxing local businesses, what is your opinion of your community's present level of local sales taxes? Is the tax just right, too low or too high? Explain.I believe that the level of Wheaton's local sales taxes is appropriate. Given that state funding will be at risk for the foreseeable future, the City must maintain locally controlled sources of revenue to the extent possible.Talking with your friends and neighbors, what seems to be their biggest public safety concern? Explain the concern as you see it, and discuss how you think it should be addressed.My friends and neighbors view Wheaton as a very safe place to live. We have a professional and responsive police force and fire department, and a community which acts when confronted with issues.In these tight economic times, municipal budgets have to be prioritized. Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?The City has done an excellent job in reducing expenses and trimming waste in recent times. Continuing a trend, the City reduced its tax levy once again in December. This was possible, in part, because of the spending reductions the Council took five years ago, when we acted quickly in the face of the recession. While there are always areas where the City could be more efficient, the City overall does an excellent job. With respect to areas which could use more funding, there is never enough for infrastructure rehabilitation, but limited resources restrict any increased funding. The City has consistently lived within its means, and will continue to do so.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?Candidate did not respond.